Pet Transport UK to Malta: AHC, Tick and Tapeworm Requirements in 2026

Malta is an island, and border document checks at Malta International Airport (MLA) are careful. The two treatment requirements for dogs need to be timed from arrival in Malta, not departure from the UK. Calculating backwards from your landing time is the correct way to plan both windows.

The tapeworm treatment window is 24 to 120 hours before Malta arrival: a five-day window that closes 24 hours before landing. The tick treatment window is tighter: 24 to 48 hours before arrival. Most APHA-authorised vets handle both at the same appointment, typically the day before travel, which places both treatments comfortably inside their respective windows.

The AHC records both treatments by product name, dose, and date of administration. If either treatment is administered outside its window, or not recorded, entry can be refused. The vet appointment is therefore the most time-critical step in the whole process.

The UK-Malta air route has a reasonable number of options, but not all carriers accept pets in the hold. Air Malta (now operating as KM Malta Airlines) accepts pets in the hold as checked baggage on the Heathrow-Malta route, which is the most straightforward option. easyJet accepts pets in the hold on certain routes; confirm this when booking.

Ryanair, which operates from Stansted and other UK airports to Malta, does not accept pets in the hold or cabin. If Ryanair is the only convenient option from your departure airport, you will need to arrange separate travel on a different carrier for your pet.

British Airways via Heathrow offers a cargo option for larger pets or those who need guaranteed manifest cargo handling. For most cats and smaller dogs travelling in-hold with their owner, Air Malta or easyJet are the practical routes.