Malaysia Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Malaysia pet import requirements for dogs and cats entering Malaysia. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of a microchip, current rabies vaccinations, parasite treatments, import permit, and a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs and cats, including assistance and service animals. Wolf hybrids and Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO MALAYSIA below.

These regulations do not apply to pets entering Sabah or Sarawak.

Pets in Malaysia

Cats and dogs are the most commonly owned pets in Malaysia. There are approximately 1.3 million cats and 700,000 dogs living in Malaysian households. Other popular pets include birds, fish, and small mammals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Birds are a popular choice, particularly in urban areas.

Popular dog breeds include the Shih Tzu, Poodle, Golden Retriever, and local mixed breeds. Popular cat breeds include domestic shorthairs, Persian, Siamese, and British Shorthair.

Malaysia has a growing network of veterinary clinics offering a range of services from routine check-ups to advanced medical treatments required to import pets to other countries. Major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru have a significant number of pet supply stores.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Malaysia

There will be 14 days of quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Malaysia except when originating from a Non-Scheduled Country (see step 1).

Malaysia Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to Malaysia pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-7 in the order given.

Step 1: Country Classifications

Malaysia classifies the following countries as Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Countries:

Scheduled Countries: United Kingdom, Eire, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Brunei, Australia, and Singapore. Dogs or cats must have been born in or continuously lived in one of these countries for a minimum of six months or since birth prior to traveling to Malaysia to qualify for this category. There must be no incidence of rabies reported for 24 months prior to import.

Non-Scheduled Countries: All countries other than Scheduled Countries. Non-Scheduled Countries may be evaluated at the time of import application. There must be no reports of rabies within 12 months of import. Residency requirement: six months or since birth.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their country of origin before reviewing import requirements for Malaysia.

Step 2: Pet Microchip

The first step to importing a dog or cat to Malaysia is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit pet microchip that is compliant with ISO 11784 or Annex A of ISO 11785. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO-compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner.

A veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer’s database.

The microchip number must be recorded on all required import documents.

Step 3: Vaccinations

All pet dogs and cats entering Malaysia must be vaccinated for rabies at various intervals prior to entering Malaysia depending on the rabies classification of the country of origin. Proof of rabies vaccination including the microchip number must be submitted for the import permit.

Other Vaccinations

Vaccinations reflecting all the routine health vaccinations administered by your veterinarian must also accompany your pet and listed on the health certificate.

Dogs entering Malaysia from any country must be vaccinated against canine parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis according to the disease status of the country of origin. Cats entering Malaysia from any country should be vaccinated against feline calicivirus, panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis, Chlamydia Felis, and feline leukemia.

Dogs and cats originating in Australia must be tested for Hendra shortly prior to import. They must originate in an area where an outbreak of the Hendra Virus has not occurred within six months of import.

Step 4: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. It must be administered more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination. Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) tests are recommended, as they are accepted by every country that requires this test.

All pets entering Malaysia from a Non-Scheduled country will need to provide the results of a rabies titer test administered between three and twelve months of entry.

Step 5: Parasite Treatments

Treatments for internal and external parasites are required for cats and dogs shortly prior to entering Malaysia from all countries.

Step 6: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires pets to enter the country with an original export health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) in their pet import regulations, and Malaysia is no exception. The health certificate must clearly identify your pet, including its microchip number, species, and physical characteristics.

After the vaccinations and titer test are completed, a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin must then complete an export pet health certificate within seven days of traveling.

After issuance, the certificate must be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in the country of origin responsible for the import and export of live animals. Another inspection of the pet must occur within 48 hours of travel.

For pets entering from Scheduled Countries (Step 1), health certificates must contain a statement that there have been no incidents of rabies among un-quarantined animals in the country of origin for the past 12 months.

Step 7: Import Permit

All pets entering Malaysia must secure an Import License issued by the Director General of Veterinary Services or the Director of the State Veterinary Department. The license can be applied for online by an agent who is registered in the system or in person by a licensed agent or representative of the owner. This document is issued within a day and is valid for 30 days from issuance.

Applications for import to the States of Sabah and Sarawak should be made to the respective states as their pet import requirements differ from those of Malaysia.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Malaysia

Malaysia requires that puppies and kittens are three months of age prior to import. They should be vaccinated for rabies and are subject to regulations listed here.

More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned from Import to Malaysia

The following breeds are not permitted to enter Malaysia: American Pit Bull, Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Neopolitan Mastiff, Japanese Tosa, Akita, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero.

There are additional requirements to bring these breeds to Malaysia: Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepard, Belgian Shepard, East European Shepard, Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, and Perro de Presa Canario. Owners of these breeds need to make an official written application to the Director of State Veterinary Services (State DVS) in advance.

Pedigree certificates must be available, and these dogs must not be imported for resale or other commercial reasons.

Bengal and Savannah cats are not permitted import unless proof that they are 5th generation removed from the pedigree.

Quarantine Requirements for Malaysia

If your pet is entering Malaysia from a Scheduled Country (see step 1) after being born or living there for six months prior to import, no quarantine is required if all requirements are met. If your pet is entering Malaysia from any other country, it shall be placed in quarantine and may be vaccinated with approved anti-rabies vaccine and detained in quarantine for compulsory period of not less than fourteen days. Your pet will be released if found to be free of any evidence of infection. However, where deemed necessary, the quarantine period can be extended up to six months based on risk assessment on a case-to-case basis.

Quarantine facilities for dogs and cats are available at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, Penang International Airport, and Padang Besar (Perlis-Thai border). Those dogs and cats requiring quarantine must enter at those points. Advance quarantine reservations must be made. An agent must care for your pet while it is in quarantine.

Entering Malaysia from Singapore by Ground

Your pet must be accompanied by a declaration by the owner to the effect that it is been in your possession in Singapore for not less than six months or since its birth and that the owner has no reason to believe it to be infected with rabies.

You must have a certificate from the competent veterinary officer, Primary Production (Veterinary) Department, Singapore, endorsing that your pet has not been imported into Singapore during the six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the certificate except in accordance with regulation, and endorsing that no case of rabies had been reported to have occurred in Singapore during the six months immediately preceding the date of the certificate.

Your pet must be examined by the Veterinary Department Singapore within seven days immediately preceding the import and found to be free from any clinical sign of infectious or contagious diseases. Your pet must be carried by aircraft or road transport direct to the prescribed landing place or any other airport as directed by the Director General of Veterinary Services, Malaysia or the State Director.

Flying a Pet to Malaysia

Flights to Malaysia should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

All cats and dogs can enter at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Senai International Airport in Lahore, Labuan International Airport, Labuan F.T. or Bayan Lepas International Airport in Penang. Those pets requiring quarantine must enter Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, Penang International Airport. Reservations for quarantine must be made at least two weeks if not more in advance as quarantine facilities are oftentimes full, so early reservations are recommended. Pet owners will be responsible for the care of their dog or cat while in quarantine.

It is recommended that notice be given to the Animal Quarantine Officer at the landing point prior to entry.

There are no restrictions on the number of domesticated pets that you can import if that number will be permitted at the place of residency.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA compliant?

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Malaysia. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Malaysia

To import exotic animals or wildlife as a pet, you may also need to obtain approval from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks before applying for an import permit from the Department of Veterinary Services.

Importing Birds to Malaysia

Certain birds may be imported to Malaysia with an import permit from the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services as well as a current health certificate issued by a government veterinarian stating that your bird resided in the country of origin for the past two months and originated from a premise under close supervision and regularly monitored by your government’s Veterinary Authority for the last six months preceding export. It must also state that there were no clinical or serological evidence of velogenic Newcastle disease, highly pathogenic avian influenza, fowl pox, fowl cholera, pullorum disease, infectious coryza, psittacosis and ornithosis detected or reported within the area of 20 km radius surrounding the premise of origin in the last six months preceding export.

Your veterinarian must state that your bird has tested negative for Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza and that
they were not vaccinated against these diseases.

Your bird must have a health check within 48 hours of export, and your veterinarian must state that your bird was treated with an approved anthelmintic and antibiotic and showed no signs of infectious or contagious diseases.

Birds entering Malaysia must fly or be transported by sea directly without intermediate layovers.

Importing Rabbits to Malaysia

Rabbits from any country may enter Malaysia with an import permit from the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services as well as a current health certificate stating that your rabbit is free from myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease and has not been exposed to these diseases, has been kept in isolation from other animals for 60 days prior to export, and is free of external and internal parasites.

Importing Other Pets to Malaysia

Invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Malaysia. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

Exporting Resident Pets from Malaysia

Pet owners must submit a Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC) application as well as all documentation
required for their destination country to Veterinary Services. VS will issue an export permit. There is a fee for this service.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat, and it is even more important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Learn more about CITES

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Malaysia?

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Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to:

• Make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense or
• Return your pet to the country of origin at your expense or
• Euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Malaysia pet import requirements.