Planning to bring your pet to Malta? Whether you’re flying in or taking the Sicily–Malta ferry, make sure you follow the rules to the letter. The Malta Financial Services Authority doesn’t set these, but the Animal Health and Welfare Department (AHWD) does, and if you skip a step, the fine can reach €3,700. Worse, your pet could end up quarantined at your expense.
Why Malta is Strict
As an island nation, Malta takes biosecurity seriously. The government enforces EU Regulation 576/2013, designed to prevent the spread of rabies and other diseases. Every pet entering the country must be traceable, vaccinated, and pre-cleared. Failing to meet even one requirement can lead to detention, quarantine, or refusal of entry.
If you do not follow these rules, your pet may be refused entry or put into quarantine until it becomes compliant with the EU entry requirements.
According to the AHWD
The Essentials Before You Bring Your Pet to Malta
If you plan to bring your pet to Malta, here’s what you must prepare before your trip:
1. Microchip
Your dog, cat, or ferret must have a 15-digit ISO-compliant microchip. It must be implanted before vaccination, otherwise the documents will be invalid. Tattoos are accepted only if applied before July 2011.
2. Rabies vaccination
After microchipping, vaccinate your pet against rabies. If you’re travelling from an EU or “listed” country, wait at least 21 days before entering Malta. If you’re coming from an “unlisted” country, a blood test is required at least 30 days after vaccination, and the pet must wait another three months before travelling.
3. Tapeworm treatment (dogs only)
Dogs must receive Echinococcus multilocularis treatment 24–120 hours before arrival. This must be recorded in the pet’s passport.
4. Travel documents
EU travellers need a valid EU Pet Passport, while travellers from non-EU countries must have an official veterinary health certificate, issued within 10 days of travel.
5. Pre-notification form
This step is critical. Before you bring your pet to Malta, you must submit a Pet Travel Pre-Notification Form via the government portal before arrival. You must submit a Pet Travel Pre-Notification Form via the government portal before arrival. Without it, the pet may be refused entry or detained. The form is available on servizz.gov.mt.
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Travelling via Sicily–Malta ferry
Pets can travel on the Virtu Ferries route between Pozzallo and Valletta, but all entry rules still apply: including microchip, vaccination, and pre-notification. If you decide to follow this routh and bring your pet to Malta by ferry, ensure it’s booked in advance and kept in designated pet areas or approved carriers during the journey. Ferry staff can deny boarding if documents are missing or incomplete. Pets must be booked in advance and remain in designated pet areas or approved carriers during the journey. Ferry staff can deny boarding if documents are missing or incomplete.
When Things go Wrong: Pet Quarantine in Malta
If your paperwork isn’t right, authorities can detain your pet in quarantine. This isn’t a punishment, it’s a health measure to protect other animals and humans on the island.
During quarantine:
- The pet is held under official supervision until all documentation, vaccination, or health issues are resolved.
- You, as the owner, are responsible for all quarantine costs, including boarding and veterinary care.
- The duration depends on what’s missing — minor issues may take days, but serious ones can last weeks or even months.
- If problems can’t be fixed, the animal may be sent back to its country of origin at your expense.
While some anecdotal reports suggest owners must feed their pets during detention, official Maltese sources do not confirm this. Government documents only specify that pets may be quarantined and that all expenses fall on the owner.
If your pet is held, authorities will contact you and guide you through the steps needed to correct the issue: such as providing missing paperwork, new vaccination proof, or additional tests.
Don’t Forget Smaller Animals
For rabbits, birds, reptiles, and rodents, the process is simpler: no rabies vaccination is required, but a health certificate is still mandatory. Certain exotic species may require CITES permits, so check before travelling. Even if you bring your pet to Malta and it’s not a cat or dog, you’ll still need to follow entry rules closely.
Why Compliance Matters
Pet import rules may seem bureaucratic, but they’re designed to keep Malta rabies-free and protect local wildlife. The system also ensures that if your animal falls ill, it can be traced and treated responsibly.
Skipping steps, especially pre-notification, risks more than fines. It could mean quarantine, expensive delays, or being forced to leave your pet behind temporarily.
To bring your pet to Malta is absolutely possible — thousands of residents and travellers do it each year, but you must plan ahead. Check your microchip, vaccine dates, and paperwork carefully, and always submit the entry form before departure.
It’s not just about avoiding fines. It’s about making sure your pet’s welcome to the island is smooth, safe, and stress-free — for both of you.
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