Pet Microchip

The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Malta is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip.

If your pet currently has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, then you have 3 choices:

• You can bring your own microchip scanner.
• You can contact the officials at the Border Inspection Post where you will enter the EU and inquire as to whether they have scanners that can read your pet's chip.
• If your pet's current microchip can still be read, your veterinarian can implant compliant chip. The number and implant dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate (see step #5).

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs, cats and ferrets must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted to enter Malta.

The first rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted is called the primary vaccination and it should be a one year vaccine unless manufacturer specifications permit its use as a primary vaccination. If your pet's previous rabies vaccination had expired before being revaccinated, the next vaccination becomes the primary vaccination.

All vaccinations that are administered after the primary vaccination are called booster vaccinations.

If your pet is entering Malta from a rabies-free (click here) or rabies-controlled country (click here), the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Malta.

There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:

• the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• the booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expired.

Malta does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

Once your pet has entered Malta, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.

If your pet is entering Malta from a high-rabies country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Malta from a high-rabies country, your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination, a rabies titer test (FAVN) must be administered  (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.)  Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Malta no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Malta from a high-rabies country. If you do not have 3 calendar months before traveling, your pet will be quarantined for the balance of time required to fulfill the 3 months.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

Before your dog can enter Malta, it must be treated against certain tapeworms one to five days prior to entering the country unless your pet is entering directly from Finland, Ireland, or Norway. Your veterinarian must record the tapeworm treatment on the EU health certificate (see next step) before it is endorsed by the USDA if you are traveling to Malta from the United States.

Pet Health Certificate

Here is where the rules differ and depend on whether or not your pet's transport is accompanied OR it involves a purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.

The owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership. If this is correct, then your pet will travel under non-commercial regulations as follows:

Non-commercial Transport to Malta from a country outside of the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering Malta from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU health certificate for Malta within 10 days of travel. The certificate must be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency responsible for the import and export of live animals in the origination country.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less animals. (see item 5 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets.) It is valid for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as your pet's rabies vaccination does not expire.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Non-commercial Transport to Malta from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. A non-commercial EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Malta from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.

Commercial Transport: The owner or a legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 cats, dogs or ferrets are traveling. If either of these is correct, then your pet will travel under commercial regulations as follows:

Commercial Transport to Malta from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

All dogs, cats and ferrets may enter Malta commercially from EU countries, rabies-free or rabies-controlled countries. Dogs, cats and ferrets from other countries may only enter Malta with or within 5 days of their owners or their owner's representatives. In this case, non-commercial regulations will apply.

A licensed veterinarian must complete the commercial EU health certificate for Malta within 48 hours of entry.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less cats, dogs or ferrets. (see step 7 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets.) It is valid for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as your pet's rabies vaccination does not expire.

Your pet must enter through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at the international airport in Luqa. Notice must be given at least 3 days prior to arrival. 

Commercial Transport to Malta from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies.

If your pet is traveling to Malta alone from another EU country, it must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU country responsible for the import and export of pets. Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. Your pet's transport must be accompanied by an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.