Getting a pet from New Zealand to Malta is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. This is one of the more straightforward routes, and roughly 4-6 weeks is …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from New Zealand to Malta
typically takes around 4-6 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
First step - must be done before any vaccinations.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785 standard)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
After microchip. 21-day wait before next steps.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space with airline directly.
Book IATA-compliant flight and cargo/cabin space
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
4
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirement)
Obtain official veterinary health certificate
Responsible: Official veterinarian
5
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets; 2 hours for cabin
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation at cargo desk
Responsible: You + airline check-in/cargo desk
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Before or on same day as first rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel
Rabies titre test
Not required. New Zealand is a listed third country for EU pet travel, and pets from listed countries are exempt from the rabies antibody test and from the three-month wait that follows it. Source: European Commission, movement of pet animals, corroborated against the GOV.UK listed-country register read 2026-09-02.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant pets. Penalty quarantine applies if documentation is non-compliant
Import permit
Not required
Health certificate
Required. EU Pet Passport or AHC. Issued by: Official vet. Valid for 10 days from issue
Export permit
No formal export permit required. Destination import documentation serves as travel authority.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your New Zealand to Malta move gets missed.
Pet Transport Global
Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Qantas
Cargo: QantasFreighter network for pet transport. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round. Temperature embargoes: seasonal restrictions during Australian summer (Dec-Feb)
Cargo Only
British Airways
Cargo: Pets transported via British Airways World Cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Book through approved cargo agent. No cabin pets on any route.
Cargo Only
Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Small pets (up to 8kg with carrier) allowed in cabin. Cargo: larger pets via Lufthansa Cargo in pressurised, temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round
Cabin and Cargo
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: Pets travel in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons
Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific
Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met
Cargo Only
Air France
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo transport available for larger pets. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes
Cabin and Cargo
KLM
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo: pets transported via KLM Cargo. Temperature restrictions apply. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo
Cabin and Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size)
IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate
Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes)
Critical points
Always verify current regulations with the destination country's official veterinary authority before travel.
The rules for bringing a pet into Malta
Malta keeps its import requirements relatively light, which makes preparing easier. Even so, the basics still need to be right and in the correct order.
How to keep this move on track
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.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
FAQ
Common questions
Allow at least 20 weeks from starting preparations to travel day. Some steps involve mandatory waiting periods that cannot be shortened, so starting early is the only way to keep to your schedule.
No routine quarantine is required in Malta for pets arriving with correct documentation. However, if your pet arrives without the right paperwork, penalty quarantine can apply. Get everything right before you travel.
No. New Zealand is a listed third country for EU pet travel, and a pet from a listed country needs no rabies antibody test and none of the three-month wait that follows one. That wait is the longest fixed period in an EU move, so this is the difference between about four weeks of preparation and about five months. What you do need: an ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an EU animal health certificate issued by an official vet within 10 days of travel.
Your pet needs a government-issued veterinary health certificate from an official vet in New Zealand. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. Present the original (not a copy) at check-in. Check Malta’s authority for the exact format required.
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Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm
current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.
IATA· International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations