This is merely a guide to importing your pet dog to Australia or Malaysia. Please note that all information provided within was current as of April 2016. Due to government protocols and standards being progressively updated the advice may no longer be relevant. Also, each pet's circumstances are different and as such the importation requirements may vary. Please make sure to seek up-to-date information and do not simply rely on this 100%.
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NOTE: At the end of this post I have listed a summary of expected costs for each step.
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. Also check the blog archive for additional posts containing relevant information.
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When I began looking into importing my dog to Australia I was initially overwhelmed by the amount of conditions and steps in the process. It took me many, many hours of reading and calling various governmental departments etc. to form an overall understanding of the task that laid before me. It is understandable that at first sight you too may feel in a similar position, especially when moving countries is already busy and stressful enough. I hope my experience and all that I've learnt from the process will help in making your experience a lot easier.
First a bit of a back story. Through travelling I ended up living over 2.5 years in Cambodia in which time I decided to get a puppy. Fast forward two years, my circumstances had changed and so leaving Cambodia became a reality. Thus began my journey into exporting my dog from Cambodia to Australia via Malaysia. Before I tell you the lessons I learnt over this period I want to add a word of caution. I've met many other expats who have gotten pets in Cambodia and selfishly abandoned the animal to fend for itself on the streets or dumped the responsibility on a 'friend' when it came time for them to leave the country. Personal situations can change rapidly, especially within the expat community. People are always coming and going as is the nature of the transient lifestyle. I hold very strong views as to our responsibility to all animals on this planet, especially the ones we take personal ownership of. If you are in a similar position and would like to get a pet, whilst living overseas, really consider the ramifications of that decision. This is a 10-15 year commitment you are making and if you are going to benefit from the joy of having the pet then certain responsibilities apply. If you don't think you will go to the lengthy effort of bringing your pet with you when you plan to leave then you shouldn't get a pet. It is a very expensive process exporting and importing a live animal not to mention the amount of planning and time required to complete. If you decide to get a dog also consider where you plan to travel/move to in the future. Each country has certain breeds of dog that are banned or restricted. Also Airlines have certain breeds that they won't accept (ie. Embargo on snub nosed dogs).
GETTING STARTED
Now that that's said despite the difficulties and costs of bringing my pet dog with me it is thoroughly worthwhile. Importing a pet dog from Cambodia to Australia is one of the more complicated and expensive countries to choose. Australia has very strict quarantine laws and as such Cambodia falls under the category of a non-approved country. This means you cannot import any animal directly from Cambodia to Australia. In order to do so it must first go to an approved country. Hence, the necessity to first import my pet dog to a category 2 or 3 country (eg. Malaysia) and then on to Australia. The Australian quarantine agency (Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) has four different categories for the animal's country of origin. Category 1, 2, 3 and non approved countries. Cambodia falls under the non-approved and Malaysia falls under category 3. Check the website for determining where your country of origin fits.
NOTE: Some of the airlines won't accept certain breeds flying. These may be banned breeds in country of import or have a flying embargo. Malaysia Airlines has an embargo for snub nosed dogs. Before you do anything else i would highly recommend you Make sure to check the UP-TO-DATE list of banned/restricted/embargo breeds of each Airline and country. This is step 2 for Australia and step 1 for Malaysia.
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I would also recommend familiarising yourself with all the drop-down links on the left-hand-side of this page. At the bottom of the page there is also a helpful guide that allows you to calculate the pre-export schedule for vaccination dates, vet appointments etc. Sadly Cambodia (non-approved countries) isn't a selectable option. You can also contact the department below:
Import Services Officer | Import Services | Biosecurity Plant Division
Department of Agriculture
18 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Email: imports@agriculture.
The Australian department has done a good job in providing a step-by-step guide for each category thus breaking down all the tasks into a concise and linear order. For my situation the 'non-approved country via group 3 country' applies and these are the steps that I will be referring to throughout this post.
AGENTS
However, even with the step-by-step guide it can still be confusing and because there are so many steps a little overwhelming. Combine that with the fact you may have to coordinate and satisfy the requirements of two separate, independent countries' import conditions. This further complicates and confuses things because timing can get tight. Furthermore, there are discrepancies between each country's approval standards. For example, Australia doesn't recognise any of the vaccinations etc. completed in Cambodia yet Malaysia does and yet Australia accepts Malaysian documents when Malaysian authorities may have relied upon the very tests/results completed in Cambodia previously rejected by Australian authorities. A bit of a paradox to say the least. But I'm getting ahead of myself. All will be explained. It is understandable why so many people simply hire an agent to complete the entire process for them. This does however cost considerably more (1.5-2 times more, which amounts to thousands of dollars). However, having the advantage of hindsight it would have been a lot easier and less stressful to have simply hired an agent. At the time, though, I was adamant on completing the process myself yet can also recognise that doing it independently isn't for everyone. Plus, given the amount of time invested researching, organising as well as the related costs, due to personally travelling with my dog, it is difficult to calculate the true cost of this process. Ultimately it will vary from person to person reflecting their individual priorities, values and present life circumstances. Considering all of this, hiring an agent may be preferential for you thus here is a good website and list of known agents servicing Cambodia and Malaysia:
| Boonma Pet Mover | Bangkok (Group HQ), Thailand | |
| United Relocations (Thailand) Co., Ltd | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Armstrong Pet Moving | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Crown Line | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| CTI Logistics Sdn. Bhd. | Sepang,Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia | |
| DawnKen Pet Services | Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia | |
| Felix Relocations (M) Sdn Bhd | Shun Li Industrial Park, Singapore | |
| Ricted Kennels | Singapore, Singapore | |
| Ricted Kennels Thai Company | Bangkok, Thailand |
I sent each of these companies emails requesting quotes. Some replied, others appeared out of business. Some were just providing transportation services within Malaysia (plus import permit) but not from Cambodia. Others would facilitate from outside Malaysia but required I independently bring my dog from Cambodia to to another neighbouring country (eg. Thailand) first and then they were able to complete the process. Prices varied SIGNIFICANTLY so it's best to do your own research first. From my understanding I couldn't find any company/agent able to complete the entire process to Australia that serviced Cambodia directly.
And for Australia:
| All Animal Transport | Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), Australia | |
| Animal Travel | South Windsor, New South Wales (NSW), Australia | |
| Dogtainers Australia (HQ Australia) | Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), Australia | |
| Dogtainers Pet Transport (PER) | Cloverdale, Western Australia (WA), Australia | |
| Dogtainers Pet Transport (SYD) | Rosebery, New South Wales (NSW), Australia | |
| Dogtainers Victoria (MEL) | Tullamarine, Victoria (VIC), Australia | |
| Jetpets Animal Transport Pty Ltd | Tullamarine, Victoria (VIC), Australia | |
| Kalm Australia Pty Ltd | Morisset, New South Wales (NSW), Australia | |
| Pet Carriers International | Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia | |
| Pet Express Transport Services (PETS) | Melbourne, Victoria (VIC), Australia | |
| Pet Travel Specialists | Perth, Western Australia (WA), Australia | |
| Petflyers | Stuart, Queensland (QLD), Australia | |
| Sherae Kennels - Petlink | Perth, Western Australia (WA), Australia | |
| SkyPet Animal Transport Pty | SYDNEY, New South Wales (NSW), Australia |
But if you have decided to forego an agent and complete the importation yourself this guide will hopefully fast track your experience by learning from my mistakes and the issues i faced.
Before I knew how the process for each country worked I also began searching the internet for other's advice. From my research I found two very helpful blogs that cover a lot of the same things. http://importpetstomalaysia.blogspot.com.au/ this one covers importing to Malaysia, related costs and import conditions. It's a bit old so some things have changed but it was extremely helpful and gave a good base to start from. There's also a lot of newer useful info in the comments section.
http://kaeawindow21.blogspot.my/2009/07/what-to-expect-when-you-import-your-pet.html this one is also a bit old but also good. It relates to importing to Malaysia from Cambodia which was really helpful for the Cambodia side of the process. Some other useful websites and here and here and here and here.
NOTE: Most of what is contained in these blogs and my own covers essentially the same information. I would argue that mine is actually more thorough, however, I have chosen to list them for your own curiosity. For simplicity following my guide will produce less confusion as the information is more recent and thus likely to be current in comparison.
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I was quite lucky when applying for my import permit for Australia because the rules had recently changed. Before it wasn't even possible to complete any of the import process in a non-approved country. You'd first have to import to a recognised country and then start the process all over again and import to Australia. Now you can start the process in the non-approved country before moving to category 1, 2 or 3, which potentially speeds things up by several months.
CAMBODIA (COUNTRY OF ORIGIN-NON APPROVED)
So if you're importing your pet to Australia from Cambodia or another non-approved country the first thing you need to do is find yourself a vet in the country of origin/export. For me that was Agrovet (but I'd also recommend PPAWS) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The next critical thing to do is get your pet microchipped (step 3 of the step-by-step guide). I repeat, before you have any other tests/vaccinations completed the dog needs to first be microchipped (Agrovet charged USD80). If you get the dog as a puppy do it before you get the initial rabies vaccination (USD25=Agrovet/USD10=PPAWS). Other dog vaccinations (Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospira etc.) cost USD35x2 at Agrovet and USD20x2 at PPAWS. Anything completed before the dog is microchipped will NOT be recognised by Australia and you'll have to do again (and maybe not even by Malaysia). The other critical thing to do in Cambodia is to get the initial rabies vaccination (step 4) (after microchip).
And then one month after the rabies vaccination complete the initial rabies blood test (RNAT FAVN test) and have Agrovet draw blood and send to AHVLA/APHA (costs £65.45 plus postage) (step 5).
This initial rabies blood test is KEY to applying for and completing the aus import permit. Cambodia (as a non-approved) has a complicated import permit process. The blood is allowed to be drawn in Phnom Penh, Cambodia but for the lab testing the sample has to be sent to an approved lab (see below). Make sure serum is sent not blood. Agrovet charged a fee for drawing a blood sample and synthasising the serum from the blood. Because the lab I chose to test the serum sample wasn't one Agrovet was familiar with they wouldn't take responsibility for postage etc. So instead of me paying them for the entire costs I paid them for blood sampling, paid and organised separately for postage and sent a credit card payment slip with the serum sample for the lab test.
NOTE: When the vet is typing up the initial rabies vaccination ( and all subsequent documents) make sure to have a breed listed other than simply "mix breed". If, like me, you are uncertain of what breed your dog is it is still better to make an educated guess, with the help of your vet, and write the cross of that breed (eg. Whippet Cross). This is important for when applying for the Malaysian and Australian import permits (see below). They will not accept "mix" as a valid breed classification. You will be required to list a majority breed even if your dog's unknown. I mention this so you can establish consistency, from the beginning, between all your documents. Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much as I didn't have 100% consistency and it wasn't an issue. The authorities are primarily concerned about restricted breeds so if this doesn't apply to you no need to be concerned.
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And then one month after the rabies vaccination complete the initial rabies blood test (RNAT FAVN test) and have Agrovet draw blood and send to AHVLA/APHA (costs £65.45 plus postage) (step 5).
NOTE: I chose to use this Lab in the UK but you can use any that are on the OIE approved list-see below.
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This initial rabies blood test is KEY to applying for and completing the aus import permit. Cambodia (as a non-approved) has a complicated import permit process. The blood is allowed to be drawn in Phnom Penh, Cambodia but for the lab testing the sample has to be sent to an approved lab (see below). Make sure serum is sent not blood. Agrovet charged a fee for drawing a blood sample and synthasising the serum from the blood. Because the lab I chose to test the serum sample wasn't one Agrovet was familiar with they wouldn't take responsibility for postage etc. So instead of me paying them for the entire costs I paid them for blood sampling, paid and organised separately for postage and sent a credit card payment slip with the serum sample for the lab test.
The microchip and initial rabies blood test (plus initial rabies vaccination) are the only things that can be completed in Cambodia that Australia recognises/accepts. Be very precise with the initial rabies blood test because this is critical for applying for and completing the import permit. If the blood test is not completed correctly to Australian standards/conditions it will be rejected and you have to start the process all over again (and make sure the laboratory that tests it is one of the APPROVED otherwise the Australian authority will reject it, which happened to another expat I knew). The reason why this is so important to get right is because there is a waiting period of 180 days (from the date it ARRIVES at the APPROVED laboratory) before you are eligible to import your dog (assuming the laboratory accepts the blood sample and Australian authority accepts the blood test result). This is different to pets originating from category 1, 2, or 3 countries where the waiting period starts from the day the blood sample is drawn. The blood can be drawn in Cambodia but the Australian authority only recognises certain laboratories around the world for testing the sample. (see step 5)
It is also really important to anticipate your move well ahead of time. I learnt this the hard way. I had all the vaccinations completed but without having microchipped my dog first. So I had to repeat all the vaccinations including rabies, then wait one month before completing the blood sample, which I sent to the laboratory in the UK, then I had to wait 180 days from the date the blood sample arrived at the UK lab before I could import my dog to Australia. I had already returned to Australia by this stage so was forced to leave my dog with friends when I had to leave and wait 6 months before I could bring her over with me. Being left in limbo not knowing if the import application will be accepted etc. is not an enjoyable experience especially when having to jump back and forth between countries to take care of your pet and complete the import process (that's the advantage of using an agent).
NOTE: It is really important you make sure the microchip your dog gets is approved by the Australian(and other relevant countries) authorities otherwise all the steps will not be accepted and have to be repeated. This microchip needs to be of a brand/make that is internationally recognised (see step 3). Below is the one Agrovet used and was detected/recognised by Malaysian and Australian authorities/veterinaries.
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As a side note there are several other well known and used veterinarians in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that most expats are familiar with. Agrovet is one of the oldest and most reputable but for that reason more expensive. I ended up going with Agrovet for helping complete all the import/export requirements but previously I had used PPAWS and Sokhamalpheap (Welfare) Animal Clinic. I have heard mixed reviews from different people (including from each vet-Phnom Penh is a small place so everyone knows everyone and has an opinion about everything) about all of these clinics so it's hard to give an accurate assessment. My personal opinion is PPAWS is a good/competent vet (I would definitely recommend them) and Welfare Animal Clinic reasonable. I used both of them for completing other vaccinations and general health ailments of my pet but when it came time to export I'd prefer to pay more for a western vet. At that stage I didn't understand the import process so I thought it better to go with a well established clinic (Agrovet) that had many years experience. I also wasn't confident about the microchips used by the other vet clinics meeting Australian standards. That was the main reason and from then on I just continued with Agrovet. Cambodian industries are hardly regulated so all these products are sourced independently and so can be of varying quality. I didn't want to arrive in Malaysia/Australia and have the authorities not able to recognise my dog's microchip. The other concern of mine was I wasn't sure whether the other vet clinics had prior experience importing/exporting and completing tests etc. to western standards. I didn't want the blood sample to be rejected by the UK lab. For peace of mind I preferred to pay more and go with experience. Plus given it's Cambodia a western vet looks (slightly) more reputable to Malaysian and Australian authorities. Though in hindsight I believe PPAWS would be have been a good choice too. They are the only three I'm familiar with but I have heard good things about Navetco as well.
CAMBODIAN VETS
Agrovet:
Address: #40 st.111, Boeung Proleit, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh
(It's located between street 214 and street 232, near Phnom Penh Tower)
Phone: +855 (0) 23 216 323
Agrovet is still the most recognised and highly regarded vet clinic in Phnom Penh. Can service all pet needs including import/export. Currently it has several Khmer trainee vets as well as some western. I have only had contact with Arnaud (the owner) and mainly Emma Pacios (she was great and extremely helpful-I'd definitely recommend her if you're in Phnom Penh). They all speak good English including the receptionists. I have heard mixed reviews from people stating that Arnaud has quite a stubborn personality but from my experience no problems except being expensive in comparison (but good service that you can rely on). A point of caution: they may recommend using a laboratory in the UK (called Biobest) for the rabies blood test but this is not recognised by Australia. Make sure to double check things yourself and not simply rely on their advise (even though they are correct the majority of the time). Biobest is an accepted lab for other countries so this is why it can become confusing. Make sure you double check everything yourself and refer to the website for approved labs. Also in order for them to provide import/export service they require that your pet has been vaccinated at their clinic. ie. they do not accept vaccinations done elsewhere in Cambodia. For me this required re-vaccinating my pet with them (for rabies and general dog boosters), which added to the time wait and cost. They say this is because they cannot guarantee if the vaccinations I had done previously were effective or may have been fake/spoiled etc. This is an example of where having western standards conflicts with Cambodian standards and so some people see this as stubborn or over servicing the client...Plus unlike most of Cambodian businesses prices aren't negotiable which further conflicts with the cultural norm. Check their website under 'Tariffs' for a list of costs/fees.
SIDE NOTE: The UK laboratory Biobest is commonly used by vets in South East Asia for other importing countries but is not one of the recognised/approved labs for the Australian import authority.
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Biobest Laboratories Ltd.
6 Charles Darwin House
The Edinburgh Technopole
Milton Bridge
Nr. Penicuik
EH 26 OPY UK
The UK lab you want to use is:
AHVLA (Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency)/APHA (Animal Plant Health Agency)
New Haw, Addlestone
Surrey KT15 3NB
Weybridge
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44-1932 35.78.40 Fax: +44-1932 35.72.39
Email lab.services@ahvla.gsi.gov.
NOTE: Make sure you instruct your vet to follow the directions of the testing laboratory (in sending serum not blood) and have them correctly label and package the sample to the directions of Australian authorities (see step 5).
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For postage I mailed it myself using Express Cambodia Post. Initially I tried DHL in Phnom Penh but they refused. I posted the serum sample with payment/info form inside a bubble wrapped A4 envelope. At Cambodia Post they put your mail inside their own plastic postage bag. Make sure the import permit that APHA emailed is attached inside the slip on the outside of the package so you don't have a problem with UK customs. Try to keep the sample refrigerated right up until postage. I wasn't sure if I needed to send it in the special container with dry ice, that Australian/UK customs recommends, but Agrovet said it would be fine as outlined above. This may have changed and depending on the lab you are sending the sample to they may refuse to accept it if they declare it is not to their policy standards etc.
PPAWS (Phnom Penh Animal Welfare Society):
(Highly recommended-on par with Agrovet)
http://www.ppaws.com/
http://www.ppaws.com/
This is one of the much newer establishments. It was initially founded by an English/Australian woman for caring for the abandoned street dogs. So it is sort of like a non-for-profit charity where its revenue funds community education and animal rescue/adoption programs etc. Initially it had an arrangement with Agrovet for servicing all of its clients. As it grew and became more professional one of Agrovet's trainee vets (Chamnan) moved over to running PPAWS alongside Nicola (the founder of the organisation). This created a rift between Arnaud (the owner of Agrovet) and PPAWS. The founding lady has since left Cambodia but is still involved in an advisory role whilst operating responsibility of PPAWS has been passed on to its Khmer vet (Chamnan). Chamnan speaks good English. PPAWS prices are cheaper than Agrovet (but of an equivalent standard) but pricier than other Khmer vets. I occasionally got the feeling they tried to over service a bit but no more than Agrovet. They do seem to truly care about animals. They are very friendly and their customer service goes beyond payment. Ie. I needed to get additional information for export and Chamnan still helped me even after I had changed to Agrovet. I also had my female dog desexed by Chamnan with no complications. This was performed in a local town 150km outside of Phnom Penh for USD80. Every few months PPAWS takes a mobile vet clinic out to the provinces and provides cheap neutering operations to help reduce the number of unwanted puppies being born. I'd definitely recommend them.
Welfare Animal Clinic:
Address: #64, Oknha Ket (st.174) 12210 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Mobile: +855 (0) 12 829 373, +855 (0) 15 477 686, +855 (0) 12 477 686
This is run by a Khmer vet (Dr. Lim Pak) who speaks very good English and offers considerably cheaper prices to Agrovet. I have heard, however, of instances where there have been complications with desexing operations (infections etc). I have been told he doesn't use an autoclave for sterilising equipment. If this is the case you have to question the professional standards of other services he provides.
Navetco Animal Clinic:
#45A, st.173 (corner st.318) Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phone: +855 (0) 12 466 456
I don't know much about this clinic but I've heard it's one of the few beside Agrovet that is able to help with import/export needs.
See here for a further list of vets in Phnom Penh (read comments for list of more vets).
NOTE: I mentioned above that all you need to complete in Cambodia, for the Australian import authority is the microchip, rabies vaccine and corresponding blood test. Any other vaccines won't be recognised even with microchipping. This is not to say you shouldn't get your dog vaccinated for the other diseases it just means you can't use it for satisfying the Australian conditions (ie. you're going to have to redo in category 2 or 3 country). Plus, even though Australia doesn't recognise it Malaysia still does and it is preferable to have the vaccinations for the Malaysian authorities when applying for import permit. Besides, the most important reason for getting the vaccinations is to avoid your dog picking up any of those diseases especially whilst living in Cambodia.
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AUSTRALIA IMPORT PERMIT
Once you get confirmation of a valid rabies blood test result (the lab wouldn't directly email me the results. I had to get them passed on from my vet-it took 3-4 weeks from memory) you're able to begin the application for the Australian import permit (step 6). You can only half complete it and make the initial submission. And to submit the initial import permit application for Australia it is easiest to use the online system BICON (Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions). Online import application costs AUD480 (AUD120 for online application fee and AUD360 for assessment process). The site is a bit hard to navigate so takes some time to work it out. First you have to register and email verify your account. This can take a day or so to lodge in the system. Once you are logged in you can go to the permits page and search "dog import permit". There will be a long list of options; select "Cat or dog- Dog (the first cat or dog in a consignment)-Domestic dog".
The website says it takes around a month to process your application (depending on how complicated) but mine was approved/confirmed within a couple of weeks. The only documents you can submit in the initial application are the initial rabies vaccination and RNAT blood test result. Now it's time to focus on the import permit for Malaysia (step 7). You should aim to import your dog to Malaysia 1-2 months prior to importing into Australia. The Australian department says a minimum of four weeks prior but the agents and vets in Malaysia said around 45 days to be comfortable. In addition to my blog you can refer to the two other blogs (one and two) listed above for completing this process. Here is a list of vets and boarding kennels to choose from in KL, Malaysia.
Once you get confirmation of a valid rabies blood test result (the lab wouldn't directly email me the results. I had to get them passed on from my vet-it took 3-4 weeks from memory) you're able to begin the application for the Australian import permit (step 6). You can only half complete it and make the initial submission. And to submit the initial import permit application for Australia it is easiest to use the online system BICON (Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions). Online import application costs AUD480 (AUD120 for online application fee and AUD360 for assessment process). The site is a bit hard to navigate so takes some time to work it out. First you have to register and email verify your account. This can take a day or so to lodge in the system. Once you are logged in you can go to the permits page and search "dog import permit". There will be a long list of options; select "Cat or dog- Dog (the first cat or dog in a consignment)-Domestic dog".
NOTE: Only once the rest of the tests have been completed in Malaysia can the import permit be completed in full and only then, once all the conditions have been satisfied, will they issue an import permit for Australia. So you may want to hold off a bit on lodging your initial application because the earliest date your dog can arrive in Australia is six months from date of blood test was received at the approved lab. It's also preferable to have finalised your import to Malaysia and have a corresponding vet/agent in Malaysia to list on the import permit for Australia. Having said that don't forget to lodge the application and have received successful confirmation before you import your dog to Malaysia!
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The website says it takes around a month to process your application (depending on how complicated) but mine was approved/confirmed within a couple of weeks. The only documents you can submit in the initial application are the initial rabies vaccination and RNAT blood test result. Now it's time to focus on the import permit for Malaysia (step 7). You should aim to import your dog to Malaysia 1-2 months prior to importing into Australia. The Australian department says a minimum of four weeks prior but the agents and vets in Malaysia said around 45 days to be comfortable. In addition to my blog you can refer to the two other blogs (one and two) listed above for completing this process. Here is a list of vets and boarding kennels to choose from in KL, Malaysia.
MALAYSIA IMPORT PERMIT
NOTE: I chose Malaysia as the approved country of transit, however, any country listed in categories 2 or 3 is also adequate.
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DVS (Department of Veterinary Services); which facilitates the issuing of import permits and provides import procedures/protocols etc. This is the main department you will be cooperating with.
MAQIS (Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services); which is more involved with determining whether your pet is healthy once it has arrived in Kuala Lumpur. So far the website hasn't been of much help to me. These two authorities appear to overlap quite a bit with responsibilities and jurisdictions thus very often you'll find any information on the MAQIS website refer you to the DVS website. The frustrating thing is the links it provides often don't work.
MASKARGO (Malaysia Airlines Cargo); also lists relevant information about importing conditions. It is the only airline I am aware of that transports live animals from Cambodia to Malaysia so you'll need to be communicating with them. They have a few of there own additional conditions as well.
If those links no longer work see here and here and here. Or to browse through all the documents I have compiled check here.
The main requirements (and here) to import a pet into Malaysia from Cambodia (which is classified as a non-scheduled country) are a valid import permit (which requires an agent to complete), a veterinary health certificate from the governmental authority of exporting country, rabies vaccination certificate (which you would have already done for Australia, microchip (already done) and pet passport/vaccination history (already done). In addition to this it must not be a prohibited breed of dog (depending on the breed special permission may be granted). Completing the Malaysian import process is a lot easier than for Australia plus half of it is already done as the requirements overlap with that of Australia.
The critical requirement for importing to Malaysia is the import permit. This requires an agent. Reading the blogs above they gave me an indication of how much I should pay. This was really helpful because if you read the comments section of the blogs a lot of people have mentioned that they've been charged ridiculous amounts. I too was initially quoted extremely expensive prices. After living in Cambodia I'm familiar with how it works and the need to negotiate/bargain. I ended up getting CTI Logistics to complete the import permit for a fee of RM100 plus RM50 (it's actually RM40) apparently for MAQIS to issue the import permit (RM150 in total). I would definitely be strong with your negotiating. The system was changed a few years back which made it compulsory to have an agent assist with completing the import permit (ie. you can no longer complete yourself). Now that the agents have a virtual monopoly they are charging ridiculous amounts. I had initial quotes as high as RM1800! They tried to over service as much as possible by saying they will do everything from arrival at Kuala Lumpur Airport to delivery at house. I refused and asked just for them to complete the import permit and not to provide any of the other services. A lot of the agents refused and said they weren't able to issue an import permit separately (which is not true). Eventually CTI Logistics agreed to complete the import permit (from their initial quote of RM1500 I negotiated down to RM150 for just the import permit!) but it was only issued for my dog arriving as check-in baggage (not cargo). The difference being I had to fly with my dog and my dog was checked-in as excess baggage on my ticket. Negotiating and finding an agent that would cooperate took some weeks to complete but the actual issuing of the import permit was extremely quick (within a few days of payment). The import permit is valid for 30 days.
Here is a list of agents who provide import permits and other services for Malaysia.
NOTE: If you would like to compare agent prices, for completing the import permit, I would recommend searching Facebook etc. and expat groups for other agents operating in Malaysia. Additionally, many agents have regular contact with the Animal Quarantine Station (MAQIS) on +60 3-87872377.
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You also need to reserve a quarantine kennel for arrival in Malaysia (there is a compulsory minimum 7 day quarantine of all live imports) at least 2 weeks prior to arrival. I just called the Animal Quarantine Station (MAQIS) on +60 3-87872377 and stated that I was importing a pet and the date of arrival. The lady simply took my name and reserved the spot. I wasn't issued any receipt or form for verification. I asked about payment and she said it was due on discharge of pet (which ended up totaling RM162 for 7 days quarantine). Apart from this, the only other thing to do is get the health certificate in Cambodia. Agrovet helped in organising this but there are a few vet clinics able to help (or you can go directly to the government department and complete yourself). The government agency issued health certificate (also known as export permit) is apparently also required by the Cambodian government to export your pet (even though no authority-including airline personnel-checked it at the airport). In addition to the government health certificate (which must have the official department stamp) Agrovet issued a health certificate of its own (which apparently is acceptable for Malaysia as an unofficial one).
A side note: for flying with a dog on any Malaysia Airlines flight they require a valid import permit and health certificate (which you'd already have completed). For the import permit it requires you state what type of breed your dog is. If your dog is an unknown mix (like mine) it may be slightly complicated. They will not accept a general classification such as 'mix/cross-breed' so you need to state some breed as the defining breed even if it isn't more than 50%. It is important to keep all your documents consistent (starting from the initial rabies vaccination) with these corresponding classifications. Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much about it as I had mix/cross-breed on most of my documents and a specific breed on the import permit. Despite this inconsistency I didn't have any problems on arrival in Malaysia.
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The health certificates must be valid from within 7 days of arrival in Malaysia (ie. complete in last week before flight). The health certificate issued by Agrovet seems obsolete since they're already organising the health certificate from the government. It is issued on the spot after a routine health check (costs USD25). To me this screamed of over servicing and overpriced (to a westerner that may not seem like much money but after living like a local Khmer (who earn less than $10 a day) I was surprised. The health certificate issued by the Cambodian government takes up to four days apparently and Agrovet charges USD60 to facilitate. Make sure you have the necessary information listed on the government export/health permit because they don't use a template (they'll type up whatever is provided to them). There was a mistake made with my export permit/health certificate (which annoyingly Agrovet didn't seem very interested in helping correct) so I personally went to the government department to have it corrected. See map.
They were incredibly friendly and helpful and provided me with a corrected certificate straight away. Now seeing how it works if I was to have to export another dog I would personally organise the Cambodian health certificate myself. I can't understand why it takes up to four days to complete since they completed it for me within an hour or two (but to be fair most of the documents had previously been prepared and approved). I imagine this has to do with transport and double handling/cross checking etc. Also, initially the government personnel told me they would contact me (within a day a two) when the amended copy was ready. When I started talking Khmer to them, with fluency and good pronunciation, they were very impressed. They then changed their decision and told me to wait. It was coming on 4.30pm and yet they still went out of their way to complete it for me. Also how it works in Cambodia you generally have to pay a 'service fee' to have things fast tracked or when providing something extra, which they also didn't want from me. So very often the service received reflects your own actions..
The last thing to organise before flying to Malaysia is of course the travel crate/cage for you pet. Make sure it is to IATA standard (but most modern travel cages meet these standards so I wouldn't be too concerned plus the airlines didn't seem to scrutinise it at all). There are several shops/vet clinics in Cambodia that sell them but for (in my opinion) ridiculous prices. Agrovet wanted USD150 for 78cm x 56cm x 56cm.
The last thing to organise before flying to Malaysia is of course the travel crate/cage for you pet. Make sure it is to IATA standard (but most modern travel cages meet these standards so I wouldn't be too concerned plus the airlines didn't seem to scrutinise it at all). There are several shops/vet clinics in Cambodia that sell them but for (in my opinion) ridiculous prices. Agrovet wanted USD150 for 78cm x 56cm x 56cm.
I ended up buying one secondhand in Australia for AUD50, which is a lot cheaper and a lot more environmentally conscious (just like the person I bought it off I'll resell it once I'm finished with it as I'll most likley only use it this one time). But then again considering I'm flying my dog from Cambodia to Australia I think any of my environmental credits have long been exhausted haha!
FLIGHT: PHN to KUL
For flying your dog to Malaysia there are two options (as excess check-in baggage or manifested cargo). Malaysia Airlines is the only airline that services this (that I know of). I chose to fly with my dog as check-in excess baggage. For this you must first purchase a normal ticket and then contact Malaysia airlines and inform them that you are travelling with a live animal/pet. They will ask for the weight, breed (like with the import permit Malaysia Airlines will not accept mix/cross-breed as a valid breed classification), colour and age of your pet, the cage dimensions and weight. From Phnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur they charge USD14 per kilo of excess baggage. Even if you have paid for checked baggage your pet does not apply. It is classed as excess baggage so on the day of your flight, at the airport check-in, you have to pay the excess baggage fee (which is the combined weight of your pet and cage).
If you choose to send your pet as manifested cargo the process is slightly different. Be mindful of this when organising your import permit for Malaysia. According to CTI Logistics the import permit for check-in vs cargo will be classified as slightly different and so you may have problems when trying to reclaim your dog on arrival. Make sure to verify this with your agent. For cargo (MASKARGO) the people you want to contact in Phnom Penh are:
Dara (airops.transpeed@online.com.kh) +855 23 216 708
Thida Uy (reservation.elite@online.com.kh) +855 23 221 528 +855 23 221 359 +855 23 221 365
They emailed me the following:
Our charges are:
-Airfreight rate: USD7.30/kg (charge based on volume we ight of cage)
-Local charge in PNH: USD180 for one dog (customs clearance/delivery/handling/
1/You are required to have import permit from Malaysian authority.
2/Required documents from PNH for customs formalities.
-Photo of dogs
-Health Certificate
-Vaccination of rabies
-Veterinary Certificate (Export permit from ministry)
-Owner’s passport
-Shipper’s and receiver’s address with contact number
-Authorization letter to Transpeed to do customs clearance on your behalf.
Malaysia Airlines has two flights each day from Phnom Penh (PNH) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL):
Morning flight: MH755 1110-1400
Evening flight: MH763: 1730- 2020
NOTE: This is the same flight you'll be flying on if you travel with your dog as check-in luggage. The only difference is logistically how/where your dog is delivered to and collected from the airport terminal.
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Now there is nothing else to do until departure. On the day of your flight arrive at PNH Airport and proceed to check-in with your dog. I walked in with my dog not in the crate but on a leash beside me and no one stopped me or seemed to be surprised. Cambodia is very laid back like that. At check-in notify them that you're bringing your dog on the flight and be prepared for looks of surprise and confusion. The airport check-in staff seemed rather puzzled with this request and were unsure of what was required. Make sure to arrive with enough time before your flight as it may take a while for the right personnel to come meet you. While you're waiting check-in any other luggage and collect your boarding pass. They will weigh your pet and cage together and contact the Malaysia Airlines personnel who was called Chitra Vann. He will come and write you out a receipt (see below) for payment of excess baggage. It's USD$14 for every kilo. Pay the amount, take the receipt and check-in staff will attach a luggage ID tag to the crate for collection.
Then they'll tell you to proceed to oversize baggage. No one bothered to check any of the documents for my dog, not even if a had a valid import permit or health certificate, which didn't surprise me given it's Cambodia but i expected a higher standard of scrutiny for Malaysia Airlines. I waited until the last moment to put my dog inside the cage and leave with oversize. Fill the water container for your dog and say goodbye, go through customs and board the plane. If you're a worrier try not to; Malaysia airlines seemed pretty organised and competent with it (despite not checking my docs haha).
MALAYSIA QUARANTINE (CATEGORY 3 COUNTRY)
On arrival at KLIA go through customs then proceed to baggage reclaim. Collect any other luggage you have checked in and then proceed to the MAQIS office located in the baggage reclaim area (look for the signs below).
It is a room located on the right side as you progress through the alphabet (around conveyor belt 'H' from memory). If no one is in the office go to Malaysia Airlines office which is located through the glass doors on the right side of conveyor belt 'K'. Tell them you are collecting your dog. They will make a call and tell you to go wait back at the MAQIS office. Someone will soon bring your dog to you on a trolley and then quickly disappear before you can ask what to do next. I then proceeded to exit through to the arrival gates. At the final security check point one of the officers will ask if you've already had your dog processed through for quarantine. Tell them no and they will guide you to an officer in grey doing baggage inspections. He'll then escort you back to the MAQIS office and go through all the forms and documentation you have supplied. This was the first time anyone checked the paperwork for my dog. I was a bit concerned prior to the flight that I might run into complications because there were some inconsistencies with my docs. For example I had written my dog breed was whippet on the import permit but on all my other docs it just said mix/cross-breed. MAQIS wouldn't accept that as a breed for the import permit and required I specify which breed it was predominantly. Also the Cambodian government health certifcate was two weeks old rather than under seven days. The officer did have a bit of a double take at these points but in the end accepted it. No problems at all. He then got me to sign some forms which were only in Bahasa Melayu and gave me a copy of each (see below).
He then took a numbered zip lock tie and sealed the cage door so it couldn't be opened without cutting the tie. This is to ensure the dog hasn't been released until arrival at MAQIS Animal Quarantine Station. He then told me that on the 1st Feb 2016 the protocol had changed.
MAQIS would no longer deliver the dog to the Animal Quarantine Station. I had to personally do it. He then asked if I had transport organized already which I said no and he suggested a guy (import agent) who he personally called and then escorted me to the pickup area and waited until his friend arrived. Make sure to negotiate a price beforehand. A taxi to or from KLIA to KL Sentral is around RM100-150 so it should be definitely less than that. It's only 16km from KLIA so RM20/30 should be plenty but because it's the airport and I'm a foreigner expect to pay more. I ended up paying RM50 because i didn't care for bargaining too much at the time. He also came back and collected me after I finished with my dog and gave me a lift back to the bus at KLIA. You could easily take any taxi, Uber (around RM15 each way), prearranged with agent who organized import permit or own transport. This was a private agent involved with dog importing so knew where and what you do so made it really easy. See map.
The road from KLIA to Animal Quarantine Station was fast with little traffic. Look for the Green road sign saying 'Imigresen Depot'.
Turn left and drive up until you reach the gates. The agent sorted everything out for me. Basically you have to go up to the booth window and provide documents, sign in as a visitor etc.
Then the security guard will guide you to the allocated kennel facility for your dog. There are lots of buildings for all different types of animals. Go to the designated one and you can unpack your dog and gear. The kennel room was air-conditioned (higher cost per day but needed for your pet).
Each individual grouping of kennels is fenced in with a grass area outside for your dog to run around supervised. The individual kennel has two sections with two gates. One that seals up to maintain air-con temperature and the other open to the ambient temperature.
As with the Feb 1 change of protocol MAQIS no longer provide care for your dog so you or an agent must come each day to feed, clean your dog, let her/he out to go to the toilet, exercise etc. You or your organized person can only come within visiting hours which vary depending on the day of the week.
When you come to visit you must first report to the head office building and sign in, collect a numbered day pass and hand over some form of ID.
I chose to stay in KL for the duration of quarantine (seven days) and visited everyday to reduce the stress on my dog. I also wanted stay in the city centre (but it may be more convenient for you to stay at a hotel close to the airport) so I could do some sightseeing as well. As I'm not a resident of Malaysia I didn't have own transport so I ended up taking the sky bus for RM10 from KL Sentral to the Airport terminal each day and then using Uber for the last 17km. The Uber charge is around RM15 and there's always plenty of drivers at the airport. The first day I visited it was a problem getting a lift back to the airport from the Animal Quarantine Station. This is because the distance to the quarantine station is just outside the 10km Uber pick up limit. I decided to walk a few kms until I was within range of the "Uber pick zone". I ended up accumulating plenty of Uber drivers numbers and called them directly to come the following days. If I couldn't get someone to pick me up sometimes I got lucky when an Uber driver just happened to be passing the station on his way to a nearby restaurant. In hindsight it would have been a lot easier if I had prearranged transport to and from.
After 7 days quarantine your dog will be released early in the morning. The 7 days quarantine is very much a formality. Even though they state that they're monitoring your pet for any signs of illness I imagine your pet would have to be extremely sick for them to enforce an extended stay in quarantine. On collection of dog you have to pay the quarantine fees. This came to a total of RM162 for 7 days quarantine, vet inspection and quarantine certificate. I have forgotten the exact breakdown of costs. See below:
If you don't have an agent you will also have to clean the inside of the kennel yourself.
Once the dog has been released from quarantine you are free to take it anywhere in Malaysia peninsula. If you are a resident of Malaysia this makes it a lot easier. From there I had organised an UberXL (for RM100) to transport my dog and I from Animal Quarantine Station back to KLCC. I then handed the dog over to a kennel facility connected to my vet clinic (at the premises of Animal Medical Centre) and a few days later returned to Australia due to commitments. My dog was then left in the care of my vet to finalise the last part of the process before export to Australia. These are steps 8-21.
MALAYSIA VET
Animal Medical Centre
Wisma Medivet, 8, Jln Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
t: 6(03) 4042 6742 & 4042 5873
f: 6(03) 4041 3660
On the day of arrival at the vet clinic/kennel I had a blood sample taken for the second RNAT test (step 8) to the same procedure as the first RNAT test described above (RM64 for blood/serum sample by vet clinic). The only difference being I had the serum sample sent to AAHL which is the Australian laboratory (again I chose to use this Lab but you can use any on the OIE approved list-see below). On the initial quote from Animal Medical Centre they had charged almost double the cost for the same blood tests performed at AAHL compared to what AAHL state on their website. Having researched this already I requested to have AAHL directly debit my account (by filling out a credit card payment form) rather than have Animal Medical Centre overcharge me for doing absolutely nothing extra. The cost for RNAT FAVN test at AAHL is AUD168+AUD163 for overseas/customs clearance charge. Animal Medical Centre charged RM160 for postage (which requires an import permit for the blood/serum and blood sample form)+RM53 for container+RM150 for transport and handling fees to Malaysian government veterinary authority to have the sample authorised. (According to my vet/agent in KL every document or blood sample first needs to be approved by the government veterinary at Shah Alam). I personally felt some of the fees that this vet clinic charged was excessive so in hindsight I would liked to have researched other clinics in KL. By this stage in the import process I had returned and been living in Australia prior to importing to Malaysia and so comparing it to Australian prices it isn't expensive but I know from my time living in South East Asia this is excessive!
On the same day, following the blood sample, I had my dog re-vaccinated for rabies (step 9) as well as the first general dog vaccine booster (Leptospira, Distemper etc. which I had to redo in Malaysia because the vaccines completed in Cambodia wouldn't be recognised/approved by Australian authorities) (step 12). For both vaccines it cost RM97 in total I think. I had the vet start the 21 day external parasite treatment (Frontline flea spray for RM32 each treatment) in preparation for the second lot of blood tests for Leishmania and Ecanis-step 13). This isn't strictly in the exact order the Australian government website specifies (before I'd received second RNAT test result, RNAT declaration-step 10-and made quarantine booking-step 11) but I felt I could get the process started whilst waiting for the RNAT test result. This was to speed up the process and reduce the amount of time my dog had to spend in the kennel. But if the blood test came back with an insufficient result I'd have to repeat the RNAT test and so this would jeopardise any later steps I had completed in advance. Luckily I didn't have any issues but I would advise you to speak with your vet and the Australian government Imports Department regarding your individual import schedule and to take their advice. If you go to the AAHL website they outline all the costs/charges for blood tests as well as the days of the week specific tests occur. This is important in terms of making sure you draw the blood and post it with plenty of time for the sample to arrive before the cut-off day (ie. if the sample arrives a day after cut-off you will have to wait for the following week for the sample to be tested-see below).
Australian Animal Health Laboratory
CSIRO
E aahl-accessions@csiro.au T +61 3 5227 5414
5 Portarlington Road East Geelong 3219
Postal address: PO Bag 24. Geelong 3220
If you email AAHL and inform them that you need to have a blood sample tested at their lab they will email all the necessary documents and explain the procedure.
As I had to return to Australia I left my dog in the kennel facility at Animal Medical Centre. They charged RM52/day which is ridiculous and overpriced in my opinion (for most services I found Animal Medical Centre to be expensive). There are two sizes of kennels (I chose the bigger one) but both are extremely small for long stays. I don't imagine they're intended for long periods of housing (only for a week max) but due to my situation I needed a kennel connected to the vet clinic so that further tests/treatments can be done on call or when necessary. I thought it to be too complicated with coordinating the scheduling and transport between two separate facilities. You can find pictures of the kennels here.
In hindsight I wish I had investigated other vet clinics that were able to provide import/export services. I ended up running out of time to negotiate so went with this clinic even though they are expensive in my opinion. But they came highly recommended and are well connected in this industry. The agents for Animal Medical Centre are well known by the Australian authorities and AAHL laboratories etc and have lots of experience and are familiar with the Australian import conditions/process. Having said that currently one of the key staff is recovering from illness so there were complications and slow progress with my import procedure as is the nature when new staff are training on the job. By this stage I was well informed and understood the process so I personally followed up each test/treatment, when I hadn't received any prior communication, reminding them of the dates and what to do next (I probably was a bit annoying but was necessary otherwise they wouldn't have completed it in time for the scheduled flight.
The RNAT FVAN test will be completed in under a week (see above website) and is expected to take 3-4 days express but can take up to a week for postage and to get through customs. From here on each of the tests and import conditions will be able to be approved/completed in a short period of time. Once the result is received the vet needs to complete the RNAT declaration (step 10) to be authorised by the Malaysian governmental veterinary authority. Once these two documents are complete you can either submit them by email to imports@agriculture.gov.au referencing your import permit number or log into your BICON account and lodge the requested information. This will take a week or two to be assessed and if all is correct you will be issued with a valid import permit. Now you're able to book and make initial payment (initially just AUD25) for PEQ (post entry quarantine) at the new Mickleham facility near Melbourne International Airport (step 11). For procedure and quarantine fees and charges and to make a reservation see here. Like with BICON a new electronic system has now replaced the previous quarantine booking system. You first make the initial application for a quarantine space and it will be assessed. Provided you have a valid/complete import permit they will send confirmation and inform you of completing payment in order to reserve the spot (quarantine fees for normal 10 day stay total around AUD1500-1600). The website/general emails advise to make reservation a month or two in advance to secure a space but after speaking directly with staff they informed me that the new Mickleham facility is not expected to currently exceed capacity so spaces should always be available. But I would recommend reserving with plenty of time in advance just to be safe.
NOTE: Full payment and confirmation of reservation has to be made at least 7 days prior to arrival. Make sure you are 100% certain of the import/flight date before making final payment. Once you make final payment you cannot change your scheduled date online. To change the PEQ arrival date you must call the quarantine department directly on 1800 900 090 and follow the prompts. Also make sure to correctly coordinate the dog arrival and departure times to coincide with the usual business hours between Melbourne, Australia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Depending on the day of import to Melbourne the Mickleham Quarantine Station has extended collection hours. For KUL to MEL I found the evening flight worked best because the dog left and arrived During Business hours. Flight MH149 (see below).
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By this stage it had been more than 21 days since the initial external parasite treatment. Just like for the second RNAT blood/serum test the vet was now able to complete the second lot of blood tests for Leishmania and Ecanis (step 14 and step 16). The same vet/transport costs as before apply. AAHL charged AUD205 for each of these two tests and AUD163 for overseas submission fee. It is very important that after the Ecanis blood test is completed continual Frontline protection is maintained from 21 days prior to blood sampling up to date of import. For me (running off a 45-50 day time frame) this equated to 3 lots of Frontline treatment (including initial) every 21 days/3 weeks until departure.
NOTE: Make sure the external parasite treatment (Frontal) as well as the internal parasite treatment (Drontal) are logged and signed for on your vaccination record in case the Australian authorities request evidence. It is very important to make sure the external parasites treatment kills fleas/ticks on contact not just once they bite and suck blood. Upon arrival in Australia if any parasite or tick is found on your dog additional quarantine will be enforced plus you'll be required to redo the blood test. This amounts to $1000+.
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Step 15 didn't apply to me because I had already had my dog desexed in Cambodia. To avoid doing this test Australia required the Malaysian vet and authorities recognised the neutering certificate. This is where I find inconsistency in the import procedure. Australian authorities wouldn't recognise this certificate but were happy to rely on the approval of the same certificate by Malaysian authorities. This goes contradictory to their general policy; Australian authorities wouldn't accept the vaccinations completed in Cambodia that Malaysia had approved yet would accept this certificate that could be so easily forged. But given the nature of the desexing procedure it is possible to physically check whether the animal has been neutered compared to whether the animal had been properly vaccinated.
Step 17 (see step 12 for vaccination requirements as alternative for blood test) also didn't apply to me because I had had my dog vaccinated again in Malaysia with two boosters 2-4 weeks apart. Step 18 didn't apply to me either. I had already completed the initial booster at the same time as rabies blood test/vaccine. Make sure to remember to follow it up with a second one otherwise Australian authorities may declare the vaccination to not be adequate/valid. I completed the second one at the same time of the second lot of blood sampling (around three weeks after initial booster).
Step 19 is the last stage of the treatments/tests your dog requires. These two treatments of Drontal for internal
parasites (RM13) have to be done within the 45 days before export, at least 14 days apart and the second/final treatment done within 5 days before flight/importation. The last test to do before flight is to have the vet clinical examination (steps 20-21) and from that completion of the health certificate and export permit from Malaysia (step 20). This must be done within 5 days before flight/export.
FLIGHT: KUL to MEL
I went and organised a separate agent (Zaidi at Bringline Resources-i'd definitely recommend him as an agent for most services for the Malaysian side but you'll still need to negotiate) to complete customs clearance and transport dog to airport from vet/kennel. I had already contacted MASKARGO and new the airfare costs etc. The quote from my vet for the exact same thing was more than 3x the price of base cost and even after raising this they weren't willing to negotiate. So do your home work and negotiate. Within 14 days of export the flight can be booked but not yet paid for. You will need to have your import permit completed and issued with a valid import permit number. You will need all vaccinations and other blood tests completed as well (leishmania, e-canis etc). Like for travelling from Cambodia MASKARGO is one of the few airlines that services live pet shipment. Unlike travelling from Cambodia Australia requires that the dog can only arrive as manifested cargo (not check-in excess luggage). Call +60387771610 to make a flight reservation with MASKARGO Animal Hotel. There are two flights each day from KUL to MEL, one in the morning (i think it´s MH129 departure-10.30 arrival-21.25) and evening (MH149 departure-21.50 arrival-08.40+1). But first you need to be issued with an Airway Bill (AWB) number. Once you have this and made the reservation they will contact the Australian MASKARGO head office and wait for them to confirm all the import conditions and details are complete on the Australian side. If you want to check if your booking is correct or confirmed you can call +61393356334 for MASKARGO head office in Melbourne (or alternatively +61296670701 for Sydney). The handling for cargo, and whom MASKARGO KL is waiting on for confirmation, is outsourced to another company which can be contacted on +6183408100 and then ask to speak to Shona or Francisca. Within a few days you will get confirmation that the flight and importation is approved. Once approved you will receive a further invoice from PEQservices referred to as "recovery of airline handling charge" or "airline document charge/international documentation fee (IDF)" on their website. Like all other quarantine fees they state this must be paid in full prior to collection of animal.
Here are the contact details for MASKARGO Malaysia and guidelines for export procedure. or here
NOTE: Confirm that you have recorded the AWB number correctly and that when you make the reservation booking the correct AWB has been input into the system. Depending on where you may be calling from (overseas etc.) phone reception may not be 100% clear calling Malaysian offices, which resulted in the wrong AWB number being recorded for my flight reservation. But all this can be completed by your vet/agent in Malaysia.
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NOTE: The Australian import authorities require all imports to pass through the new Mickleham Quarantine Station is located in Melbourne. So I'm under the impression even if your dog's destination is not in Melbourne your dog must arrive at Tullamarine Airport and go for the minimum 10 days quarantine and then on completion take another domestic flight to your city of destination. Check yourself.
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For calculating the amount for cargo shipment from KL, Malaysia to Melbourne, Australia it is slightly more complicated. Call MASKARGO Animal Hotel and ask to be transferred through to cargo fees and charges to get an estimate of what needs to be paid on the day of departure. Unlike checkin-in luggage that works purely on total weight, cargo goes by volumetric weight which reflects the size and dimensions of the travel crate. This comes out a lot more than the actual total weight of cage and pet. The rate is RM20.05 per kilo of volumetric weight (see here and here). In addition to this there are some service fees, tariffs and terminal charges plus customs clearance (all totaling around MYR100).
The above MASKARGO procedure for export outlines the conditions and time schedule for departure. How and when to arrive at the Advance Cargo Centre prior to departure. On the day of the flight deliver your dog to the MASKARGO (Animal Hotel) facility listed on the maps below. Your dog should arrive 5-8 hours before departure and make payment for cargo fees. You will then have go to one of the nearby offices for completing and paying for customs clearance. Once that´s complete return to Animal Hotel to finalise export shipment and hand over all necessary documents. Once your dog is delivered to Animal Hotel the Malaysian side of importing is then complete.
AUSTRALIA QUARANTINE
Once your dog arrives at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, Australia it will be collected by quarantine staff and transported to the Mickleham PEQ facility nearby. If everything is fine for the period of quarantine you can come and collect after 10 days! You will receive email updates as to the progress. The quarantine staff may even contact by phone to inform you of your pet's situation.
For me, however, my dog was found to have a tick on her upon inspection at arrival. Apparently my vet/the Malaysian authorities weren't very thorough with their pre export examinations or possibly my dog picked up the tick whilst in transit to Australia. Whatever happened this meant quarantine staff had to first remove all ticks then retreat for external parasites and 21 days after initial treatment 'bleed' my dog for a second blood test for E Canis (ie. repeat steps 12 and 13). This meant my dog had to be quarantined for around another 2 weeks in addition to the mandatory 10 days. All the additional costs involved amounted to close to $AUD1000! So I would strongly recommend making a particular emphasis on the pre-export inspection. Malaysian standards are relaxed compared to Australia. For example, my dog was released from Malaysian quarantine with ticks from Cambodia on her. Unlike Malaysia, Australia's biodiversity and geographical isolation has resulted in strict quarantine laws (which is a very good thing) but issues arise when dealing with the different standards between countries.
But finally after many months I was able to go collect my dog from the quarantine station. After what felt like an eternity I can't describe how good it was reuniting with my dog and having it finally be finished!
NOTE: Once your dog has been released from quarantine you may want to consider having her/him vaccinated for kennel cough (which is the only vaccination not required for immigration but a prerequisite for other dog facilities (e.g. kennel/doggy day care) within Australia). This vaccine is most commonly a component of the C5 vaccination and has a 2 week efficacy period.
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SUMMARY OF EXPECTED COSTS
Microchipping (Cambodia)-USD80
Rabies vaccination #1 (Cambodia)-USD10 to USD25
General vaccination (corona, parvo, distemper etc.) #1 (Cambodia)-USD20 to USD35
General vaccination booster #1 (Cambodia)-USD20 to USD35
Internal Parasites treatment (Cambodia)-USD3 to USD6
External Parasites treatment (Cambodia)-USD5 to USD8
Rabies blood sampling and postage #1 (Cambodia)-USD50 to USD60
Rabies RNAT blood test #1 (UK)-£65.45
Australian Import Permit-AUD480
Malaysia Import Permit and admin costs-MYR40+MYR100
Health Certifiicate (Cambodia)-USD25
Export Permit/Gov Health Cert (Cambodia)-USD60
Travel Crate-AUD50 to AUD200
Transport to Airport (Cambodia)-USD5 to USD10
Airfare (PHN to KUL)-USD14/kilo
Transport to Quarantine Station (Malaysia)-MYR20 to MYR50
Quarantine Stay (Malaysia)-MYR162 for 7 days
Transport to KL Ctiy-MYR100 to MYR150
Kennel Fees (Malaysia)-MYR40 to MYR52/day
Rabies vaccination #2 (Malaysia)-MYR57
General Vaccination #2 (Malaysia)-MYR40
General Vaccination booster #2 (Malaysia)-MYR40
Rabies blood sampling and postage #2 (Malaysia)-MYR64+MYR363
Rabies RNAT blood test #2 and customs clearance (Australia)-AUD168+AUD163
E canis and Leishmania blood sampling and postage (Malaysia)-MYR64+MYR363
E canis and Leishmania blood test (Australia)-AUD205+AUD205+AUD163
Dog desexing operation (Cambodia)-USD80 to USD200
External Parasites treatment (Malaysia)-MYR32 x3
Internal Parasites treatment (Malaysia)-MYR13 x2
Export Permit (Malaysia)-MYR53
Health Certificate and Vet Inspection (Malaysia)-MYR53
Transport to Airport (Malaysia)-MYR100 to MYR300
Customs clearance-MYR75 to MYR100
Vet/agent admin charges-MYR1000-MYR2000
Airfare (KUL to MEL)-MYR20.05/kilo of volumetric weight
Airline handling fee (Australia)-AUD125 to AUD150
Quarantine Stay (Australia)-AUD29/day
Importation Charge (Australia)-AUD1200
I hope this information was helpful. I wish you all the best with importing your own pet!
Pet Moving
Pet Relocation
Pet Transport
Travelling with Pets
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