Bringing Your Pets to Malta

 

It WAS Worth it for Me! 

  

           

Getting your pet to Malta is not easy. (That's my kitty Egypt--about 8 months old). There are many regulations which you must follow. Because you must do things within certain time limitations, you may even find yourself planning the whole trip around your pet!

However, I found that The Maltese Food and Veterinary Regulatory Division provides excellent and comprehensive information on how to get your pet to Malta. There's a lot of reading, but it's repetitive--in a good way. After reading it all, you will know what you must do. Here, I have provided you with a summary of what you need to do, but I highly recommend that afterwards you go back and click on the links to the government's official website for detailed information.

There's another great source;  PetTravel.com--where you can order most of the actual certificates you need to apply for your pets admission.  You can also order the EU microchip--about $50--and other travel supplies.  Click here to go to PetTravel.com

 

Here are the five main forms you will need:

1. The Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets  Entering the European Community (Form No. 998/2003).  Don't be thrown; the certificate is written in about six different languages.  And the veterinarian must sign in BLUE ink on the form.  To play safe, ask your vet to fill out the all the  forms in BLUE ink.

2. Certification of Treatment against Ticks and Tapeworms for Dogs, Cats and Ferrets

3. Veterinary Certificate for Domestic and International Airline Travel

  

4. Pet Permit from the Department of Agriculture in Malta

  

5. Stamp from the USDA--if you're from the United States

 

 

The most important thing that Malta cares about, understandably, is that your pet is free from rabies. If you come from the US or most EU countries, you're allowed to bring in regular pets--dogs, cats, ferrets. If you come from a country that is not on the qualifying list , you may have to follow specified restrictions, such as placing your pet in a six-month quarantine when you arrive in Malta. Check here to see if your country is on the qualifying list:

Why six months? Six months is the time it takes for an animal--that has been affected with rabies-- to show symptoms. So if your pet does not show any symptoms for six months before entering Malta, your pet is considered free of rabies. This only applies, of course, if your animal has been vaccinated and tested. Click here for more details on the Six-Month Rule.

 

Steps to Take

Here is a basic outline of what you must do. Again, I stress that you should read the suggested links. As you read what you need to do, write them down as reminders on your calendar--because every action  has to stick to a timetable! Take a breath. And let's get started:  A good overview of most of these issues is covered in a section called The Requisites.

    
    

1. At least eight months before you leave for Malta, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Make sure he or she is familiar with international pet regulations and the official Veterinary Certificate that is used for admitting your pet into EU countries. I suggest that as you read through this timetable, you mark it down on your calendar, even if you don't have the  exact  date of departure for Malta. Find out more about the Pet Passport /Certification and other necessary documentation by clicking here.

2. Get your pet micro-chipped with an EU standard microchip.  If your pet already has an American microchip, that's OK.  You can just add in the UE one.

3. Seven months before you leave, get your pet vaccinated against rabies--this includes boosters.

4. Thirty days after the rabies shot--and six months before your planned departure to Malta--your pet should take the blood test--called a rabies titer (titre in EU).

  

Get it done at least one month before the rabies titer test is taken. It takes at least one month before you can even measure the level.

  

The immunity level required by the Maltese government is  at least 0.5. IU/ml--which must be officiated by your veterinarian six months before you leave for Malta.

It's an expensive test--over $100, and it takes several weeks for the results to come back.  So if you must be in Malta by a certain time (for a job or school), give yourself plenty of time to get that blood test done.  If your pet fails the blood test, it must be re-vaccinated and then blood-tested again!  That means, you may have to postpone your trip for an additional two months.

  

5. At least six weeks before you leave for Malta, you must apply  for a permit  to bring your pet to Malta.  Don't neglect this part!  I had trouble getting in touch with the  phone numbers below, but I was trying in the summer.  And the department closes in the afternoons in the summer (bless their hearts)!  But I have an email address for you, too:

  

lucienne.cassar@gov.mt

  

You won't believe this, but you have to contact the person above--one way or another--and tell him all the actions you have taken with your pet--the micro-chipping, the rabies shot and titre test, etc, and then tell him the exact date and time of your flight into Malta.  Why?  Because this official is going to MEET you and your pet at the airport to either release your pet into Malta or put it into quarantine.  Although I haven't done this yet because I haven't booked my flight yet, I am going to make sure that someone will come if this guy isn't available for some reason.  There's no way--after all the time spent and the whole long flight--that I'm going to sit in a cage with my cat because someone forgot to meet me at the airport.

The address is:

 

The Director of Veterinary Service
Albertown, Marsa
Malta
Tel from the US:

001-356-212-256-38   or
001-356-212-259-30
Fax:    001-356-212-381-05

6. Thirty days  or less before you leave, your veterinarian should sign The Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets  Entering the European Community (Form No. 998/2003).  (Please note that the Blue Pet Passport is only issued for pets traveling between EU nations.)  For all others, the Veterinary Certificate is what you need.  It is only valid for four months from the time it is signed. As an extra precaution, make a copy of the form and ask your veterinarian to sign both.  That way, if you lose one set of certificates, you have another set with your veterinarian's signature on it.

  

Then, also--within thirty days of leaving--you must--and I mean must--find out where your local USDA office (United States Department of Agriculture) is, call and make an appointment to get your completed veterinary certificates and forms stamped by a USDA official.  the information wasn't clear to me and I had to finally call the department in Malta (number below) and found out that without that USDA stamp, all my paperwork would be invalid.  And you know what that means: quarantine for my cat and an institution for me.  My point: don't leave this USDA deal until the last minute. 

  

In my case, I live in New Hampshire--and the USDA office is in Concord.  That's an hour away by car.  I got the name of the person who will give me the stamp and he is rarely in the office (sounds like a good state job to me), so I will have to contact him on a Monday to see if I can meet with him on a Wednesday to get my papers stamped. 

  

Unless you live very far from your USDA office, I would go there in person with the papers.  With 30 days left to go before you depart with your pet, I would not take the chance of mailing your original certificates to the USDA official--unless you pay a lot to Fed Ex them. Then again, you would have to ask the official to Fed Ex the papers back to you.  Before you take a drive out there, it might not be a bad idea to fax a copy of the forms to the USDA official to see if everything is in order.  Then you can correct something before you take that trip to the office.

  

If you're from the EU, follow the instructions that the Maltese government gives you for an official stamp from your country.  You may or may not need one.  But err in assuming you do.

  

7. Ten days or less before you leave, your vet must fill out and sign The Veterinary Certificate for Domestic and International Airline Travel.   (Americans: In some cases, you may need to have your certificate stamped by the USDA located in your state of origin.  Look up USDA online for your state's local office.)

8. 48 hours or less before you leave, your vet must treat your pet for ticks and tapeworms and fill out and sign the form Certification of Treatment against Ticks and Tapeworms for Dogs, Cats and Ferrets.  You should probably have all three of the forms signed at the same time.

Once all the information is filled in and signed by your veterinarian, make copies of all forms (need I say more?) and put them somewhere else--in your check-in luggage or with a traveling companion.  It's not bad idea to leave copies back in the USA in the event you lose all of them.  This way, someone can fax them to you. Keep your original Veterinary Certificates/Pet Passport with your own human passport.  And hold onto them; you'll need them whenever you leave and re-enter the USA from Malta or another EU country.

  
Check here for more details on micro-chipping, vaccinations and tests under the Maltese regulations.  Preparing for the Pet Travel Scheme.

 

Example of My Cat's Timetable

I thought it would make it easier if you saw when I got my cat ready for Malta.  As this is written, this is a tentative schedule.

    Goal: Leave for Malta Oct 14th/08

    • 3/4/08--Rabies vaccine--I Yr.

    • 3/25/08--Microchip implanted.

    • 4/14/08--Rabies titer taken (blood drawn)

    • 4/30/08--Rabies titer comes back at 3.6 IU/ml (whew!)

    • 8/14/08--Arrange flight.

    • 8/14/08--Call airline, tell them I'm bringing a cat; ask for seating preference (near exit in economy so there is more room in front for cat carrier.  You may not be able to do this by phone or online; follow the instructions of your airline).

    • 8/14/08--Call and make appointment with my vet for tick and tapeworm treatment--and signing of all the forms-- for 24--48 hours before flight.

    • 9/2/08--Contact Veterinary Services in Malta for permit.

• 9/14/08--Contact USDA office and arrange for all forms to be stamped.
• 10/4/08--Veterinarian should fill out Veterinary Certificate for Domestic and International Travel.

    • 10/12-/08--Take cat to vet for tick and tapeworm testing; vet signs all forms--if not already signed.

    • 10/14/08--Fly off to Malta with cat! Inshallah.

 

Leaving on A Jet Plane...with Your Pet--You can bring your pet when you fly to Malta. But you'll have to take some definite steps before. While airlines may differ in terms of policy, these are the usual things you have to do (based on the regulations of Lufthansa):

1. Call your airline and find out what kind of container you need to take your pet in. If you have a small dog or cat, you may bring your pet on board with you into the cabin. The pet carrier must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. According to Lufthansa regulations, the combined weight of your cat carrier and pet cannot exceed eight kilograms (17.6 lbs). The box cannot measure more than 55 x 40 x 20 cm.   In addition, Lufthansa offers you a "Pet Box" at the check-in counters.  As of this writing, the pet box is free of charge, but that can change anytime.    A good idea when booking your flight is to see if you can get an emergency exit seat so that there will be more room for you to place your pet and carrier in front of you. 

If your pet is too big (usually dogs), you will need to transport him in the cargo hold (which is air conditioned for animals). You may use your own transport container for your animal if it complies with IATA (International Air Transport Association) regulations. Your animal must be able to stand up straight and move in the box. If necessary, you can purchase containers in different sizes from Lufthansa Cargo. Click here for more information.

At least 24 hours before you bring your pet to the airport, call your airline and reserve a spot for your pet. The best time to do this is when you book your flight, so you won't forget. Here is contact info for Lufthansa Reservations--USA: 800 399-5838 or 800-645-3880.

You'll probably have to pay a fee for transporting a pet--either flying in the cabin with you or in the cargo--unless your animal is a guide dog. Depending on your airline, the tariff goes by weight or by the "piece" of excess baggage. On Lufthansa, flying from the USA (as of this writing), I have to pay $200 for my cat who--together with her carrier--will weigh only 10 pounds.) This fee is payable at a separate office from the check-in.  You'll also have to fill out a form at the airport.  Find out where you go to pay this fee when you first get to the airport; don't immediately go to check-in because they will send you back over to this other counter to pay the fee.  It doesn't matter that you waited an hour in line to check in; you'll have to start all over.

2. Go to a pet supply store and buy the pet box, carrier or crate, according to the official size and standards your airliner has told you.

 

  

3. When you get home with the box, leave it out so your pet will get used to it and go in and out of it at his or leisure.

4. Read articles and get information on how to travel with your pet on a plane.  

 

 

5. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for 24-48 hours before you travel to Malta to get your pet tested for ticks and tapeworm. Make the appointment well enough ahead or your veterinarian may not be able to fit you in.

6. When you go to that last veterinary visit, ask any questions you have about your pet's health while traveling or once you get to Malta. Make sure your veterinarian has filled out everything required on the Pet Passport.

  

7. As a last step, I recommend finding a veterinarian in Malta soon after you arrive-- before your pet really needs one. It will make you feel more secure and won't result in a panic if your pet gets ill.

8. Finally, pack several extra cans or packets of pet food.  You need something familiar to your cat or dog until you find the same or a similar product in Malta.

Wish me luck, please.  I am now planning to leave October 22, 2008. I hope it all works out.

         
    
    
    

    
    
    
   

 

 

    
   

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks, Mr. S, for efficiently answering these questions for Irina--Ilene

[Mr.S.]

Hi Irina,

just make sure you have the 998 form that you will have to produce in Malta.

Check out the pet travel regulations and procedures with the airline that you are travelling with. They can differ.

With Lufthansa your pet plus box cannot weigh more than 8 kgs to travel in the cabin.The size is regulated and even if you comply they do not guarantee the pet travelling in the cabin.There is a limit as to how many cats and dogs can travel in the cabin at any one time.So contact the airline of your choice for details.

If they travel in the hold the pet will be handed back to you when you are exiting the airport with your luggage. For connecting flights you would have to contact the airline whether you can have them back while in transit! Probably not !

Regards
Ricky

[Irina]

Thanks for such a quick response! I would just like to double check a few more things about the forms. I just found out that USDA stamp would be valid for only 10 days and they use a form APHIS 7001. The Maltese representative didn't mention this form, only the form 998, and when I emailed them about it, they thought it is one and the same form, which it is not. So I just wanted to make sure if you needed to have both forms USDA endorsed. Also, one of my cats is 14 lb, so I have concerns if she would be comfortable in such a small container, with the height of 20 cm. Not sure if they should travel in the cargo hold instead. But in this case, who would be moving them from one flight to another in Germany? Also, just wondering if it was a challenge for you to find a pet friendly apartment for rent? Thanks so much for all the helpful info.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Irina--thanks for your good questions. I had absolutely no trouble with my cat during the whole travel experience--overseas flight to Frankfurt, Germany,the wait and then the flight to Malta. The paperwork had nothing to do with Frankfurt--the transit flight--no questions asked, nothing. I has lost sleep for days, wondering how my cat would react--would she pee in the carrier, throw up, yowl? She did nothing. She slept and went into some kind of cat-travel coma. I didn't have to tranquilize her or anything. But, of course, ask you vet questions about potential problems with you own cat. And, yes, a representative from the Maltese Agricultural Dept met me at the airport to check each and every document and signature. That was the first and last time any Maltese met me on time for something. Best of luck with your move--Ilene

[Irina]

Thank you, Ilene, for this blog, it is so helpful. I am also planning my move to Malta from US. Could you tell me please if you had any problems with your cat on the airplane. What was your connecting flight? Did you have to fullfil the paperwork requirements for the transit country as well or only for Malta? I am still very much confused about that. Did the Maltese person Lucienne Cassar actually meet you at the airport to check the paperwork? Thanks so much in advance.

[horse training]

Thanks so much for the detailed description of pet travel. Much of this would apply to relocating a pet to any other country.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks for your comments. Good luck to all of you--Ilene

[Hamster Cage]

Never had a clue it was so difficult to travel with pets.

[Pet Tags Direct]

Traveling with a pet can be expensive and complicated depending on where you go but it's worth it. I would never go on vacation without my pet!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Sylvia--Good luck with your dogs. I have no idea about how to board pets in Malta. I suggest you call one of the official numbers listed in the section you read on the blog--Ilene

[Sylvia de Jong]

Thank you Eline, for the piece about travelling with pets to and from Malta. I probably will need to board my two small dogs when arriving to Malta. What are the boarding facilities like or is there like a dog day care (haha!) while I househunt?
Regards,
Sylvia