This guide is for English-speaking expats living in Spain, people moving there with a dog or cat, and travellers bringing a pet on holiday. Pet insurance in Spain (seguro de mascotas) can mean three different things: vet cover for illness and accidents, accident-only cover, or third-party liability (responsabilidad civil) for damage your dog causes to someone else. We compare Petplan, Barkibu, SantéVet, Caser, Sanitas, SegurCaixa Adeslas, Mapfre and Línea Directa on published price, reimbursement rate, annual limit, waiting periods and whether you can deal with them in English. Every figure links to the insurer page it came from.
On the law, in one line: Ley 7/2023 says every dog owner will need liability insurance, but the amount is left to a regulation that was still unpublished on 2 November 2026, so the general rule cannot be enforced yet. Potentially dangerous dogs (PPP) are the exception: they already need at least €120,000 of cover. The full explanation, with official sources, is further down.
Last checked: 2 November 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the insurer page before you buy. Comparesies is published by Collatio Media AB. Some insurer links may earn us a commission at no cost to you; that never changes which insurers we list or what we write about them.
Updated November 02, 2026
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17 min read
Who this guide is for
English-speaking expats who live in Spain and want vet or liability cover for a dog or cat.
People moving to Spain with a pet, from the UK or another EU country.
Travellers bringing a pet to Spain for a holiday or a longer stay.
Dog owners checking what the Spanish dog law requires today.
*Prices are the lowest published on each insurer website on 2 November 2026. Your quote depends on species, breed, age and where you live.
Provider
Price from*
Reimbursement
Annual limit
Waiting period
Any vet?
Stand-out feature
Petplan
Cats €16/month, dogs €23/month
100% after €45 co-pay
€3,100
15 days accident, 30 days illness
Yes
English website
Barkibu
About €20/month
80%
Chosen at quote
5 days accident, 28 days illness
Yes
Vet chat in the app
Caser MIMAscota
Health about €19.40/month, liability €3.90/month
Check at quote
Check at quote
None, except 3 months for cremation
Check at quote
No upper age limit
Sanitas
Quote only
80%
€2,500
30 days
Yes
EU emergencies covered
SantéVet
Quote only
Up to 90%
Check at quote
Check at quote
Yes
Prevention up to €90/year
SegurCaixa Adeslas
€5.85/month basic, €24.74/month Completa
Check at quote
Check at quote
Check at quote
Check at quote
Same price for any breed
Mapfre
Liability €30/year, health €350/year
80% (health plan)
Accident plan: €1,000 per accident
Health plan only
Your chosen vet
Liability valid abroad
Línea Directa
Quote only
100% of accident costs (Completo)
Check at quote
Check at quote
Any clinic (accidents)
€300,000 liability, no excess
Petplan (sold by Petplan Ibérica, underwritten by Telefónica Seguros)
Barkibu
SantéVet
Caser (MIMAscota)
Sanitas
SegurCaixa Adeslas
Mapfre
Línea Directa
Santalucía
Kozoo and Lassie, which you may know from France, had no Spanish offer when we checked.
You do not need Spanish nationality. In practice you need what any resident needs:
An address in Spain for the policy and for any letters from the insurer.
A bank account for direct debit. Spanish insurers collect premiums by bank debit; ask before you sign whether a non-Spanish euro (SEPA) account is accepted.
Your pet’s details: species, breed, date of birth, microchip number and vaccination record.
A pet within the entry age. Barkibu accepts pets from 2 months to under 11 years, Sanitas from 3 months to 9 years, and SegurCaixa Adeslas only sells its Completa plan to pets under 9. Caser says it has no age limit.
Some Spanish, or an English-speaking insurer. Petplan and Barkibu have English websites and Línea Directa has an English option. Most other insurers work in Spanish only.
€45 co-pay per illness or accident, then 100% reimbursed
Waiting Periods
15 days for accidents, 30 days for illness
Additional Details
Liability cover €300,000 a year as an option (€25 a year). Vaccines refunded up to €90 a year.
Pros
✓
100% reimbursement after the co-pay
Pros
✓
Any vet in Spain
Pros
✓
English website and quote form
Pros
✓
Optional €300,000 liability cover for €25 a year
Pros
✓
Rabbits can be insured
Cons
✕
€45 co-pay for each new illness or accident
Cons
✕
€3,100 annual limit is lower than some rivals
Petplan Spain is sold by the broker Petplan Ibérica (DGSFP register J 3103) and underwritten by Telefónica Seguros. It pays 100% of eligible vet bills up to €3,100 a year at any vet, after a €45 co-pay per illness or accident. Published prices on 2 November 2026: cats from €16 a month, dogs from €23 a month. The website is in English.
80% of eligible vet costs, annual limit chosen at quote
Waiting Periods
5 days for accidents, 28 days for illness, 6 months for listed conditions
Age Restrictions
From 2 months to under 11 years at signup
Additional Details
Prevention 80% up to €100 a year. Liability cover up to €200,000.
Pros
✓
Any vet in Spain
Pros
✓
Covered for life once insured
Pros
✓
Claims and vet chat in the app, in English
Pros
✓
No waiting period for prevention
Cons
✕
20% of every bill stays with you
Cons
✕
6-month wait for some conditions (dysplasia, cruciate ligament, epilepsy and others) if the pet is 6 months or older at signup
Barkibu Spain refunds 80% of vet bills for illness and accidents, with an annual limit you pick at quote. Prevention is refunded at 80% up to €100 a year and liability cover goes up to €200,000. Pets can join from 2 months to under 11 years and stay covered for life. Prices start at about €20 a month. The policy is underwritten by Nordic Guarantee Försäkringsaktiebolag (DGSFP register E0249).
Prevention up to €90 a year. Optional liability cover up to €200,000.
Pros
✓
Up to 90% reimbursement
Pros
✓
Any vet
Pros
✓
Prevention budget up to €90 a year
Cons
✕
No price published without a quote
Cons
✕
Spanish site has limited English
SantéVet is a French specialist that also sells in Spain. It refunds up to 90% of vet bills at any vet, adds prevention cover up to €90 a year and offers optional liability cover up to €200,000. Prices are only shown after a quote.
Caser MIMAscota combines liability cover from €3.90 a month (up to €350,000) with health plans at about €19.40 to €28 a month. Caser states there is no age limit and no waiting period, except 3 months for cremation. Multi-pet discounts of 5%, 10% and 15% apply.
Sanitas refunds 80% of vet bills up to €2,500 a year at any vet, with emergency cover in Spain and the EU. Pets can join from 3 months to 9 years and stay covered for life. There is a 30-day waiting period, longer for some items. Sanitas health clients get €100 a year off.
Basic from €5.85 a month, Completa from €24.74 a month
Liability
Up to €200,000
Age Restrictions
Completa: under 9 years at signup
Pros
✓
Same price for any breed or age
Pros
✓
Potentially dangerous dogs accepted
Pros
✓
Low entry price
Cons
✕
Completa only for pets under 9 at signup
Cons
✕
Website in Spanish only
SegurCaixa Adeslas charges the same price whatever the species, breed or age, potentially dangerous dogs included. The basic plan starts from €5.85 a month and the Completa plan from €24.74 a month, with liability cover up to €200,000. Completa is only open to pets under 9 at signup.
Mapfre sells three levels: liability only from €30 a year (limits from €60,000 to €300,000, in Spain and abroad), accident cover from €64 a year (up to €1,000 per accident), and accident plus illness from €350 a year at 80% with your chosen vet.
Completo tier: 100% of accident vet costs at any clinic
Pros
✓
Liability up to €300,000 with no excess
Pros
✓
Any clinic for accident care
Pros
✓
English option on the website
Cons
✕
No illness cover found
Cons
✕
Prices need a quote
Línea Directa sells liability cover up to €300,000 with no excess. The Completo tier adds 100% of accident vet costs at any clinic, and a third tier adds a vet plan. We found no illness cover, and the published prices were not clear enough to quote, so get a quote for your pet.
Detailed Reviews of Pet Insurance in Spain
Each card shows the cover, the lowest published price and how far you can deal with the insurer in English, then who the policy suits and what to watch out for.
Petplan
Cover
Vet bills for illness and accidents, liability as an option
Petplan pays 100% of eligible vet bills up to €3,100 a year at any vet, after a €45 co-pay for each illness or accident. Waiting periods are 15 days for accidents and 30 days for illness. Liability cover of €300,000 a year costs €25 a year extra, vaccines are refunded up to €90 a year, and rabbits can be insured too. The broker is Petplan Ibérica (DGSFP register J 3103) and the insurer is Telefónica Seguros.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
English speakers who want full reimbursement and no percentage to pay on each bill.
The €45 co-pay applies to every new condition, and €3,100 a year is a lower ceiling than some rivals offer.
Barkibu
Cover
Vet bills for illness and accidents, prevention, liability
Barkibu is a Spanish company with a policy underwritten by Nordic Guarantee Försäkringsaktiebolag (DGSFP register E0249). It refunds 80% of vet bills, you pick the annual limit, prevention is refunded at 80% up to €100 a year, and liability goes up to €200,000. Pets join from 2 months to under 11 years and stay covered for life. Waiting periods are 5 days for accidents and 28 days for illness, with no wait for prevention. A 6-month wait applies to a list of conditions, such as hip or elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament problems, epilepsy and leishmaniosis, if your pet is 6 months or older at signup. Our Barkibu France review covers the app and claims process.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Owners who want to claim from their phone and talk to a vet by chat in English.
You always pay 20% of the bill, and the 6-month list matters for breeds prone to joint problems.
SantéVet, a French specialist, sells in Spain with refunds of up to 90% at any vet, a prevention budget of up to €90 a year and optional liability cover up to €200,000. Prices only appear after a quote. Read our SantéVet France review for how the company handles claims.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Owners who want a high refund rate and some help with vaccines and check-ups.
No price to compare until you fill in the form.
Caser MIMAscota
Cover
Liability and health plans
Published price
Liability from €3.90/month, health about €19.40 to €28/month
Caser sells liability cover up to €350,000 and health plans in the €19.40 to €28 a month range. It states that there is no age limit and no waiting period, apart from 3 months for cremation. Insuring more than one pet brings discounts of 5%, 10% or 15%.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Older pets that other insurers turn away, and multi-pet homes.
The website is in Spanish, and plan limits are only clear in the quote.
Sanitas refunds 80% of vet bills up to €2,500 a year at any vet, and covers emergencies in Spain and the rest of the EU. Pets join from 3 months to 9 years and stay covered for life. The waiting period is 30 days, longer for some items. Sanitas health insurance clients get €100 a year off.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Owners who drive around Europe with their pet, and existing Sanitas clients.
SegurCaixa Adeslas charges the same price whatever the species, breed or age, and accepts potentially dangerous dogs. Liability goes up to €200,000. The Completa plan is only sold for pets under 9 at signup.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Owners of PPP breeds who want liability and vet cover in one policy.
The age cap on Completa.
Mapfre
Cover
Liability, accident, or accident plus illness
Published price
Liability from €30/year, accident from €64/year, full cover from €350/year
Mapfre is one of Spain’s largest insurers. Its liability cover runs from €60,000 to €300,000 and applies in Spain and abroad. The accident plan pays up to €1,000 per accident, and the full plan refunds 80% at the vet you choose, with waiting periods on the health cover.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Cheap liability cover that also travels with you.
Full health cover is priced well above the specialists.
Línea Directa’s Esencial tier is liability cover up to €300,000 with no excess. Completo adds 100% of accident vet costs at any clinic, and a third tier adds a vet plan. We found no illness cover, and the prices on the comparison page were not clear enough to quote here.
✔ Ideal for
⚠ Watch out for
Liability plus accident cover from a direct insurer.
Santalucía sells liability and health cover for dogs and cats, including potentially dangerous dogs. Its prices load by script and we could not read them, so request a quote.
⚠ A warning about Protectapet
Protectapet markets an English pet healthcare plan in Spain. Its own terms state that it is not regulated by the Spanish insurance supervisor (DGSFP). That means it is not an insurance policy under Spanish rules, and you would not have the protections that come with one. We do not list it as an insurer.
Pet Insurance for Expats in Spain
English-speaking insurers, claims in English, residency and buying cover as a newcomer.
You do not need Spanish nationality to insure a pet in Spain, but you do deal with Spanish companies, Spanish paperwork and, often, Spanish-only customer service. These are the points that matter most when you have just moved.
From an EU country: microchip, valid rabies vaccination and EU pet passport.
From Great Britain: an Animal Health Certificate, because GB pet passports are no longer valid.
Buy insurance early, so the waiting periods are behind you. Full checklist below.
Is Dog Insurance Mandatory in Spain? The 2026 Status of the Dog Law
Many insurer pages say liability insurance is now compulsory for every dog in Spain. That is not accurate on 2 November 2026. Here is what the official texts say.
The rules at a glance
Rule
What it requires
Status on 2 November 2026
Ley 7/2023, article 30
Training course and third-party liability insurance for dog owners; amount left to a regulation
Not enforceable yet (DGSFP note of 18 September 2023)
Draft Real Decreto
Minimum €100,000, and €150,000 for potentially dangerous dogs
Draft in consultation, not law
Ley 50/1999 and Real Decreto 287/2002
Municipal licence and at least €120,000 of liability for PPP dogs
In force
What Ley 7/2023 says
Ley 7/2023 on animal welfare, article 30, says dog owners must take a free training course (valid for life) and hold third-party liability insurance. The insured amount is to be “established by regulation”. No amount is written in the law itself.
Why it is not enforceable yet
In a note of 18 September 2023, the Spanish insurance supervisor (DGSFP) explained that the insurance duty does not apply until that regulation is approved, unless a regional or local rule already requires cover. The same note confirms that a home insurance policy that includes pet liability counts.
The government put a draft Real Decreto out to consultation. It proposes a minimum of €100,000, and €150,000 for potentially dangerous dogs. It is a draft, not law. According to Libertad Digital on 14 October 2026, the regulation had been in public hearing since June 2025, was still not in the BOE, and general elections are set for 29 November 2026. The course and the insurance amount both remain pending.
Potentially dangerous dogs (PPP): cover is already compulsory
Under Ley 50/1999 and Real Decreto 287/2002, owners of a perro potencialmente peligroso need a municipal licence and liability insurance of at least €120,000. Annex I lists eight breeds: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu. Dogs that match the physical traits in Annex II, and crosses, can be classed as PPP too. Check with your town hall (ayuntamiento), because regions and towns can add their own rules.
✔ What we suggest
Get liability cover for any dog, even before the law bites. It is cheap: Mapfre starts at €30 a year and Caser at €3.90 a month. Check your home insurance first, because it may already include pet liability. If your dog is a PPP breed, make sure the policy says at least €120,000 and that the insurer accepts the breed.
Choosing the Right Pet Insurance in Spain
Start with the type of cover, then compare the details:
Cover type
What it pays
Who it suits
Example from
Liability (responsabilidad civil)
Damage or injury your dog causes to others
Every dog owner, compulsory for PPP dogs
Mapfre €30/year
Accident
Vet costs after an accident
Owners who want a low price for emergencies
Mapfre €64/year
Health (illness and accidents)
Vet bills for illness and injury
Owners who want protection from large vet bills
Petplan €16/month (cats)
Five things to compare
Refund rate and co-pay: 100% after a fixed co-pay (Petplan) behaves differently from 80% of every bill (Barkibu, Sanitas). On a large bill the fixed co-pay usually leaves you with less to pay.
Annual limit: Sanitas caps refunds at €2,500 a year and Petplan at €3,100, while Barkibu lets you choose. If your breed is prone to joint or spine problems, compare limits before price.
Waiting periods: from 5 days (Barkibu accidents) to 30 days (Sanitas, Petplan illness), and up to 6 months for some conditions.
Entry age: buy before 9 if you want Sanitas or Adeslas Completa, before 11 for Barkibu.
Language: claims are easier in English with Petplan or Barkibu.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Spain?
Spanish insurers publish more prices than most markets. These are the lowest prices shown on each insurer website on 2 November 2026:
Cheapest vet cover for cats (Petplan); dogs from €23/month
€30/year
Mapfre liability cover, valid in Spain and abroad
Insurer
Liability only
Accident only
Illness and accidents
Petplan
€25/year add-on
n/a
Cats from €16/month, dogs from €23/month
Barkibu
Included up to €200,000
n/a
From about €20/month
Caser
From €3.90/month
n/a
About €19.40 to €28/month
SegurCaixa Adeslas
Basic from €5.85/month
n/a
Completa from €24.74/month
Mapfre
From €30/year
From €64/year
From €350/year
Key pricing factors
Species: Petplan’s entry price is €16 a month for cats and €23 for dogs.
Age at signup: some plans close at 9 or 11 years, so insuring young keeps your options open.
Breed: Adeslas charges one price for every breed; most others price by breed.
Limits and refund rate: higher limits and 100% refunds cost more.
Multiple pets: Caser gives 5% to 15% off.
For a market view in Spanish, the insurance research firm INESE publishes an annual comparison of pet insurance. We have no reliable source for average vet fees in Spain, so we do not quote one.
Moving to Spain with Your Dog or Cat
Spain applies the EU rules for dogs, cats and ferrets. According to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), a pet entering from another EU country needs:
A microchip.
A valid rabies vaccination, given from 12 weeks of age. The pet must wait 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling, so the minimum age is 15 weeks.
Since Brexit, pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel to the EU. You need an Animal Health Certificate from a vet, as explained on GOV.UK. Once you live in Spain, a Spanish vet can issue an EU pet passport.
After you arrive, register with a local vet and buy insurance early, so the waiting periods are behind you before anything goes wrong.
Travelling to Spain with Your Dog or Cat
Short stays, holiday cover and the EU pet passport.
Check what your current policy pays outside your country of residence before you leave. Among Spanish policies, Sanitas covers emergencies in other EU countries and Mapfre’s liability cover applies abroad. If you only visit, ask your home insurer about cover abroad: Spanish policies are designed for pets that live in Spain.
Short stays and holidays
The EU entry rules apply even for a short trip: a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an EU pet passport. From outside the EU, check the European Commission page.
Does your home policy cover you?
Ask your insurer what it pays outside your country of residence, and for how long, before you book the trip.
The EU pet passport
Issued by a vet in an EU country. Passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for EU travel, so UK visitors need an Animal Health Certificate.
Vet insurance is optional for all pets. Liability insurance is compulsory today for potentially dangerous dogs (at least €120,000) and wherever your region or town requires it. The national rule for all dogs in Ley 7/2023 is waiting for its regulation.
Not yet, according to the DGSFP, because the amount has not been set by regulation. A draft proposes €100,000, and €150,000 for PPP dogs. Cover costs from €30 a year, so many owners buy it anyway.
Published prices on 2 November 2026 start at €3.90 a month for liability (Caser), €16 a month for cat health cover and €23 for dogs (Petplan), and about €20 a month at Barkibu.
Petplan, Barkibu, SantéVet and Sanitas let you use any vet. Mapfre’s health plan pays at the vet you choose. Check the policy for the others.
Petplan and Barkibu have English websites, and Línea Directa has an English option. Most other Spanish insurers work in Spanish.
Yes, at most insurers. Barkibu accepts pets up to 11, Sanitas up to 9, and Adeslas Completa under 9. Caser states it has no age limit.
It may. The DGSFP confirms that pet liability inside a home policy is valid. Check your policy wording for the amount and whether PPP breeds are excluded.
Yes. SegurCaixa Adeslas accepts PPP dogs at the same price, and Santalucía covers them. The policy must cover at least €120,000.
Spanish policies are designed for pets that live in Spain, and insurers ask for an address in Spain and a bank account for direct debit. If you are only visiting, ask your home insurer what it pays abroad.
It depends on the policy. Check what it pays outside your country of residence, and for how long, before you travel. Once you live in Spain, compare a Spanish policy.
From another EU country, yes, together with a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. Passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid, so from the UK you need an Animal Health Certificate from a vet.
About the authors
Louis
Author
Louis has worked in the comparison industry for 5 years in Sweden after founding another company in France. His industry experience, and strong communication skills have been invaluable in building the bridge between our community and our content. Louis is our ideas man and is responsible for sourcing user and specialist opinions.
Elin Viberg
Author
Elin is a passionate dog lover with roots in Sweden and a background in the service industry. With several years of experience working closely with customers, she has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver outstanding service. Elin's love for animals, especially dogs, drives her to constantly seek the best information and products for pet owners. At Comparesies, she contributes her dedication and expertise by ensuring that our content reflects the care and quality our readers expect.
Thibault Helle
Editor
Thibault has an engineering background from both France and Sweden. Comparesies is his second company after successfully founding a tech scaleup. His experience is vast within insurances and customer satisfaction. Thibault is responsible for maintaining the website and sharing his knowledge through page editing.
Mason
Editor
Mason was born and raised in New Zealand before moving to US and then Sweden. Despite looking so youthful, he worked as a senior website manager for 5 years before founding Comparesies. Mason's expertise in insurance is the most valuable asset for our users. Today he is the primary author/editor on Comparesies.
