Bringing a dog or cat from the US to Malta

Malta follows the European Union's rules for pets arriving from outside the EU, with one extra step for dogs that catches many Americans: a tapeworm treatment given within a narrow window before arrival. The paperwork also changed in 2026. New EU health certificates became mandatory from 1 October 2026, and USDA updated its process to match. This guide sets out the steps in the order you will do them, using the USDA APHIS page for travel from the US to Malta and the European Commission's pet travel rules.

Which rules apply

The European Commission's page on bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country explains that non-commercial pet travel is governed by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131. Non-commercial means the pet travels with its owner, or with a person the owner authorises, and is not being sold or transferred. The maximum is five dogs, cats or ferrets in one movement, unless they travel for competitions or shows under specific conditions.

If the pet travels without you, or you bring six or more, the commercial rules apply, with a different certificate and tighter timelines.

Step 1: microchip first

Your pet needs a working microchip before its rabies vaccination for EU travel. APHIS says your veterinarian must scan the microchip before giving the vaccine. A rabies shot given before microchipping, or without the chip being scanned, does not count under EU rules.

ISO-compliant chips, usually 15 digits and meeting ISO 11784 and 11785, are the standard. If your pet has a non-ISO chip, APHIS says you must either travel with a scanner that reads it or have a second, ISO-compliant chip implanted, with both numbers on the health certificate.

Step 2: rabies vaccination and the 21-day wait

The EU requires that the pet was at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated, that the vaccine was given after the microchip, and that the vaccination becomes valid at least 21 days after the primary vaccination is completed.

APHIS adds points specific to US vaccines:

• A primary rabies vaccination is the first shot after microchipping or after any lapse in coverage.
• For pets vaccinated in the US, a primary vaccination counts as valid for one year for EU purposes, even if a three-year vaccine was used.
• A booster given before the previous vaccination expires has no waiting period, as long as the primary vaccination is also listed on the certificate.
• Any lapse, even one day, makes the next shot a primary again.

APHIS suggests a simple path: have your vet give a fresh one-year rabies vaccine, after scanning the chip, at least 21 days and less than a year before travel. Then one certificate covers the history.

Step 3: no titre test from the US

The EU requires a rabies antibody titre test for pets from many non-EU countries, but the Commission's page says the test is not needed for pets coming from countries on the EU's exempt lists. The APHIS page for travel from the US to Malta does not include a titre test step for pets travelling directly from the United States. If your pet has lived in another country recently, check that country's status.

Step 4: the EU health certificate and USDA endorsement

A USDA-accredited veterinarian completes the EU non-commercial health certificate and submits it through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). USDA then endorses it. For Malta, APHIS says electronic signatures from the accredited vet are accepted, but USDA must ink-sign and emboss the certificate, and the original endorsed certificate must travel with the pet.

Timing rules from APHIS:

• The non-commercial certificate is valid for 30 days after the accredited vet issues it.
• USDA must endorse it within 10 days of the pet's arrival in the EU.
• The last page includes a declaration signed by the owner or designated person, which travels with the pet.
• New EU certificate models became effective on 1 October 2026. Make sure your vet uses the current form.

Once in the EU, the certificate can be used for travel within the EU for up to six months from entry, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.

Step 5: tapeworm treatment for dogs

Malta is one of the EU countries, with Finland, Ireland and Northern Ireland, plus Norway, that require dogs to be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis before entry. Cats and ferrets are exempt.

APHIS sets out the rule for dogs travelling on the non-commercial certificate:

• A veterinarian gives the treatment 24 to 120 hours (one to five days) before your scheduled arrival in Malta.
• The medicine must be labelled to treat Echinococcus multilocularis. APHIS names praziquantel as the recommended active ingredient.
• The vet completes the anti-Echinococcus treatment table in Part II of the health certificate.
• Treatment can be given before or after USDA endorsement.

This window is the main planning constraint. A long layover or a delayed flight can push arrival outside 120 hours. If you stop elsewhere in the EU on the way, APHIS notes that dogs entering Malta after first entering the EU must be treated by an EU veterinarian one to five days before entering Malta.

Step 6: the journey

Airlines have their own pet policies on crates, breeds, temperatures and whether pets fly in the cabin or hold. Book the pet with the airline at the same time as your own ticket. Direct flights from the US to Malta are limited, so most routes connect in another European hub, which adds to the timing problem above. An airline-approved carrier sized to your airline's rules and a collapsible water bowl make long connections easier.

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Step 7: living with a pet in Malta

Once in Malta, register with a local vet, keep the rabies vaccination current within its validity, and ask the vet about an EU pet passport for travel within the EU. Leases in Malta often limit pets, so negotiate pet permission in writing before you sign. Summer heat is a real risk for dogs: walk early and late, and avoid hot limestone pavements at midday.

Returning to the US with a dog

The CDC is the main authority for dogs entering the US. Malta is not on the CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies, so the CDC's rules for dogs from dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries apply. If your dog has been only in such countries for the six months before returning, the CDC says you need:

• a CDC Dog Import Form submission and its receipt,
• a dog at least six months old,
• a healthy appearance on arrival,
• a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner.

The CDC states that the receipt is valid for six months and for multiple entries from the same country. Cats are not covered by the CDC dog rules, though airlines and some states set their own requirements.

Timeline summary

1. Months ahead: microchip, then rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel.
2. Book flights and the airline pet booking together.
3. Within 30 days before arrival: accredited vet issues the EU certificate.
4. Within 10 days before arrival: USDA endorsement.
5. One to five days before arrival: tapeworm treatment for dogs.
6. Travel with the original endorsed certificate and owner declaration.

Common questions

Does my dog need a tapeworm treatment to enter Malta? Yes. Dogs must be treated with a product labelled for Echinococcus multilocularis 24 to 120 hours before scheduled arrival in Malta, recorded on the health certificate. Cats and ferrets do not need it.

Does my pet need a rabies titre test to go from the US to Malta? The EU exempts pets from listed countries from the titre test, and the APHIS page for US to Malta travel does not include a titre step for pets coming directly from the United States.

How long before arrival does USDA need to endorse the health certificate? APHIS says the non-commercial certificate must be endorsed within 10 days of the pet's arrival in the EU, and the certificate is valid for 30 days after the accredited vet issues it.

What does my dog need to return to the US from Malta? If the dog has been only in low-risk or dog-rabies-free countries for six months, the CDC requires a Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip, a minimum age of six months and a healthy appearance.