Travelling with a Dog
Travelling to Morocco with Your Dog
How your dog travels on the ferry to Morocco - and back into the EU: titre test, paperwork and onboard accommodation
- Important - without a rabies titre test, your dog cannot return to the EU
- Outbound travel needs an EU pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificate
- Short Strait of Gibraltar crossings or long Mediterranean routes with a cabin
Entry & Return
What Your Dog Needs for Morocco
Morocco is a non-EU country with no listed rabies-free status. The real bottleneck isn't the outbound crossing, but the return journey into the EU.
EU Pet Passport
ISO Microchip
Rabies Vaccination
Titre Test
Travelling to Morocco with your dog is entirely feasible, but it takes more advance planning than a trip within the EU. Morocco is a non-EU country with no listed rabies-free status. For the outbound journey you need the usual paperwork, but the real bottleneck is the return to the EU: without a timely rabies titre test, your dog cannot come back. This page covers the rules for both directions, which route works best with a dog, and how your pet travels on board. If you're travelling by motorhome, vehicle dimensions and customs also come into play - see our guide Travelling to Morocco by Motorhome.
The return journey is the real challenge
The most important step is preparing for the return journey to the EU. Because Morocco isn't listed as rabies-free, the EU requires a rabies antibody test (titre test):
- The blood sample may be taken no earlier than 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
- It must be taken by an authorised vet and analysed at an EU-approved laboratory.
- Normally a three-month waiting period applies afterwards before re-entry.
Entering Morocco
The requirements for the outbound journey are straightforward:
- EU pet passport with a registered chip and valid rabies vaccination.
- ISO microchip (standard 11784/11785), implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Valid rabies vaccination, registered in the pet passport.
- Official health certificate, translated into English and French and generally no older than ten days.
As requirements can change, check with the Moroccan consulate or the relevant veterinary authority before departure.
Which route is best with a dog?
What matters most for your dog is time on board. The shortest crossings are over the Strait of Gibraltar: Tarifa - Tangier takes only about an hour and puts you straight into central Tangier, Algeciras - Tangier Med around 1.5 hours. For the north-east, Almería - Nador is the crossing to take. Considerably longer, but sparing you the long drive through France and Spain, are the Mediterranean overnight ferries from Sète - Tangier Med, Marseille - Tangier Med and Genoa - Tangier Med. On these, your dog travels one to two nights in the pet cabin.
Where your dog travels on board
Accommodation for your dog varies by operator:
- Baleària: pet cabin with bowls, a pre-booked kennel, or a pet-friendly seat. A lead and muzzle are required during boarding and disembarkation.
- FRS: small animals up to around six kilograms in a carrier in the passenger area, larger animals in a carrier in the vehicle deck area or on deck, with advance notice also in the onboard kennel.
- Long Mediterranean ferries (GNV, La Méridionale): pet cabin or kennel for the overnight crossing.
On most ferries the vehicle deck is closed off during the crossing, so your dog won't stay in the car. Pet cabins are limited, so register your pet when you book, not just at the port. Bring food, water, a lead and waste bags up to the passenger deck.
Checklist for travelling with a dog
- Get the titre test done in good time before leaving the EU and have it entered in the pet passport.
- EU pet passport, microchip and rabies vaccination complete and valid.
- Health certificate in English and French, dated recently.
- Ferry booking with your dog registered and a pet cabin reserved where needed.
- Plan a toilet break before departure and keep the paperwork handy at check-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ - Travelling to Morocco with a Dog
The key questions about travelling to Morocco with a dog, answered concisely.
What do I need to know about returning to the EU with my dog from Morocco?+
This is the most important point. Morocco is a non-EU country with no listed rabies-free status, so the EU requires a rabies antibody test (titre test) for re-entry. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and analysed at an EU-approved laboratory. The key trick: if you have the test done in the EU before you leave and your vet enters the result in the pet passport, the usual three-month waiting period before the return journey is waived. Without a valid titre test, your dog cannot come back.
What paperwork does my dog need to enter Morocco?+
For the outbound journey you need an EU pet passport, an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an official health certificate, translated into English and French and generally no older than ten days. Check the current requirements with the Moroccan consulate or veterinary authority before departure, as they can change.
Where is my dog accommodated during the crossing?+
This depends on the operator and the length of the route. With Baleària, your dog travels in a pet cabin, a pre-booked kennel, or on a pet-friendly seat. With FRS, small animals up to around six kilograms may travel in a carrier in the passenger area, while larger dogs travel in a carrier in the vehicle deck area or on deck. On the long Mediterranean ferries you book a pet cabin or a kennel. A lead and usually a muzzle are required during boarding and disembarkation. Register your pet when you book, not at the port.
Which route is best with a dog?+
What matters most for your dog is time on board. The shortest crossings are over the Strait of Gibraltar: Tarifa - Tangier takes about an hour, Algeciras - Tangier Med around 1.5 hours. The long Mediterranean ferries from Sète, Marseille or Genoa save you the drive through Spain, but take one to two nights, during which your dog sleeps in the pet cabin.
Can my dog travel with me in a motorhome?+
On most ferries the vehicle deck is closed off during the crossing, so your dog won't stay in the motorhome but will travel in a cabin or kennel instead. Everything on vehicle dimensions, customs and insurance is covered in our guide Travelling to Morocco by Motorhome.
Ready to Travel to Morocco with Your Dog?
Check the routes, plan the titre test well in advance, and register your dog when you book.