Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Colombia → Malta
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
about 4 months
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
about 3 months
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Colombia is in the group “Not listed — rabies antibody titration test needed” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into an EU country’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Malta
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
What your dog needs
Dogs
We haven’t verified the leaving side for Colombia yet: its official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be identified with a microchip, implanted (or read) no later than the day of its rabies vaccination.
Details and the official words
Travelling between EU countries, a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted instead of a microchip.
“must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”
“The date of administration of the vaccine does not precede the date of identification or reading of the microchip.”
“The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”
“a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary course is completed; boosters must be given before the previous vaccination expires.
Details and the official words
“The pet animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”
“The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination”
“The animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”
“The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination, and any subsequent vaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination.”
Blood test
Rabies antibody blood test (titer)
A vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the primary vaccination; a designated lab must measure at least 0.5 IU/ml. The health certificate can only be issued 90 days or more after the sample date.
Details and the official words
No need to repeat the test if the pet is revaccinated within the validity of the previous vaccination.
“at least 30 days after the date of the primary vaccination, or within a current valid vaccination series, and not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the animal health certificate”
“equal to or greater than 0,5 IU/ml”
Paperwork
EU animal health certificate
An official (or authorised) veterinarian completes the EU animal health certificate and the competent authority endorses it. It is valid for entry for 10 days from issue (longer by the length of a sea journey), then for onward EU travel for up to 6 months.
Details and the official words
“valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the travellers' points of entry”
“remain valid for bringing pet dogs, cats or ferrets into the EU if issued before 1 October 2026”
Treatment
Tapeworm treatment (dogs)
Dogs entering Finland, Ireland or Malta must be treated by a vet against Echinococcus multilocularis (praziquantel) between 24 and 120 hours before the scheduled entry, recorded on the certificate.
Details and the official words
“within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled entry”
“Be administered by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled entry.”
“Be certified by the administering veterinarian in the relevant section of the passport.”
“Dogs moving directly between any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) or Norway are exempted from the treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis”
Paperwork
Non-commercial declaration
You (or the person you authorise) sign a written declaration that the movement is not commercial. If someone else travels with the pet, you must travel within 5 days before or after it.
Details and the official words
“a written declaration completed by the owner or an authorised person”
Route
Enter through a travellers' point of entry
Arrive through a travellers' point of entry designated by the EU country, and contact the authority there for the document and identity check.
Details and the official words
“must pass through a travellers' point of entry designated by each EU country”
Good to know
- We have not verified the export process for CO yet. Your country's official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
- Young pets that are not yet fully protected against rabies cannot enter the EU from a non-EU country — in practice your pet must be at least about 15 weeks old (12 weeks at vaccination + 21 days).
- Some EU countries have their own rules on certain dog breeds. Check the destination country's national pet travel page.
What your cat needs
Cats
We haven’t verified the leaving side for Colombia yet: its official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be identified with a microchip, implanted (or read) no later than the day of its rabies vaccination.
Details and the official words
Travelling between EU countries, a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted instead of a microchip.
“must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”
“The date of administration of the vaccine does not precede the date of identification or reading of the microchip.”
“The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”
“a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary course is completed; boosters must be given before the previous vaccination expires.
Details and the official words
“The pet animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”
“The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination”
“The animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”
“The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination, and any subsequent vaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination.”
Blood test
Rabies antibody blood test (titer)
A vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the primary vaccination; a designated lab must measure at least 0.5 IU/ml. The health certificate can only be issued 90 days or more after the sample date.
Details and the official words
No need to repeat the test if the pet is revaccinated within the validity of the previous vaccination.
“at least 30 days after the date of the primary vaccination, or within a current valid vaccination series, and not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the animal health certificate”
“equal to or greater than 0,5 IU/ml”
Paperwork
EU animal health certificate
An official (or authorised) veterinarian completes the EU animal health certificate and the competent authority endorses it. It is valid for entry for 10 days from issue (longer by the length of a sea journey), then for onward EU travel for up to 6 months.
Details and the official words
“valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the travellers' points of entry”
“remain valid for bringing pet dogs, cats or ferrets into the EU if issued before 1 October 2026”
Paperwork
Non-commercial declaration
You (or the person you authorise) sign a written declaration that the movement is not commercial. If someone else travels with the pet, you must travel within 5 days before or after it.
Details and the official words
“a written declaration completed by the owner or an authorised person”
Route
Enter through a travellers' point of entry
Arrive through a travellers' point of entry designated by the EU country, and contact the authority there for the document and identity check.
Details and the official words
“must pass through a travellers' point of entry designated by each EU country”
Good to know
- We have not verified the export process for CO yet. Your country's official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
- Young pets that are not yet fully protected against rabies cannot enter the EU from a non-EU country — in practice your pet must be at least about 15 weeks old (12 weeks at vaccination + 21 days).
- Some EU countries have their own rules on certain dog breeds. Check the destination country's national pet travel page.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Colombia to Malta?
Yes: A vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the primary vaccination; a designated lab must measure at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into Malta?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in Malta?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet must be identified with a microchip, implanted (or read) no later than the day of its rabies vaccination.