Moving with your pet to Malaysia
If you have a cat or a dog that you cannot part with, transporting it to Malaysia is an important decision. Regulations vary depending on which country you are from, the type of animal you have, and its health status. It is therefore recommended to get closer to the nearest Malaysian Embassy and to consult a pet transport specialist before you start.
Malaysia is considered a country where rabies is under control. On the other hand, in 2015, rabies cases were reported in three states located in the north of the country (Perlis, Kedah and Penang), so it should be noted that animals traveling to or from these regions will be subject to more severe conditions and even more strict if they subsequently travel to other countries.
There are no restrictions on the number of pets you wish to bring, on the strict condition that you provide suitable accommodation for the pets.
Certain animals such as reptiles and rodents are not subject to the rabies vaccine, but they must still have a health certificate.
Restrictions on pets entering Malaysia
If you have an unusual pet, you should check whether it is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and you will need to seek additional permissions if this is the case.
Puppies and kittens must be at least three months old before entering Malaysian territory. Some pet birds may have access to Malaysian territory, but you will need to obtain an import permit from the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services and a medical certificate issued by a government-approved veterinarian. This certificate must particularly indicate that your bird pet has been carefully monitored during the six months preceding its arrival and that it is not a vector for diseases like avian flu.
Malaysia does not allow certain breeds of dogs to enter the country. The following breeds are prohibited: American Pitbull, Pitbull terrier, Pitbull, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog, Neapolitan mastiff, Akita, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.
Other breeds are allowed to enter Malaysia, provided the owners make a formal application to the State Director of Veterinary Services, mentioning full details of the dog and relocation plans. This authorization is valid for Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, East European Shepherd, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier and Canary Mastiff.
Entry requirements
The following procedure applies for permitted species of cats and dogs traveling to Malaysia:
- Your pet must be equipped with an unencrypted 15-digit ISO 11784 microchip. If the microchip is not ISO 11784 compliant, you will need to bring your own microchip scanner.
- Your pet must travel with an import license issued by the Director-General of Veterinary Services or the State Director. An authorized agency can take care of the online procedures for you. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
- No rabies titer test (RNATT) is required for pets entering Malaysia. However, your dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies between 30 days and 12 months before entering Malaysia.
- Dogs should also be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza virus, while cats should also be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia virus, viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline leukemia.
- If you are traveling from the United States or Canada, a veterinarian accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) must complete your veterinary certificate. pet for approval. The document must be submitted to the Malaysian authorities within 7 days of the entry of the animal into the territory. If you are not traveling from one of these countries, the certificate must be endorsed by the competent authority in your country responsible for the import and export of animals. Your animal must then travel with this vaccination certificate, which details all the vaccines administered by your veterinarian.
- Pets must travel to Malaysia by airfreight and be declared to the Animal Quarantine Officer upon landing to be permitted entry.
- All domestic dogs and cats must be free from signs of contagious disease when examined at the point of entry into Malaysia. If your dog or cat does not appear to be in good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian can be carried out at your expense.
Quarantine
If your pet is entering Malaysia from the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei or Singapore, no quarantine is necessary if all conditions are met. On the other hand, owners traveling with pets from Singapore must meet other requirements.
If your pet enters Malaysia from another country, it must be quarantined for at least seven days (10 days if coming from Australia). Your pet will be discharged if there is no evidence of infection or disease. When deemed necessary, the quarantine period can instead be extended for up to six months. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
All dogs and cats requiring quarantine must enter Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Bayan Lepas International Airport, Penang. Animal quarantine centers are located at these two airports, and there is also another one at Padang Besar. Reservations for the quarantine facility should be made at least two weeks in advance, as these establishments are often full. Pet owners are responsible for the care of their dog or cat while in quarantine.
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