Taking your dog or cat from Italy to Malaysia comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Around 20-28 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must happen in a strict order. Factor in 14 …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Italy to Malaysia
typically takes around 20-28 weeks.
Expect 14 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Italy to Malaysia import process
01
Microchip first. Vaccination at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw.
Implant ISO microchip, then administer or confirm current rabies vaccination
Responsible: Italian veterinarian
02
Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination.
FAVN titre test at a DVS-approved laboratory
Responsible: Vet, sent to a DVS-approved laboratory
03
Once the titre test is submitted. Allow 4 to 8 weeks.
Apply for DVS import permit and MAQIS import permit
Responsible: Owner or agent
04
90 days. Cannot be shortened by boosters or repeat tests.
3-month wait from the successful titre test result
Responsible: Owner to track
05
Close to travel, matching the DVS permit validity window.
Ministero della Salute health certificate from a veterinario ufficiale
Responsible: Veterinario ufficiale
06
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Quarantine begins on arrival.
Book cargo with ITA Airways, Emirates or Singapore Airlines; arrive at KLIA for 14-day quarantine
Responsible: Owner or agent, then DVS
Requirements
Malaysia entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required and current. Given after the microchip, at least 30 days before the blood draw for the FAVN titre test.
Rabies titre test
Required. FAVN rabies antibody titre test at a DVS-approved laboratory, minimum 0.5 IU/ml. A 3-month (90-day) wait applies from the date of a successful result before entry (December 2024 DVS policy update). Italy is a non-scheduled country for this purpose.
Quarantine
Mandatory. 14 days at a DVS-designated quarantine facility at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, at the owner's expense (December 2024 update).
Import permit
Required. DVS (Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia) import permit, applied for through DVS district offices or the Animal Passport portal before travel. A MAQIS (Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services) import permit is also required before the pet is shipped.
Health certificate
Official health certificate from the Italian official vet, valid as specified in the DVS import permit.
Leaving Italy
Export requirements
Export permit
Not required for companion cats and dogs leaving Italy.
Health certificate
Official health certificate issued by an Italian official veterinarian (veterinario ufficiale) under the Ministero della Salute, matching the format specified in the DVS import permit.
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test at a DVS-approved laboratory: EUR 100-250
Vaccinations and Ministero della Salute health certificate: EUR 100-300
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 100-500
Cargo fee, Rome or Milan to Kuala Lumpur via Dubai, Singapore or partner hub: EUR 800-2,400
14-day DVS quarantine facility fee at KLIA: confirm current rate with DVS
Pet transport agent fee (recommended given the permit sequence): EUR 400-1,400
Total typical range: EUR 2,000-5,000 over a 5 to 7 month window
Critical points
The Italian health certificate must come from a veterinario ufficiale, a government-authorised vet, not a private practice vet without that authorisation. A certificate from the wrong signatory will be rejected.
The 90-day wait runs from the titre test result date, not the vaccination date. Blood drawn before 30 days post-vaccination produces an invalid result.
14-day quarantine at KLIA applies to Italian pets in the same way it applies to every non-scheduled country. There is no exemption for EU membership.
Apply for the DVS and MAQIS permits before booking cargo space. Arriving without both leads to detention at the airport.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
ITA Airways
Rome Fiumicino to Kuala Lumpur via a partner hub. ITA carries pets in its climate-controlled cargo hold and asks for at least 48 hours' notice on booking, which suits the Malaysian permit paperwork timeline.
Cabin and Cargo
Emirates SkyCargo
Via Dubai (DXB) from Rome or Milan. A well-established Gulf connection with temperature-controlled hold handling, though summer heat embargoes can affect the Dubai transfer.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines Cargo
Via Singapore (SIN) from Milan. Strong live animal handling reputation and a short SIN-KUL final leg.
Cargo Only
Meeting Malaysia's entry requirements
Bringing a pet into Malaysia involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Advice worth following
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Only a veterinario ufficiale, a veterinarian authorised under the Ministero della Salute, can issue the certificate Malaysia will accept. A private vet without this authorisation cannot sign it. Ask your local ASL veterinary office for a referral if your regular vet does not hold this status.
No. Malaysian DVS classifies countries as scheduled or non-scheduled, and Italy sits in the non-scheduled group along with the rest of the EU. The 14-day quarantine at a DVS-designated facility applies regardless of Italy’s EU status or its own low rabies risk.
ITA Airways asks for at least 48 hours’ notice to book a pet into its climate-controlled cargo hold. Given the Malaysian permit timeline runs to months, this is one of the shorter lead times in the whole process, but still needs confirming directly with the airline before travel.
A minimum of 0.5 IU/ml, from blood drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, tested at a DVS-approved laboratory. A passing result starts a mandatory 90-day wait before your pet can enter Malaysia.
No. Rottweilers are on Malaysia’s prohibited breed list, along with American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers and their crosses. Confirm your dog’s breed status with DVS before starting any preparation.
No scheduled direct passenger or cargo service connects Italy and Kuala Lumpur. ITA Airways, Emirates via Dubai and Singapore Airlines via Singapore are the practical routings, each with one connection.
Airline guides
ITA Airways
Emirates SkyCargo
Singapore Airlines Cargo
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.