Bringing a dog or cat from Australia to Malaysia
Under Malaysia's rules, pets from Australia are in the group “Australia”. A dog from Australia needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine, an import permit and an official health certificate. Expect at least 14 days of quarantine on arrival. There is no long waiting period, so a few weeks of preparation is usually enough.
About Malaysia: Pets need an import permit from MAQIS, an ISO microchip and a health exam within 7 days before export. Pets from 22 'scheduled' (rabies-free) countries skip quarantine. Everyone else does at least 7 days' quarantine, and pets from Australia and Indonesia have their own tougher rules. Malaysia bans or restricts many large dog breeds.
Australia Quarantine
- Titer test
- Not required
- Wait after blood test
- —
- Import permit
- Required
- Quarantine
- 14+ days
No long wait: Rabies vaccine at least 28 days before export. Hendra SNT (negative at 1:2) within 14 days before export.
Step by step
Residency
The pet must have lived in Australia for 6+ months or since birth and not have been imported into Australia in the past 6 months.
Vaccinate and test
Rabies vaccine 28+ days before export. Negative Hendra virus SNT within 14 days of export.
Parasite treatment
Treat for external and internal parasites 2-7 days before export.
Permit, certificate and quarantine
Get a MAQIS permit and a government health certificate within 7 days of export. The pet then does at least 14 days' quarantine.
Minimum 14 days, extendable after risk assessment
Good to know
- Cats
- Same documents as dogs. First- to fourth-generation Bengal and Savannah cats and their crosses are banned (Indonesia document). Later generations need proof of ancestry.
- Banned breeds
- Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pit Bull types incl. American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boerboel (in Indonesia/Australia documents), Perro de Presa Canario (banned in Indonesia/Australia documents; restricted in scheduled/non-scheduled documents)
- How many pets
- No DVS limit on pets per person (DVS FAQ). Local councils limit dogs per household.
- Parasite treatment
- Australia and Indonesia origins: external and internal parasite treatment 2-7 days before export. Not stated for other origins in the current documents.
- Arrival
- Fly direct to the landing place on the permit. Pets that need quarantine land only at KLIA (Sepang), Penang International Airport or Padang Besar (Thai border). DVS FAQ says pets enter as cargo only, declared to a quarantine officer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to bring a dog from Australia to Malaysia?
Australia counts as "Australia" for Malaysia. There is no rabies blood test or long wait. Rabies vaccine at least 28 days before export. Hendra SNT (negative at 1:2) within 14 days before export. Allow a few weeks for the vet visits and the health certificate.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from Australia to Malaysia?
No. Pets from Australia do not need a titer test for Malaysia if the other rules are met.
Will my pet be quarantined in Malaysia?
Yes. Pets from Australia spend at least 14 days in quarantine on arrival.
Do I need an import permit?
Yes. Malaysia requires an import permit.
Are the rules the same for cats?
Same documents as dogs. First- to fourth-generation Bengal and Savannah cats and their crosses are banned (Indonesia document). Later generations need proof of ancestry.
Sources
- DVS – Regulations for importation of dogs and cats, Scheduled countries (notice 11 Dec 2025)
- DVS – Regulations for importation of dogs and cats, Non-scheduled countries (notice 11 Dec 2025)
- DVS – Requirements for dogs and cats from Indonesia
- DVS – Requirements for dogs and cats from Australia
- DVS – Import regulations cats and dogs (2019 consolidated, older)
- DVS – FAQ Import Haiwan Kesayangan
- Malaysian High Commission Canberra – Import of cats and dogs
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: Malaysia pet import rules.