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As part of the EU, personal goods and effects may be imported to Malta duty-free. Documentation required includes a copy of your passport and an inventory of goods imported.

Packages

All packages arriving in Malta from a non-EU country are checked to determine whether VAT or duty are payable, and to screen for prohibited goods. VAT, duty, and excise charges are payable on most packages valued over €50 whether or not packages are received as gifts, whether goods are new or used, or whether goods are for private use or sale. VAT, duty, and excise charges are payable at Malta Post offices. Charges vary depending on the value of imported goods.

Selective checks are also carried out on packages mailed to Malta from an EU country to ensure no prohibited items (drugs, indecent or obscene materials or weapons) are imported.

By Sea & By Air

Personal goods imported by sea must be landed at an approved wharf. Goods imported by air must be landed at the Malta International Airport. At the airport, goods must be taken to the approved examination station. To ease importation, you may wish to work with a professional international relocation company. A customs deposit is payable on imported goods.

Import Guidelines, Limits & Restrictions

Free Import when travelling within EU

Although there are no limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco one can bring in from EU countries, customs officials are more likely to stop travelers or seize items if you have excessive amounts of:

• Tobacco products (800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos (max. 3g each), 200 cigars, 1kg smoking tobacco)
• Alcoholic beverages (10 litres of spirits over 22%, 20 litres of alcoholic beverages less than 22%, 90 litres of wine (though no more than 60 litres of sparkling wine), 110 litres of beer.

Free Import quantities when travelling from outside EU

Alcohol and alcoholic beverages are allowed in these amounts (travelers must be over 17 years ):

• 1 litre of alcohol that does not exceed 22% volume of alcohol, or un-denatured ethyl alcohol 80% volume and over *
• 2 litres of alcohol that does not exceeds 22% volume of alcohol
• 4 litres of still wine
• 16 litres of beer

*The passengers can combine the first two types of alcohol as long the alcohol volume does not exceed 100%.

Tobacco products
When travelling by air or sea , over 17 years old can bring tobacco products for personal use only the following:

• 200 cigarettes or
• 100 cigarillos or
• 50 cigars or
• 250 g of smoking tobacco

When travelling by land, over 17 years old can bring tobacco products for personal use only the following:

• 40 cigarettes or
• 20 cigarillos or
• 10 cigars or
• 50 grams of smoking tobacco

Other Importable Goods

• Medication – for personal use only .
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to 430 euro when travelling by air or sea (or up to 300 euro when travelling by land or up to 150 euro for travellers under 15 years of age).

Prohibited Items

• Prohibited items that may not be imported to Malta include:
• Firearms and ammunition
• Inflammable goods and substances
• Plants and plant material
• Food and perishables (including meat and milk from non-EU countries)
• Narcotics
• Offensive materials

Restricted Items

Restricted items that follow specific import rules include:

• Pets  - see Pets section below.
• Currency – no restrictions if coming from an EU country. Curreency is declarable for all persons travelling outside the EU when the amount exceeds €10,000 or equivalent in another currency.

Vehicles

New and used vehicles imported to Malta are subject to heavy customs fees.

Individuals importing a used vehicle must make an appointment with Transport Malta for the vehicle to be inspected and registered. This process must be completed within 20 days from date of importation to Malta.

You must bring the following documents to your inspection and registration appointment:

• Original Foreign Registration Certificate (Logbook) of vehicle signed by foreign seller and new buyer
• Printed copy of vehicle registration value, obtainable from Transport Malta's Motor Vehicle Used Vehicle Registration Valuation System
• Deposit form VEH 03

For vehicles imported to Malta from EU countries after April 1^st, 2011:

• An Odometer Certificate of Authenticity, issued by a body approved by JEVIC UK
• Notice of arrival time and location
• Foreign plates
• VRT passed certificate (this should be done prior to inspection)

Fees

• €50 inspection fee
• €15 registration fee (over the counter) or €10 registration fee (online)
• Registration tax (varies: calculated based on Euro Standard, CO2, particulate matter [diesel engines only] and vehicle length)
• Registration taxes for hybrid vehicles are reduced by 30%
• Annual circulation fee (varies)

Used vehicles older than five years of age, and imported to Malta from non-EU countries, must pay a minimum tax of €1,500-€15,000, depending on vehicle weight.

Transport Malta Contact details

Address: Technical Unit of the Land Directorate, Floriana
Phone: +356 2123-3029
Opening hours for appointments: 0730-1530 hrs, Monday to Friday
Email

Pets

If you want to bring your pet abroad, it can be done but takes planning and preparation. Malta's pet importation regulations (below) apply to dogs, cats, and ferrets. For information on importing other types of pets, contact Malta's Veterinary Regulation Directorate directly at petstravel.mrra@gov.mt.

There are three categories of pet imports:

• Pets from EU countries (Category 1)
• Pets from approved non-EU countries (Category 2)

  Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, BES Islands, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Curaco, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Lichtenstein, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Polynesia, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, Saint Maarten, San Marino, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre & Miquelo, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Singapore, Switzerland, Antilles, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA (mainland), Vanuatu, Vatican State, Wallis & Futuna

• Pets from non-approved non-EU countries (Category 3)

Residents from EU countries (Category 1) and approved non-EU countries (Category 2) importing their pet to Malta must:

• Microchip - to verify pets' identity. All pets in Malta must be microchipped, according to Maltese law. Microchips must conform to ISO standards, so they are easily readable.
• Vaccinate – Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before arrival. However the vaccination cannot be older than 12 months from the date of arrival.

  Dogs may also get full shots for Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo, and DHLPP. Cats may also be vaccinated against Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, and Panleukopenia.

• Have their pet vaccinated against rabies after being microchipped
• Tapeworm treatment – Dogs travelling to Malta must be treated with Praziquantel no less than 24 hours, and no more than 120 hours, prior to travel. Treatment must be certified by a veterinarian in an EU Pet Passport of Official Veterinary Certificate
• Application for pet travel permit – Obtain an application for pet travel permit from Malta's Veterinary Regulation Directorate by calling +356 2165-0393 or by email petstravel.mrra@gov.mt.

  Notice of arrival – Your application must indicate your exact arrival time and location in Malta, so pet inspection can be arranged.

  Inspection for release – Pets are only able to leave the arrival lounges at the Malta International Airport, or disembark from sea vessels, after a positive inspection of identification and a positive documentary check has been carried out by an official from Malta's Veterinary Regulation Directorate. An inspection fee of €50 is payable in cash on the spot; official receipts are issued.

• Have an EU Pet Passport or Official Veterinary Health Certificate (can be obtained from your local veterinarian)

Residents of non-approved non-EU countries (Category 3) importing their pets to Malta must:

• Microchip - to verify pets' identity. All pets in Malta must be microchipped, according to Maltese law. Microchips must conform to ISO standards, so they are easily readable.
• Vaccinate – Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before arrival. However the vaccination cannot be older than 12 months from the date of arrival.

  Dogs may also get full shots for Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo, and DHLPP. Cats may also be vaccinated against Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, and Panleukopenia.

• Have their pet vaccinated against rabies after being microchipped.
• Pass a rabies titration blood test – At least 30 days after the administrated of the rabies vaccination. You may only import pets to Malta three months after they pass this test. For residents of non-approved non-EU countries, the preparation period for bringing pets to Malta is therefore at least 120 days.  
• Tapeworm treatment – Dogs travelling to Malta must be treated with Praziquantel no less than 24 hours, and no more than 120 hours, prior to travel. Treatment must be certified by a veterinarian in an EU Pet Passport of Official Veterinary Certificate
• Application for pet travel permit – Obtain an application for pet travel permit from Malta's Veterinary Regulation Directorate by calling +356 2165-0393 or by email petstravel.mrra@gov.mt.

  Notice of arrival – Your application must indicate your exact arrival time and location in Malta, so pet inspection can be arranged.

  Inspection for release – Pets are only able to leave the arrival lounges at the Malta International Airport, or disembark from sea vessels, after a positive inspection of identification and a positive documentary check has been carried out by an official from Malta's Veterinary Regulation Directorate. An inspection fee of €50 is payable in cash on the spot; official receipts are issued.

• Have an EU Pet Passport or Official Veterinary Health Certificate from a provincial, state, or national veterinary authority certifying the microchip, vaccination, and blood test result. Verify with Malta's Agriculture and Fisheries Regulation Department as to which specific veterinary authority must issue this certificate in your country.

For more information about importing pets to foreign countries, see EasyExpat's article on "Expat Pets".

Transport

Some airlines allow pets to travel in an airplane's cabin, provided their cage is small enough to fit under your seat. Dogs can be transported to Malta on airlines such as Lufthansa (in the cabin or as cargo), and Air Malta (in the cabin or as cargo). Virtu Ferries (Malta to Sicily to Malta) also allows pet transport by sea. Pet importation regulations apply regardless of method of transport.

If your pet's cage does not fit under your seat, you will have to ship it as checked baggage or cargo. 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. Restrictions may also be applicable according to the size and weight of your pet.

Airlines have special requirements for containers in the cabin and cargo bay. Make sure you get detailed information from your preferred airlines 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. Bringing along treats or toys during your voyage can ease pet stress, as can giving your pet small amounts of water during transit to avoid dehydration.

There are also pet relocation services that figure out all the details of relocating your pet. These services tend to be quite expensive, but take away the stress of doing it yourself.

Quarantine

If your pet is entering Malta from an EU (Category 1), an approved non-EU country (Category 2), or a non-approved non-EU country (Category 3) and has fulfilled the standards above, they will not be quarantined.

Failure to comply with the above pet importation regulations may result in quarantine (regardless of Category) for a period of up to three months, or until all regulations are fulfilled. Quarantined pets are housed at a government facility near the Malta International Airport.

Custom's Resources

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/.