Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Ireland → Malaysia
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.
We’re re-checking these rules. Official sources they rely on have changed since we last verified them, so something here may be out of date. Before you book or travel, confirm the details with the official authority.
- Soalan lazim: kuarantin haiwan (MAQIS) · page changed, noticed 12 Oct 2026
- Panduan bagi pengimportan haiwan kesayangan ke Malaysia (MAQIS) · page changed, noticed 12 Oct 2026
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Malaysia publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. DVS's regulations give no deadline for the import permit and no fees, MAQIS's pet guide dates from 2016, and two DVS documents disagree on quarantine length and on a rabies blood test (see the warning on the older document). Ask MAQIS (bq@maqis.gov.my, 03-8870 8000) to confirm the current rules for your route before you travel.
How early to start
9 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
9 weeks
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
Ireland is in the group “Scheduled country: no quarantine on arrival” in Malaysia’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Malaysia
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine possible
- Extra disease test for some origins
What your dog needs
Dogs
Age rule
At least 3 months old when it arrives
A dog or cat must be at least 3 months old when it is imported.
Details and the official words
“Anjing atau kucing tidak boleh berusia kurang daripada 3 bulan semasa pengimportan.”
Identification
ISO microchip
Your pet must have a microchip that follows ISO standards 11784 and 11785, and the pet passport or certificate must describe and identify it.
Details and the official words
“Anjing atau kucing hendaklah dipasang dengan pengenalan mikrocip yang mematuhi standard ISO (std 11784 & 11785).”
“The animal shall be identified using an ISO (Std 11784 & 11785) compliant microchip.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
The vet's certificate must state that your pet was vaccinated against rabies with an approved anti-rabies vaccine before export. DVS gives no minimum number of days between the vaccination and export in its current documents.
Details and the official words
An older DVS document (2016) asks for the vaccination at least 3 months before export plus a rabies blood test: see the warning on the older document.
“The animal has been vaccinated against rabies using an approved anti-rabies vaccine, prior to export.”
“The animal has been vaccinated against rabies using an approved anti-rabies vaccine, prior”
Vaccination
Core vaccinations within 12 months
Your dog or cat must have had its other core vaccinations (full course, as recommended by a licensed vet) within the 12 months before export. For pets from Australia the certificate names the vaccines: for dogs adenovirus type 2, distemper, parainfluenza and parvovirus; for cats Chlamydia psittaci, calicivirus, panleukopenia and rhinotracheitis.
Details and the official words
“The animals shall be vaccinated within twelve (12) months prior to export with other core vaccine as recommended by license veterinarian.”
“The animal was vaccinated, within twelve (12) months prior to export against canine adenovirus type 2, canine distemper, canine parainfluenza, and canine parvovirus (for dogs) and against Chlamydia psittaci, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia and feline rhinotracheitis (for cats).”
Paperwork
Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's vet authority
A Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country's government veterinary authority must come with the pet, and the pet must be exported within 7 days of the date the certificate was issued. The pet is examined within 7 days before export and again fit to travel on the day of shipment.
Details and the official words
Government stamp and signature from your Regional Veterinary Office: The most likely scenario: you and your private vet prepare the pet (vaccinations, blood tests and so on) and fill in the health certificate the destination asks for, then you bring it to your local Regional Veterinary Office for a government stamp and signature.
DAFM's page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be: the destination's own requirements decide.
“Pengimportan hendaklah disertakan dengan Sijil Kesihatan Veterinar yang dikeluarkan oleh Pihak Berkuasa Veterinar Negara Pengeksport. Pengeksportan hendaklah dilakukan dalam tempoh 7 hari dari tarikh SKV dikeluarkan.”
“The animal have been examined and found to be healthy and free from any clinical sign of rabies and infectious or contagious diseases of dog/cat, within seven (7) days immediately prior to export and showed no any clinical signs on the day of shipment.”
“The most likely scenario is that you and your private vet will prepare the pet (vaccinations, blood tests etc.) and provide a health certificate, that you can then bring to your local Regional Veterinary Office to get a government stamp and signature”
Permit
MAQIS import permit (through an import agent)
Every pet needs a valid import permit from MAQIS. You appoint a registered import agent, who applies for it in the e-Permit system (with the quarantine booking number if your pet is quarantined). MAQIS approves or rejects it, and the agent prints it once it is paid. Bring the original permit, the veterinary health certificate and an updated vaccination record to the entry point for inspection.
Details and the official words
The documents give no processing time for the permit.
“Pengimportan hendaklah disertakan dengan permit import yang sah yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Kuarantin dan Pemeriksaan Malaysia (MAQIS).”
“Lantik ejen mengimport untuk memohon permit import kucing atau anjing bagi pihak pemohon.”
“Sediakan rekod vaksinasi yang telah dikemaskini bersama-sama dengan salinan asal Permit Import dan Sijil Kesihatan Veterinar untuk pemeriksaan oleh Pegawai MAQIS sebaik tiba di pintu masuk.”
Notice
Contact your Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before you travel
Contact your Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before the trip so it can certify the documents. The department may not be able to sign your pet's documents if you contact it later.
Details and the official words
“make sure you plan well in advance and contact the Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months in advance of travel to ensure that necessary documentation can be certified by department officials”
“The department may not be able to sign documentation for your pet to travel if you have not contacted your Regional Veterinary Office at least two months in advance of travel with your pet.”
Good to know
- An older DVS document that is still online (revised 19 December 2016) is stricter than the current one for non-scheduled countries: it asks for a rabies vaccination at least 3 months before export, a rabies antibody blood test (at least 0.5 IU) taken at least a month after the vaccination and within 6 months of export, and at least 14 days' quarantine instead of 7. The current document (republished with a notice dated 11 December 2025) doesn't ask for the blood test. We show the current rules; confirm with MAQIS which applies to your pet.
- Which countries count as 'scheduled' (no quarantine) changed: DVS's notice of 11 December 2025 added Greece, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Malta, Slovenia, Estonia, Bahrain, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania to the United Kingdom, Eire, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and Brunei. MAQIS's FAQ also names Singapore.
- Banned dog breeds (including their crosses): Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Neapolitan Mastiff and Pit Bull-type dogs (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier).
- Restricted breeds (Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Doberman, German Shepherd/Alsatian including Belgian and East European Shepherds, Perro de Presa Canario, Rottweiler): you need the MAQIS Director General's written approval before you apply for the import permit. They may only come as a personal pet or for security, with a pedigree certificate, an ISO microchip, an inspection of your premises and a written declaration.
- The animal must travel directly by aircraft (or other transport) to the prescribed landing place or another airport in Malaysia.
- The vet's certificate states that no case of rabies was reported in the country in the 6 months before the certificate date and that the animal was not imported into that country in those 6 months.
- Ireland does not keep the entry (certification) requirements of other countries: contact the destination country for them, then follow its instructions for the health certificate. Allow enough time for any required tests.
- No tapeworm treatment is needed to leave Ireland. A dog needs the treatment from a vet abroad before it returns to Ireland.
- Make sure your pet qualifies to return to Ireland: the same rules apply to re-enter from a non-EU country whether the pet usually lives there or is an Irish pet that was there briefly on holiday.
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
What your cat needs
Cats
Age rule
At least 3 months old when it arrives
A dog or cat must be at least 3 months old when it is imported.
Details and the official words
“Anjing atau kucing tidak boleh berusia kurang daripada 3 bulan semasa pengimportan.”
Identification
ISO microchip
Your pet must have a microchip that follows ISO standards 11784 and 11785, and the pet passport or certificate must describe and identify it.
Details and the official words
“Anjing atau kucing hendaklah dipasang dengan pengenalan mikrocip yang mematuhi standard ISO (std 11784 & 11785).”
“The animal shall be identified using an ISO (Std 11784 & 11785) compliant microchip.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
The vet's certificate must state that your pet was vaccinated against rabies with an approved anti-rabies vaccine before export. DVS gives no minimum number of days between the vaccination and export in its current documents.
Details and the official words
An older DVS document (2016) asks for the vaccination at least 3 months before export plus a rabies blood test: see the warning on the older document.
“The animal has been vaccinated against rabies using an approved anti-rabies vaccine, prior to export.”
“The animal has been vaccinated against rabies using an approved anti-rabies vaccine, prior”
Vaccination
Core vaccinations within 12 months
Your dog or cat must have had its other core vaccinations (full course, as recommended by a licensed vet) within the 12 months before export. For pets from Australia the certificate names the vaccines: for dogs adenovirus type 2, distemper, parainfluenza and parvovirus; for cats Chlamydia psittaci, calicivirus, panleukopenia and rhinotracheitis.
Details and the official words
“The animals shall be vaccinated within twelve (12) months prior to export with other core vaccine as recommended by license veterinarian.”
“The animal was vaccinated, within twelve (12) months prior to export against canine adenovirus type 2, canine distemper, canine parainfluenza, and canine parvovirus (for dogs) and against Chlamydia psittaci, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia and feline rhinotracheitis (for cats).”
Paperwork
Veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's vet authority
A Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country's government veterinary authority must come with the pet, and the pet must be exported within 7 days of the date the certificate was issued. The pet is examined within 7 days before export and again fit to travel on the day of shipment.
Details and the official words
Government stamp and signature from your Regional Veterinary Office: The most likely scenario: you and your private vet prepare the pet (vaccinations, blood tests and so on) and fill in the health certificate the destination asks for, then you bring it to your local Regional Veterinary Office for a government stamp and signature.
DAFM's page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be: the destination's own requirements decide.
“Pengimportan hendaklah disertakan dengan Sijil Kesihatan Veterinar yang dikeluarkan oleh Pihak Berkuasa Veterinar Negara Pengeksport. Pengeksportan hendaklah dilakukan dalam tempoh 7 hari dari tarikh SKV dikeluarkan.”
“The animal have been examined and found to be healthy and free from any clinical sign of rabies and infectious or contagious diseases of dog/cat, within seven (7) days immediately prior to export and showed no any clinical signs on the day of shipment.”
“The most likely scenario is that you and your private vet will prepare the pet (vaccinations, blood tests etc.) and provide a health certificate, that you can then bring to your local Regional Veterinary Office to get a government stamp and signature”
Permit
MAQIS import permit (through an import agent)
Every pet needs a valid import permit from MAQIS. You appoint a registered import agent, who applies for it in the e-Permit system (with the quarantine booking number if your pet is quarantined). MAQIS approves or rejects it, and the agent prints it once it is paid. Bring the original permit, the veterinary health certificate and an updated vaccination record to the entry point for inspection.
Details and the official words
The documents give no processing time for the permit.
“Pengimportan hendaklah disertakan dengan permit import yang sah yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Kuarantin dan Pemeriksaan Malaysia (MAQIS).”
“Lantik ejen mengimport untuk memohon permit import kucing atau anjing bagi pihak pemohon.”
“Sediakan rekod vaksinasi yang telah dikemaskini bersama-sama dengan salinan asal Permit Import dan Sijil Kesihatan Veterinar untuk pemeriksaan oleh Pegawai MAQIS sebaik tiba di pintu masuk.”
Notice
Contact your Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before you travel
Contact your Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before the trip so it can certify the documents. The department may not be able to sign your pet's documents if you contact it later.
Details and the official words
“make sure you plan well in advance and contact the Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months in advance of travel to ensure that necessary documentation can be certified by department officials”
“The department may not be able to sign documentation for your pet to travel if you have not contacted your Regional Veterinary Office at least two months in advance of travel with your pet.”
Good to know
- An older DVS document that is still online (revised 19 December 2016) is stricter than the current one for non-scheduled countries: it asks for a rabies vaccination at least 3 months before export, a rabies antibody blood test (at least 0.5 IU) taken at least a month after the vaccination and within 6 months of export, and at least 14 days' quarantine instead of 7. The current document (republished with a notice dated 11 December 2025) doesn't ask for the blood test. We show the current rules; confirm with MAQIS which applies to your pet.
- Which countries count as 'scheduled' (no quarantine) changed: DVS's notice of 11 December 2025 added Greece, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Malta, Slovenia, Estonia, Bahrain, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania to the United Kingdom, Eire, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden and Brunei. MAQIS's FAQ also names Singapore.
- The animal must travel directly by aircraft (or other transport) to the prescribed landing place or another airport in Malaysia.
- The vet's certificate states that no case of rabies was reported in the country in the 6 months before the certificate date and that the animal was not imported into that country in those 6 months.
- Ireland does not keep the entry (certification) requirements of other countries: contact the destination country for them, then follow its instructions for the health certificate. Allow enough time for any required tests.
- No tapeworm treatment is needed to leave Ireland. A dog needs the treatment from a vet abroad before it returns to Ireland.
- Make sure your pet qualifies to return to Ireland: the same rules apply to re-enter from a non-EU country whether the pet usually lives there or is an Irish pet that was there briefly on holiday.
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Ireland to Malaysia?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into Malaysia?
Yes: Every pet needs a valid import permit from MAQIS.
Will my dog be quarantined in Malaysia?
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 have a microchip that follows ISO standards 11784 and 11785, and the pet passport or certificate must describe and identify it.