Planning a pet relocation from Portugal to Malaysia is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. This route takes some organising, and roughly 20-28 weeks of preparation is about right. A …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Portugal 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 Portugal 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: Portuguese 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.
DGAV-endorsed health certificate
Responsible: DGAV-authorised vet, DGAV
06
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Quarantine begins on arrival.
Book cargo with Turkish Airlines, Emirates or Etihad; 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). Portugal 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 DGAV-authorised vet, valid as specified in the DVS import permit.
Leaving Portugal
Export requirements
Export permit
No export permit required for companion cats and dogs leaving Portugal.
Health certificate
Official health certificate for a non-EU destination, issued by a DGAV-authorised official veterinarian and endorsed by DGAV, matching the format specified in the DVS import permit.
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test at a DVS-approved laboratory: EUR 90-220
Vaccinations and DGAV-endorsed health certificate: EUR 90-280
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 100-450
Cargo fee, Lisbon to Kuala Lumpur via Istanbul, Dubai or Abu Dhabi: EUR 900-2,600
14-day DVS quarantine facility fee at KLIA: confirm current rate with DVS
Pet transport agent fee (recommended given the permit sequence): EUR 400-1,300
Total typical range: EUR 2,000-5,200 over a 5 to 7 month window
Critical points
No airline flies direct from Lisbon to Kuala Lumpur. Turkish Airlines runs the most connecting capacity on this pairing, but every routing adds at least one transfer.
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 Portuguese pets the same way it applies to every non-scheduled country. EU membership does not shorten it.
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
Turkish Airlines Cargo
Via Istanbul (IST). The single most frequent connecting option out of Lisbon to Kuala Lumpur, with established live animal transfer handling at IST.
Cargo Only
Emirates SkyCargo
Via Dubai (DXB). A strong second option from Lisbon, though the Gulf summer heat brings temperature embargoes on some travel dates.
Cargo Only
Etihad Airways
Via Abu Dhabi (AUH). A smaller-volume connection than Turkish or Emirates, but a useful alternative if either is full for your dates.
Cargo Only
The rules for bringing a pet into Malaysia
Malaysia has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
How to keep this move on track
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. The EU pet passport covers intra-EU travel only. Malaysia requires a separate DGAV-endorsed export health certificate built to the format specified in the DVS import permit, plus the full FAVN titre test pathway.
No. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul carries the most connecting capacity on this pairing. Emirates via Dubai and Etihad via Abu Dhabi are the other established routings, each adding one transfer.
Malaysian DVS classifies countries as scheduled or non-scheduled, and this classification is separate from EU membership. Portugal is non-scheduled, so the FAVN titre test, the 90-day wait and the 14-day quarantine all apply in full, the same as for any other non-scheduled country.
14 days at a DVS-designated facility at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, at the owner’s expense, under the December 2024 DVS update. This period runs after the 90-day pre-travel wait, not instead of it.
No. Malaysia refuses entry to American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers, Rottweilers and their crosses, regardless of documentation. Check your dog’s breed status with DVS before starting any preparation.
Two: DVS pre-approval and a separate MAQIS import permit. Both must be secured before the pet is shipped. Arriving at KLIA without either results in detention.
Airline guides
Turkish Airlines Cargo
Emirates SkyCargo
Etihad Airways
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.