If you are going to keep a dog of a breed classed in Spain as potencialmente peligroso (potentially dangerous) and you live in Alicante, you need an administrative licence from the City Council before you can keep it. Here are the five requirements, how to apply, and the order that saves you the most time.
Throughout this guide we give the Spanish name of each document in italics. You will need those exact terms when you deal with the administration, as the forms and the online portal are only available in Spanish and Valencian.
Two separate procedures, not one
This is the most common misunderstanding. Keeping a potentially dangerous dog legally in Alicante requires two separate steps:
- The administrative licence (licencia administrativa para la tenencia de animales potencialmente peligrosos). It is granted to the person, not to the animal.
- Registering the animal in the municipal register (Registro Municipal de Animales Potencialmente Peligrosos).
The order matters: to register the animal you must already hold the licence. If you go to the City Council intending to do both at once, they will ask for the licence first.
In addition, every dog must be registered on the municipal census (censo municipal) of the town where it lives and must carry an identification microchip, whatever its breed.
The five requirements for the licence
| Requirement | Where to obtain it |
|---|---|
| Being of legal age | Valid DNI, NIE or passport |
| No criminal convictions for certain offences certificado de antecedentes penales |
Ministry of Justice (Ministerio de Justicia) |
| No penalties for serious or very serious infringements in this area | Declaration of responsibility (declaración responsable) |
| Certificate of physical and psychological fitness certificado de capacidad física y aptitud psicológica |
An authorised medical examination centre |
| Third-party liability insurance seguro de responsabilidad civil |
Insurance company |
One point worth clarifying about the insurance: national legislation sets a minimum cover of €120,000, but before taking out a policy, confirm with the City Council the amount it requires, as some municipalities ask for more. Without that insurance the licence is neither granted nor renewed.
The fitness certificate
Of the five requirements, this is the only one obtained at a medical centre. It is an examination confirming that you meet the physical and psychological conditions needed to take charge of an animal of this kind.
It is carried out at an authorised examination centre (centro de reconocimiento autorizado) and issued on the spot. No preparation or fasting is required.
At DUA CLINIC we issue this certificate for €36, with no appointment needed and in about fifteen minutes. You only need to bring your identity document and a recent photograph, which is compulsory for this procedure.
How to apply in Alicante
The licence is issued by Alicante City Council (Ayuntamiento de Alicante). You can submit your application in two ways:
- Through the online portal (sede electrónica) on the council website, if you have a digital certificate or Cl@ve.
- In person, at the council’s health department (Departamento de Sanidad).
The procedure carries a municipal fee (tasa municipal). The amount may vary, so it is best to check it on the online portal before submitting your application.
The order we recommend
- The fitness certificate. It is the quickest of the three documents: issued the same day.
- The criminal record certificate. Requested from the Ministry of Justice; it takes a few days.
- The liability insurance. Confirm first what cover the City Council requires.
- The licence application, with all of the above.
- Registering the animal in the municipal register, once the licence has been granted.
How often it must be renewed
The licence is valid for five years and is renewed for equal periods. On renewal you will again be asked for the fitness certificate and a valid insurance policy.
Do not leave it to the last minute: if the licence expires, keeping the animal is no longer covered.
Your obligations once you hold the licence
- Always carry the licence and the registration certificate with you when out with the animal.
- Walk it on a non-extendable lead of less than two metres.
- A muzzle preventing the jaw from opening.
- No more than one animal of this kind per person.
- Keep it under permanent control, including on your own property.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the licence before getting the dog?
Yes. The licence must be obtained before keeping the animal. Keeping a dog of this kind without one is an infringement.
Is the licence valid in any town?
No. It is municipal and must be applied for at the council of the town where you live with the animal. If you move to another municipality, you must apply there.
What if the dog belongs to someone else and I only walk it?
Whoever walks the animal in public must also hold a licence. It is not enough for the owner to have one.
Does the medical certificate cover more than one dog?
The certificate confirms your own fitness, not the animal’s, so it covers the licence regardless of how many animals are registered in your name.
Do I need to speak Spanish to complete the procedure?
The forms and the online portal are in Spanish and Valencian. The medical certificate, however, you can obtain at our centre, where we attend in English.
How long does the licence take to be granted?
The timescale is set by the City Council. What you can speed up is obtaining the prior documents, which is where most time is lost.
Fitness certificate for a dangerous dog licence in Alicante
- €36, no appointment needed
- In about fifteen minutes
- Issued on the spot
- In Playa de San Juan, with easy parking
- English spoken
The information on this page is for guidance only and is based on current Spanish legislation on potentially dangerous animals and on the municipal by-law of Alicante City Council. The requirements, timescales and fees are set by the council itself and may change, so it is advisable to confirm them on its online portal before starting the procedure.