Import Pets to Malaysia

I have recently imported my dog from the US to Malaysia.  There's not much information on the Net to explain how the whole process works.  This blog is created to fill the gap of missing information provided by Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia.

Know Before You Go

Malaysia has different import regulations for different countries.  Visit Import Regulations For Cats & Dogs to find out what regulations are applicable to your country.  For dogs from the US, the DVS requires a microchip and rabies vaccination.  Since the US has its own domestic microchip system, it will not be accepted when my dog is exported to Malaysia.  I had to implant an "international" microchip for my dog (an ISO (Std 11784 & 11785) compliant microchip).  I also gave my dog rabies shot 4 months before my departure date.

The DVS also requires that a health certificate be issued by a USDA accredited vet 7 days before my departure date.  Call your vet to find out if they are USDA accredited.  If they are not, ask them to recommend other vets that are USDA accredited.  It's easy to get a health certificate because your vet will take care of everything for you.  You just need to bring your pet to your vet 7 days before departure.  The cert costs about US$100.  Once your vet signs the cert, you can either FedEx it to the USDA office to get it certified, or you can bring it directly to the office to get certified.  Since I want to get the cert certified on the same day, I decided to drive to the USDA office to get the official stamp.  You do not need to bring your pet there.  Just bring the health cert and you will get the official USDA stamp for US$38.

Here's how a health certificate looks like:

Remember to make copies of the health certificate as the airlines will need to keep them when you travel.

Besides the health certificate, you will also need to apply for an import permit from DVS Malaysia.  You can either obtain the import permit directly from the DVS office or you can download a copy from DVS' website. * The import permit should be applied one month before your departure date.  There is a nominal of RM5 for the import permit and you can usually get it approved within 2 to 3 business days.

[* You won't be able to find the Import Permit form for pets from the link above anymore. The import permit is now handled by MAQIS (Malaysian Quarantine And Inspection Services).  MAQIS' website is poorly designed and it's not very user-friendly.  I can't seem to find the import permit form there.  You might have to call them up to find out.  With MAQIS, all import permits have to be obtained through an approved agent (please read our readers' comments for more information).  You can visit IPATA's page to search for approved agents.  One of the agents that one of our readers recommended is CTI Logistics Sdn. Bhd.  They charged a reasonable service fee (RM60) for filling out the import permit application form.  Please note that this service does not include the application fee that MAQIS charges (RM40).  So you will have to fork out a total of RM100 for the whole import permit application process.  You can visit MAQIS' page and click on the first link that says "FI PENGELUARAN LESEN ATAU PERMIT IMPORT DAN EKSPORT" and you will be able to download a PDF file that lists all the fees that MAQIS charges for importing various types of animals. ]

Here's how an OLD import permit from DVS looked like:

Once your import permit has been approved, you will also need to reserve the quarantine space for your pet.  Below was how the reservation form looked like when I did my reservation:

The cost of quarantine was RM79.00 per week.  You do not need to pay when you request your reservation.  You pay at the end of the quarantine period (7 days).

[* From MAQIS page, if you click on the the link that says "KUARANTIN DAN CAJ KUARANTIN PROSEDUR" you will be able to download a PDF that lists the quarantine fee for various types of animals.  For those who can't read Malay, quarantine fee for dogs is RM10 per day, and for cats, it's RM5 per day.]

[*Latest Update: Now, you can make your reservation online.  Just head over to http://aqs.dvs.gov.my to fill out the reservation request online.]

Travelling With Pets

If you plan on travelling internationally with your pet in the cabin of the airplane, your choice of airline is very limited.  At the time of writing, I was able to find only one airline that allows small pet in the cabin: Korean Airline.  All other airlines that travel between the US and Malaysia do not allow pets in the cabin.  Your pet will be placed at the cargo compartment and you will not be able to attend to them during the flight.  Korean Airline's has its own restrictions on the weight of the pet that you can bring into the cabin.  If your pet weighs more than 10lbs, you will have to checked it in.  If you need to travel domestically, check with your domestic airlines to see what kind of restrictions they have in place for your pet.

Most US domestic airlines charge above US$100 for in-cabin pets.  Make sure you tell them about your pet during ticket reservation.  You can usually pay the extra amount during the time of reservation.  For Korean Airline, they charge US$200 for in-cabin pets.  You cannot pay the extra fee when you reserve your ticket.  You will need to pay at the counter before you board the plane.  Fortunately they accept credit card at the counter.

Make sure you make copies of your health certificate and rabies vaccination records when you travel so that you can hand them to the airline personnel at the counter.  Have the original copies of the health certificate, rabies vaccination records, and import permit handy just in case the airline personnel wants to see them.

Arrival

When you arrive at the airport, make sure you approach the proper personnel after you collect your luggage.  The DVS personnel will not wait for you at the airport.  When you walk pass the luggage inspection line, tell the personnel there that you have a pet with you and it needs to be quarantined.  They will direct you to a different personnel and you will need to hand your pet to them.  Your pet will stay in a temporary office room at the airport (for about 30 minutes) before the DVS people can pick it up.  You will not be able to accompany your pet to the quarantine area.  If you arrive during day time, you might be able to pay your pet a visit on the same day.  If you arrive during night time, you can visit your pet the next day.

Visitation During Quarantine

You are allowed to visit your pet during hours specified below:

Here's the address of the quarantine area at KLIA:

Animal Quarantine Station

Jalan Pekeliling 4, Klia, 

Sepang, Selangor

It will be tricky putting the address above into your GPS.  You will need to put KLIA as the city (instead of Sepang) or you won't be able to locate the address above.  You should be able to find Jalan Pekeliling 4 when you put KLIA as the city.  However, since there's no street number, your GPS will only bring you to the beginning of Jalan Pekeliling 4.  The Animal Quarantine Station is actually located at the end of Jalan Pekeliling 4.

I suggest that you study the map before you go, so that you won't be confused by your GPS.

Here's a link at Google Maps:

http://goo.gl/maps/pYFF6

Print out the physical map and you won't have any problems finding the place.  Since the quarantine station is very close to Sepang F1 Circuit, make sure you visit your pet when there's no racing events or you will be stuck in traffic for at least 30 minutes.

At the end of Jalan Pekeliling 4, you will see the entrance to the Animal Quarantine Station:

Do not enter the entrance because you don't have a pass yet.  You need to get a pass by visiting an office located on the right of the entrance.

Drive down the slope on the right of the main entrance and you will see this entrance:

Park at the parking lot and walk through this entrance.  You will see a deserted canteen on your left.  Walk pass the deserted canteen and you will see these steps:

Walk up the steps and you will see the entrance to the office:

Make sure you remove your shoes before entering the office:

The personnel will issue you a pass when you present your quarantine reservation form.  You will also need to submit your IC (or passport), which will be returned when you return your pass.

Once you have your pass, drive your car next to the small building on the left of the main entrance of the quarantine station:

There will be a security guard there to check your pass before he allows you to enter the quarantine station.  Ask the guard where the dog house is and he will give you directions.  Please note that you will not be allowed to drive into the quarantine station (except for the last day of visitation, when your pet will be released).

The guard will not accompany you to the dog house.  You will need to find it yourself.  Here's how a dog house looks like:

The gate is unlocked.  Just let yourself in:

You shouldn't have problem finding your pet in the proper room:

Here's how the room looks like inside:

It was actually cleaner and more spacious than what I had expected.  Remember to bring a towel or a soft bed for your pet because there is no carpeted surface in the room.

You can bring your pet anywhere outside of the room, as long as it stays within the quarantine station: 

You can even bathe your pet with the hose provided:

Just remember to bring your own shampoo, towel, and hair dryer (power outlet is provided in each room).

Last Day of Quarantine

Before you know it, 7 days is over and your pet is free to go.  On the last day, you can show up as early as 8:30am.  You will need to stop by the office and pay your dues before they let your pet go.  Here's how much you would be expected to pay:

Quarantine Stay: RM79

Transportation from KLIA to Quarantine Station: RM30

Examination Fee: RM20

Flea Medication: RM40

Total: RM169

You can drive your car into the quarantine station on your pet's last day and load your things there.

Here's a photo of my dog regaining his freedom after 7 days of quarantine:

Conclusion

Overall, it had been a pleasant experience during the whole quarantine process.  You do not need to worry about your pets being mistreated.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.