Bringing your dog to Switzerland

Before you travel: what you need from Spain

Since Spain is an EU country, the process is the same as any intra-EU trip with a pet — no quarantine, no commercial import paperwork — but the order of the steps matters, and getting it wrong can mean being turned back at the border.

• ISO-compliant microchip — it must be implanted before the rabies vaccine. If your vet vaccinates first and chips afterward, that vaccination doesn't count for the passport.
• Rabies vaccination — can be given from 12 weeks of age, and only becomes valid 21 days after it's administered. Build in that buffer, don't leave it for the last minute.
• EU pet passport — issued by any vet in Spain during the same visit where they confirm the microchip and vaccine. This is the document you'll show at the border.
• Puppies under 16 weeks — if your puppy can't be vaccinated yet, you can still enter with a specific owner declaration (your vet prepares it); ask about it if this applies to you.

Coming from Spain, you don't need the tapeworm (echinococcosis) treatment to enter Switzerland — that requirement only applies if your destination were Finland, Ireland, Malta, or Norway. On arrival, present yourself at the customs "red channel" with your pet's passport.

Right after arrival: mandatory registration (10 days)

You must take your dog to a Swiss vet within 10 days of arrival so they can register the microchip number in AMICUS, the national dog database. Your registration data from Spain does not transfer automatically — Swiss registration is a new step, not a simple update.

The dog tax (Hundesteuer)

Beyond registering in AMICUS, you'll also need to register your dog with your commune (usually during the same visit as your own Anmeldung) and pay the annual dog tax. It's not a federal tax — each commune sets its own — and it varies a lot; expect somewhere between CHF 50 and 200 per year for a first dog, with surcharges for a second or third. Ask for the exact amount at your town hall (Einwohnerkontrolle) when you register.

Mandatory training: entirely canton-dependent

Between 2008 and 2017, Switzerland had a federally mandatory competence exam (Sachkundenachweis, SKN) for anyone acquiring a dog. It was abolished in 2017 and replaced with voluntary courses plus stricter rules for listed breeds. Since then, some cantons have reintroduced their own mandatory course — and the trend is growing, so always check the current situation in your destination canton before settling in:

• Zürich — mandatory practical course (minimum 6 lessons) for every dog, regardless of breed, in effect since June 2025. Starts once the dog turns 6 months old and must be completed within 12 months of getting the dog.
• Luzern — "Nationales Hundehalter Brevet" (NHB), to be completed within 18 months of getting the dog.
• Basel-Stadt — recently reintroduced its own requirement.
• Other cantons don't currently require a general course — but may require specific training for breeds on their risk list (see table below).

Regulated or banned breeds, canton by canton

Main sources: Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV), animal welfare organizations like Vier Pfoten, and Swiss media (SRF). Last verified: July 2026 — these lists change, always confirm with the destination canton.

How it fits with the rest

If you're renting, keep in mind many Swiss landlords require explicit authorization to keep pets — bring it up from the first contact, not at the signing. See the housing guide.