When do the 24-120 hours start counting?

From entry into the destination country, not from departure. If the flight has a connection, the moment that counts is the first arrival in Malta.

What else is needed to take a dog to Malta?

The same things required across the European area: a microchip compliant with ISO 11784, a rabies vaccination given after the microchip and at least 21 days before travel, and an EU pet passport.

Flying with a dog to Malta: the extra rule to know

Q: Is tapeworm treatment required to take a dog to Malta?

Yes. A vet must administer a praziquantel-based treatment and record it in the passport between 24 and 120 hours before entering Malta. It applies to dogs only, not cats or ferrets.

For Malta the European rules apply — microchip, rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait, passport — plus one that concerns dogs only, in four countries only: tapeworm treatment.

The window is narrow and has two edges. A vet must administer a praziquantel-based treatment and record it in the passport between 24 and 120 hours before entering Malta. Earlier than 120 hours does not count; inside the last 24 hours does not either.

That is barely five days of margin. With a flight booked for a Monday morning, the appointment has to fall between the preceding Wednesday and Sunday — and it is worth booking as soon as you buy the ticket, because it is the one requirement that cannot be done early.

Dogs only. Cats and ferrets travelling to Malta do not need this treatment.

Malta is an island with no road links: flying is almost always the only way, which makes the tapeworm window more delicate than elsewhere, because a flight moved by one day can push it out of range.

Everything you need, in order

At least 28 days before
Microchip
The animal must be identified with a microchip compliant with ISO 11784 and readable by an ISO 11785 reader. It must be implanted before the rabies vaccination: if the order is reversed the vaccination is not valid for travel and must be repeated, with its 21-day wait.
Regulation (EU) 576/2013 — non-commercial movement of pet animals
At least 21 days before
Rabies vaccination
Mandatory for dogs, cats and ferrets. The animal must be at least 12 weeks old on the day of vaccination, and 21 full days must pass after the primary course is completed before travelling. The 21 days do not apply to a booster given while the previous vaccination was still valid.
Regulation (EU) 576/2013 — non-commercial movement of pet animals
At least 14 days before
EU pet passport
Issued by a vet authorised by the local health authority. It records identification, microchip, rabies vaccination and owner details. Request it a few days ahead: it is not a same-day document everywhere.
Italian Ministry of Health — Travelling with pets
At least 3 days before
Confirm the pet spot with the airline
Cabin pet slots are capped per flight, often between two and six. No document replaces this confirmation: without an assigned slot the animal does not board, even with everything else in order. Some airlines require 48 or 72 hours' notice, others only take the request by phone.
Between 24 and 120 hours before entry
Tapeworm treatment
For dogs only, when entering Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway. A vet must administer a praziquantel-based treatment and record it in the passport between 24 and 120 hours before entering the country. It is a narrow window with two edges: too early does not count, and neither does too late.
Delegated Regulation (EU) 1152/2011 — preventive measures against Echinococcus multilocularis
On the day
On the day
Arrive with more margin than usual: checking in an animal is almost always done at the desk, not online, and involves a document check. Carry the passport, health record, water, a spare absorbent pad and the airline's written confirmation.

The dates, worked out for your flight

Enter your departure date and your pet's weight: the planner turns this list into real deadlines, and tells you which airlines can carry it.

Open the planner

Arrival airports

Malta airports in the site's database: MLA (Malta). The planner shows which airlines serve them from each Italian airport and with what weight limits.

If the flight has a connection

The 24-120 hour window is measured against entry into Malta, not departure. If the itinerary involves a change, the moment that counts is the first arrival in the country, not the departure time of the first leg you booked.

Sources

Legal texts verified on 29 July 2026. National operating procedures can change: before travelling it is always worth checking the competent authority's page linked above.