Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia, or Royal Malaysian Customs, controls all items entry into the country.
Free Imports into Malaysia
Prohibited Imports into Malaysia
Restricted Imports into Malaysia
To bring your pet abroad, you will need to plan and prepare well in advance. The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is responsible for the movement of live animals to and from Malaysia.
Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar
Kementerian Pertanian & Industri Asas Tani
Wisma Tani, Blok Podium, Lot 4G1, Presint 4
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Perseketuan, 62624 Putrajaya
Tel : (603) 8870 2000
Fax: (603) 8888 6021
Email: pro@dvs.gov.my
There is no restriction on the number of animals that can be imported by any person. Note that pets must be at least 3 months old, and some breeds of dogs are not available for import (inquire at the DVS for current list). To import exotic animals or wildlife as pets, you may also need to get approval from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks before applying for an import permit from the Department of Veterinary Services.
Taking your pet into Malaysia requires:
Cats and Dogs may enter Malaysia without quarantine from:
Other countries require minimum seven day quarantine. Malaysia has 3 quarantine stations - at Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Padang Besar (Thai Border). You will be charged a boarding fee for the time your pet is in quarantine.
Some airlines allow pets to travel in an airplane's cabin, provided their cage is small enough to fit under your seat. Small birds may also be able to travel in the cabin, but tropical birds such as parrots are usually not allowed.
If your pet's cage does not fit under your seat, you will have to ship it as checked baggage. Since the outside air temperature also affects the temperature in the cargo bay, airlines may restrict the transportation of pets during certain times of the year.
Inquire directly with the airline for detailed information on requirements as these may differ between airlines. Check container dimensions before purchasing a cage or kennel.
Before leaving, acquaint your animal with the kennel or container. Add some familiar toys or some of your clothing items, so your pet has a sense of familiarity during the transport. Sedation of your pet during the trip is generally not recommended and should only be used as a last resort.
There are also pet relocation services that figure out all the details of the move. These services tend to be quite expensive, but take away the stress of doing it yourself. Get free quotes on our expat services site, Expat-Quotes Pet Relocation.
FAQ about pet import can be found on the DVS site: http://www.dvs.gov.my/ms/faq-import-haiwan-kesayangan.
Find out more about requirements on our article: Expat Pets: Bringing along Fido.
U.S. Citizens: The free pamphlet "Know Before You Go" at http://www.cbp.gov/ is very helpful. (Click on "Travel" and then click on "Know Before You Go! Online Brochure").
You can also contact:
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP)
1300 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20229
Tel. 877/287-8667
Canadian Citizens: "I Declare", issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500) is helpful.
Australian Citizens: A helpful brochure is available from Australian consulates or Customs offices called "Know Before You Go". Call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to http://www.customs.gov.au/.
Update 3/06/2015
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