Gibraltar keeps things refreshingly clear: a microchip is required before anything else, and rabies vaccination is required too. The science here is simpler than it sounds, and getting the order right is where most travellers stumble. Pixel breezed through because his paperwork lined up perfectly. Read on for the exact sequence, the timing trap that catches people out, and what it actually costs to do it properly.

Bringing a pet to Gibraltar requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.

How Gibraltar handles your pet

Downloadable forms

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

Health & documents

Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Microchip · Tattoo accepted Yesverified 2026-08-13
Microchip · Must be done before vaccination Yesverified 2026-07-15
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Rabies vaccination · Booster required Yesverified 2026-07-07
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination21 daysverified 2026-07-15
Tapeworm treatment · Required Yesverified 2026-07-07

Other rules

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-15

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day 0 arrive at customs

The microchip must precede the rabies vaccination. A dose given before the chip is recorded does not count for Gibraltar entry. Book the microchip appointment first and confirm the number is logged. Only then schedule the rabies shot. Keep both dates on the certificate so the order is visible. Re-vaccinate if the sequence was reversed, then wait out the validity window before travel.
Gibraltar rewards travellers who chip first and vaccinate second, in that exact order. Nail the sequence and the rest falls into place, just as it did for Pixel. Build your personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder to lock the dates, timings, and documents to your real trip. It turns two required steps into a checklist you can actually follow, so nothing surprises you at the border.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Gibraltar →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.