Key facts
- Microchip
- ISO 11784/11785, before rabies jab
- Wait after first rabies jab
- At least 21 days
- From the EU
- EU pet passport
- From outside the EU
- EU animal health certificate
- Dogs
- Tapeworm treatment required
- Unlisted countries
- Titre test + 3-month wait
Pets are family, and Malta welcomes them. The key is to start early — especially if you are travelling from outside the EU — and to do things in the right order.
The steps, in order
- Microchip your pet with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip. The chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Vaccinate against rabies. After a primary vaccination, wait at least 21 days before travelling.
- Dogs: tapeworm treatment before travel, recorded by your vet.
- Paperwork: - from an EU country — an EU pet passport; - from outside the EU — an EU animal health certificate, completed by an official vet.
- Unlisted countries — if you travel from a country that is not on the EU’s approved list, your pet needs a rabies antibody titre test, followed by a three-month wait before entry.
A timeline for non-EU moves
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 4–6 months before | Check whether your country is listed; microchip and vaccinate |
| 3+ months before (unlisted countries) | Titre test, then wait three months |
| Weeks before | Tapeworm treatment for dogs; book pet-friendly transport |
| Days before | Animal health certificate signed by an official vet |
Finding a pet-friendly home
- Renting — ask whether pets are allowed before you sign, and have it written into the lease. See renting in Malta.
- Apartments — check the condominium rules before you buy.
- Outdoor space — gardens are scarce in the harbour towns; villas in Madliena, Naxxar and Mellieħa suit dogs best.
After arrival
Register with a local vet, keep vaccinations current and remember Malta’s summer heat: walk dogs early and late, and avoid hot pavements.
Rules can change — always check the latest Animal Health and Welfare Department instructions and talk to your vet before you travel. Add pet tasks to your moving-to-Malta checklist.
