Malta Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Malta pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Malta will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and one of the following:

An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets)
An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)
A government-issued Pet Passport from a part 1 listed third country (see EU COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS)
An Animal Health Certificate when entering Malta from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats 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 MALTA below.

Flying to Malta with a Pet

Flights to Malta should be direct or transit through a listed third country or another EU Member State if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

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 Malta

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Malta if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Malta must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: EU Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) does not recognize any countries as rabies-free. Dogs, cats, and ferrets from all countries are subject to current rabies vaccination according to their regulations. The EU classifies countries as either:

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to Malta will depend on the classification of your country of origin and whether your pet has entered an unlisted country within the past 4 months. Click on the links above to find your origination country’s classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their origination country before reviewing import regulations for Malta.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The European Union classifies the movement of pets as non-commercial or commercial. These pet import requirements apply to both non-commercial and commercial transports. Review the conditions below to determine whether your pet’s transport will be classified as non-commercial or commercial as the requirements for each type of transport are different.

Conditions for Non-Commercial Transport

• All pets must enter Malta with or within five days of their owner*. Proof of travel will be required AND
• The transport applies to no more than five pets unless proof of participation in a competition or show is available, and pets are over six months of age AND
• The purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

All pet owners transporting their pets under non-commercial regulations must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that their pet’s transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of their pet.

Unless all of the above conditions are satisfied, your pet must travel under commercial regulations.

Conditions for Commercial Transport

The pet is not traveling with or within five days of the owner* OR
The transport is greater than five pets under one owner’s passport OR
The purpose of the transport involves any change of ownership, adoption or commercial sale.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

If any of the above conditions are met, then your pet must travel under commercial regulations. The importer must be registered in the origin country and have proof of the organization they represent. They also must have proof that this business or organization will be respo

Step 3: Pet Microchip

Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database.

The third step to importing a dog, cat, or ferret to Malta from any country is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit pet microchip that is compliant with International Standards Organization (ISO) standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO-compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer or government database in your country.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification under the following conditions:

It was applied prior to July 3, 2011, and
The tattoo is clearly visible, and
Your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and
All rabies vaccinations after the tattoo was applied were kept current. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered.)

Step 4: Vaccinations

All dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering Malta must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering Malta from another EU Member State, part1 or 2 listed third country, your pet must wait 21 days after the rabies vaccination to travel unless a booster vaccination was just administered. If entering Malta from an unlisted country, pets must wait for 30 days to have a licensed veterinarian administer a rabies titer test (next step).

In both cases, do not count the day of the veterinary visit in the wait time.

Multi-year rabies vaccinations

Malta does honor the three-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.

Other Vaccinations: Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as:

canine distemper (also for ferrets)
canine hepatitis
canine leptospirosis
canine parvovirus
feline viral rhinotracheitis
feline panleukopenia
feline leukemia

Exception: Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper when being transported commercially.

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test, also known as a serology test, must be administered to pets entering Malta from unlisted countries only. The test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit.

This test measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. There are several kinds of rabies titer tests, although the Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) is preferred.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Malta three (3) calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test and avoid quarantine.

The test is valid to enter Malta or any EU Member State for the life of your pet if boosters are administered prior to the expiration of the previous rabies vaccination.

Step 6: Import Permit

Pet owners do not need an import permit when entering Malta with a dog, cat, or ferret. Unaccompanied pets may need an import permit.

Step 7: Parasite Treatments

Before your dog can enter Malta, it must be treated against certain tapeworms by a licensed veterinarian between one and five days prior to entering the country unless your pet is entering Malta directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Finland. The treatment must be recorded on the health certificate.

Step 8: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires original health certificates in their pet import regulations, and Malta is no exception. The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under—non-commercial or commercial.

Non-Commercial Transport to Malta from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel. Step 7 applies unless your pet enters Malta directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Finland.

Resident Pets: Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport or a government-issued Pet Passport (part 1 listed third countries) for your pet. A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your air carrier.

Note: There will be additional requirements to return to a part 1 listed third country in addition to the Pet Passport. Find them here.

Non-Resident Pets (visitors): If your pet has not lived in an EU Member State or part 1 listed third country for four months, or you do not have a permanent address in an EU Member State, then your pet will need a non-commercial EU Health Certificate.

Related: Non-commercial bi-lingual EU Health Certificate for Malta.

Non-Commercial Transport to Malta from a Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Country

Steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 applies under the following conditions:

Your pet is originating from an unlisted country or
Your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

Step 7 applies unless your pet enters Malta directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Finland.

A licensed veterinarian must issue a non-commercial EU Health Certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian. This veterinarian represents the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

The EU pet health certificate for Malta is good for transports of five or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU if the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time.

Commercial Transport to Malta from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply. Step 7 applies unless your pet enters Malta directly from
Ireland, Norway, Malta or Finland.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premise which is registered with the governing authority in your EU Member State
responsible for the import and export of animals.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet.

Your pet must be inspected, and an Intratrade Pet Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the TRACES system by a registered agent ahead of travel. This system track the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the European Union.

Commercial Transport to Malta from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 3, 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply. Step 7 applies unless your pet enters Malta directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Finland.

Your pet must be inspected, and a Commercial EU Health Certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in the TRACES system. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the European Union.

Commercial Transport to Malta from an Unlisted Country

Steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 apply. Step 7 applies unless your pet enters Malta directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, or Finland.

Note: Pets can only enter Malta from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

Your pet must be inspected, and a Commercial EU Health Certificate must be issued and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering, transiting or leaving the European Union.

Other information

Importing Pets to Malta from Malaysia and Australia

If your pet is entering Malta from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met:

Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter Malta from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Importing Puppies, Kittens and Kits to Malta

Puppies, kittens and kits must not be vaccinated for rabies under 12 weeks of age. Unvaccinated pets are not permitted to enter Malta from any country until they are microchipped, fully vaccinated for rabies and conform to steps listed in these instructions. The minimum age for import to Malta from EU Member States and Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Countries is 15 weeks of age. The minimum age of import to Malta from an unlisted country is 7 months of age.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned from Import to Malta

Malta does not have breed-based dangerous dog laws or bans. The dog owner is responsible for any injury or damage incurred by their dog. The imports of a wolf hybrid or Savannah cat, require advice from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency before travel.

Entering Malta with a Pet

Pets entering Malta by air from outside the European Union must do so at international airport at Luqa. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Prenotification must be provided a minimum of 48 hours prior to arrival.

Pets should enter Malta directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying
animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

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

Exporting Resident Pets

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Malta for another EU Member State or Part 1 or 2 listed third country must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait for 21 days before leaving Malta after primary vaccination.

If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in Malta should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Malta if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your pet’s destination country.

Non-accompanied transports may require export permits.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Malta

There are no rabies requirements for other species of rodents, rabbits, birds, ornamental fish, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles imported to Malta from other EU states as well as Andorra, Switzerland, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and San Marino. However, pet rabbits and rodents imported to Malta from any other non-EU rabies-controlled country will be quarantined for four months.

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits should have a health certificate to enter Malta. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant
authority of their country and/or that of the destination country.

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 very 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 and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Search the CITES database

Related: Learn more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements for Malta?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for step-by-step detailed instructions on regulations, permits, layovers, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Malta at minimal cost. Our information is current, verified and tailored to your pet’s itinerary.

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Here’s what is included in the Malta pet passport package:

Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to Malta from any country available in six languages
Required Vaccinations and Intervals
ISO-Compliant Microchip Information
Titer Test Instructions and Overview (required when entering from an unlisted country)
Approved EU laboratories for the titer test
Parasite Treatments
Border Inspection Posts
IATA Carrier and Crate Requirements
Layover Considerations & Requirements for Airline Pet Travel
Responsibilities of a Pet Transporter
FREE unlimited email support both for you and your veterinarian, should either of you have any questions

Also included at no additional cost:

Non-Commercial or Commercial EU Health Certificate for Malta
Sample Completed Health Certificate for your Veterinarian
Microchip Certificate
Airline Health Certificate

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, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Malta pet import requirements.