What happens if you have an emotional support animal and you want to move to Spain with it, or you live here and want to get one? What are the laws surrounding these types of animals and their rights to access different public spaces and transport?
In several countries, people can have what’s known as an emotional support animal (ESA).
Essentially, these are pets that provide therapeutic and emotional comfort to individuals with diagnosed mental health or psychiatric disabilities. They can help to ease anxiety, depression and certain phobias, according to the American Kennel Club.
In the US for example, having a registered emotional support animal allows them to access certain spaces that regular pets can’t.
So what about Spain? Does Spain recognise these type of pets and what laws are they subject to?
READ ALSO: Which cities in Spain have the most pet-friendly public transport?
Although the use of ESAs in Spain is evolving and you can get professional certifications for them, they are not yet recognised by Spanish law.
As of now, Spanish law only covers assistance dogs through Royal Decree 409/2025. This includes guide dogs, signal dogs and other medical assistance dogs that provide a service for someone with a particular disability. Since 2025, these assistance dogs have full access to public buildings and spaces throughout Spain, including beaches and swimming pools.
READ MORE: Spain to allow support dogs access to all public spaces
Service dogs in Spain are usually registered with ADI (Assistance Dogs International), IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation), or ONCE (Spanish National Organisation of the Blind). If it’s not registered with one of these, most likely it won’t be considered as a service dog.
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This means that emotional support animals are generally considered as standard pets in Spain and whether they’re allowed into establishments and on public transport depends on internal policies of individual companies and providers.
READ ALSO: What are the rules on taking your pets on holiday in Spain?
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As for travelling in airplane cabins regardless of the dog’s size, flagship Spanish airline Iberia states “therapy or emotional support dogs are NOT considered to be assistance dogs and are therefore subject to the same acceptance conditions as those for pets”.
Air Europa has a similar policy, stating: “A service animal means a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability or other similar medical condition. Animal species other than dogs, emotional support animals, comfort animals, companionship animals, and service animals in training are not service animals and their transportation is subject to the carriage conditions and fees applicable to pet animals in cabin or in hold, as applicable”.
There is no evidence that any Spanish airline gives emotional support pets any special treatment and they will be subject to the same rules as all other normal pets.
READ ALSO: How to legally buy a pet in Spain
How do I get an emotional support animal in Spain?
If you want to get an ESA in Spain or have it recognised here, you will generally have to get a letter from a mental health specialist such as a psychologist or a psychiatrist certifying the animal as a therapeutic need.
You can also contact groups such as AETANA – the Association of Animal-Assisted Therapies. As mentioned though, this doesn’t mean that it will necessarily be able to access more areas or travel on more types of transport than regular pets. You will have to show the letter to each establishment or company for them to decide.
Spain’s Animal Welfare Law, which has been in force since 2023 considers animals to be sentient beings and not mere possessions, so it’s important you’re aware of the laws regarding animals here if you move to Spain with your ESA. For example, civil liability insurance is mandatory for dogs in all regions of the country.
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READ ALSO – EXPLAINED: The rules for moving to Spain with your pet
What methods of transport can animals have access to in Spain?
Spain’s Animal Welfare Law does mean though that pets and ESAs already have access to many spaces and methods of transport in Spain.
On ALSA long distance bus services, a maximum of one companion animal is allowed per person, “where ‘companion animal’ is understood to be limited to dogs, cats and ferrets weighing no more than 10 kg”. The animal will travel in the hold of the vehicle, always inside a carrier or crate.
On Renfe trains “dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and non-farm birds are allowed as long as they do not weigh more than 10kg and there is only one per person”. They must also travel in a cage or carrier.
You can also travel with dogs weighing up to 40kg on some AVE trains on the Madrid – Barcelona, Madrid – Malaga, Madrid – Alicante, Madrid – Valencia, Madrid – Zaragoza, Madrid – Granada and Madrid – Seville lines.
There are several cities in Spain which allow you to take your dog on the metro system without being in the carrier and many public buses will allow them too, although some require a carrier.
