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Household Goods
Specific Information
Malta has been a member of the European Union since 2004, joined the Schengen Area in 2007, and adopted the euro in 2008. The customs requirements differ depending on whether the shipment originates from within the EU or from a non-EU country.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
- Firearms and weapons of any kind [Permit Required]
- Pornographic materials
- Indecent or obscene material featuring children
- Flick knives and other offensive weapons
- Counterfeit currency and goods
- Radio transmitters not approved for use in Malta (walkie-talkies, citizen band radios, certain bird callers) [Permit Required]
- Meat, poultry, and other animal products [Permit Required]
- Plants and plant produce, including trees, shrubs, vegetables, fruit, bulbs, and seeds [Permit Required]
- Animals and birds, whether alive or dead, including stuffed specimens [CITES]
- Products derived from protected species: fur skins, ivory, reptile leather, stony corals, and goods made from them [CITES]
- Live plants without phytosanitary certificate
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Non-EU Traveller Duty-Free Allowances
The following duty-free allowances apply to travellers arriving from outside the EU (aged 17 and over for tobacco and alcohol):
Tobacco (one of): 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of smoking tobacco.
Alcohol (all of): 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs (over 22% volume), plus 2 litres of still table wine. Alternatively: 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs (under 22% volume), plus 2 litres of still table wine.
Other goods: Up to EUR 430 in value per traveller (EUR 150 for travellers under 15).
Intra-EU Travellers
EU residents moving goods between EU member states for personal use face no customs restrictions on household effects. For excise goods (alcohol and tobacco), Malta applies the standard EU guide levels for personal consumption: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg of smoking tobacco; 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine, 90 litres of wine, 110 litres of beer.
Alcohol in Household Shipments (Non-EU)
The importer is allowed to include 2 litres of still table wine and 1 litre of spirits (or 2 litres of fortified/sparkling wine) in their household shipment. The IAM guide indicates a limit of 6 bottles of alcohol within shipments.
Currency
There are no restrictions on importing currency into Malta, but amounts of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) must be declared to Customs when entering or leaving the EU.
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Original express release or original bill of lading
- Original car log book (presented to Customs officer during processing)
- Purchase invoice showing purchase price
- VEH07 form and all requested attachments
- Photographs of the vehicle
- For boats and jet skis: certificate of registry and CE Conformity certificate
Specific Information
From EU member states (used vehicles): Used vehicles (more than 6 months old or with more than 6,000 km) originating from EU member states are not subject to VAT on cost (CIF). However, they are subject to the full registration tax imposed by Transport Malta. New vehicles from EU countries are subject to VAT on CIF value plus registration tax.
From non-EU countries: Vehicles are subject to customs duty plus VAT plus registration tax.
Duty-free transfer of residence (non-EU): The vehicle may be imported free of customs duty if the importer has stayed abroad for at least one year and the vehicle has been in the importer's ownership and use for at least 6 months before the move. Registration tax still applies. Some sources indicate a 24-month ownership requirement; confirm with the destination agent.
Registration tax: Malta's registration tax is based on the vehicle's CO2 emissions. Minimum values of registration tax apply for non-EU vehicles older than 4 years.
Registration deadline: Owners of used cars must notify Transport Malta of the vehicle's arrival and register within 15 days.
Valuation: Customs may opt to make their own valuation of the vehicle, and duty/taxes will be applied on the Customs-declared value rather than the importer's declared value.
Driving side: Malta drives on the left.
Pets
- EU Pet Passport showing microchip, rabies vaccination, titre test (if applicable), and tapeworm/tick treatment **From EU member states:**
- Tapeworm treatment (praziquantel) administered 24 to 120 hours before entry (mandatory for dogs entering Malta) **From EU member states:**
- Tick treatment (fipronil) administered 24 to 48 hours before the journey **From EU member states:**
- EU Animal Health Certificate issued by an official veterinarian (valid for 10 days from issuance for entry into the EU) **From non-EU countries:**
- ISO 11784/11785 microchip (must be implanted before rabies vaccination) **From non-EU countries:**
- Current rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine, administered at least 21 days before travel for first vaccination; boosters valid immediately if no lapse) **From non-EU countries:**
- Rabies antibody titre test for pets from EU "unlisted" (higher-risk) countries: blood sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination, tested at an approved laboratory, result of 0.5 IU/ml or greater, and a 3-month waiting period from the date the blood sample was taken before travel **From non-EU countries:**
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs (24 to 120 hours before entry) **From non-EU countries:**
- Import license issued by the Veterinary Regulation Directorate **From non-EU countries:**
Malta follows EU pet travel regulations (Regulation (EU) 576/2013) with additional requirements specific to the island. April 2026 EU regulatory changes have introduced stricter enforcement of microchip-before-vaccination sequencing and documentation requirements across all EU member states.
Regulatory update (April 2026): The EU has modified its regulations for non-commercial transport of pets. Stricter checks on microchip/vaccination sequencing and documentation are now in effect. After 2026, every dog or cat kept for cross-border movement within or into the EU will need to be registered in an approved database with the microchip number as the primary identifier.
From Part 1 listed countries (e.g. USA, Canada, Australia): The titre test requirement is typically waived, but the 21-day post-vaccination waiting period still applies. Confirm with the destination agent.
Minimum age: Pets must be at least 12 weeks old before rabies vaccination can be administered.
Tapeworm treatment (mandatory for dogs): Malta, along with Finland, Ireland, Norway, and the UK/Northern Ireland, requires mandatory Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm treatment for dogs. The treatment must be administered by a veterinarian 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before entry and recorded in the pet passport or health certificate. This is strictly enforced.
Quarantine: Pets that do not meet all requirements may be subject to quarantine at Luqa Airport. If quarantine facilities are not available, the pet may be returned to the country of origin or, in extreme cases, euthanized. The importer bears all costs.
Pre-approval: Dogs must be pre-approved online before the flight to Malta. The Veterinary Regulation Directorate reviews documentation in advance.
Common mistakes: Microchip implanted after rabies vaccination (invalidates the vaccination under EU rules). Rabies vaccination administered less than 21 days before travel. Tapeworm treatment outside the 24-to-120-hour window. Titre test blood sample taken less than 30 days after vaccination. Failure to obtain pre-approval from the Veterinary Regulation Directorate.
Special Categories
From EU Member States
EU citizens originating from EU member states may freely bring in their household effects without restrictions, except for firearms and weapons. No customs declaration or deposit is required for used personal effects moving between EU countries. Vehicles are not considered household effects and are subject to registration tax even on intra-EU transfers (see Motor Vehicles section).
Documents Required
- Original passport
- Packing list
- Valued inventory for Maltese Customs
- Letter of employment from origin (must attest that the owner has been employed outside the EU for at least 12 months, showing beginning and end dates of the employment period, and explaining the reason for transfer to Malta)
- Original bill of lading (OBL), express release, or airway bill (AWB)
- Authorization letter for the customs agent to clear goods on the importer's behalf
- Any other documents from the embassy or consulate at origin confirming 12 months' residence outside the EU
If the owner has not yet arrived and is granting power of attorney for another person to clear the goods, a proxy must be presented. The owner then has up to 6 months to take up residence and personally present documentation at the customs office.
Specific Information
Duty-free conditions: Used household goods and personal belongings may be imported free of customs duty and VAT provided the importer has resided outside the EU for a continuous period of at least 12 months (proof from a competent authority such as an embassy, employer, lawyer, or accountant is required), the goods have been used for at least 6 months before the date of export, and the goods are intended for the same purpose at the importer's normal place of residence in Malta.
No relief is granted for food, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or restricted goods.
New items: If new items are found in the shipment, Customs will assess duty and 18% VAT on the value, which must be paid before the goods are released.
Twelve-month rule: A shipment cannot be considered personal effects if the goods are being returned to Malta within 12 months of the outbound date.
Customs deposit: A deposit is required by Maltese Customs for all shipments originating outside the EU. The deposit is refundable after approximately 12 months of residence in Malta, once the importer proves they have resided in the EU (Malta) for one year. Proof consists of documentation from a competent authority (employer, lawyer, notary), or a Promise of Oath if other proof cannot be obtained. Approximate deposit amounts payable to the Director General of Customs: EUR 600 for LCL or airfreight (may vary by volume); EUR 1,182 minimum for a 20-foot container; EUR 2,364 minimum for a 40-foot container.
Registration requirement: The owner of the goods must register at the Inland Revenue Department prior to customs clearance. Foreigners register at the expatriates section in Block 1. Returning immigrants register at Tax Payer Services in Block 3.
Owner presence: The owner must be present in Malta upon shipment arrival for the customs clearance process.
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments and the distinction between EU and non-EU origin shipments.
Port of entry: The principal port is the Malta Freeport at Marsaxlokk (Birzebbuga) on the southeastern coast of Malta. Air shipments arrive via Malta International Airport at Luqa.
Gozo: Shipments destined for the island of Gozo must first clear customs in Malta and then be transported by ferry across the Gozo Channel. This adds time and cost.
Deposit timing: For all shipments originating outside the EU, deposits must be paid prior to examination of the goods. The deposit is not waived or deferred.
Document language: Maltese and English are both official languages. Documentation in English is accepted by Maltese Customs.
Food items: Food other than the prohibited categories listed above must be sealed, vacuum-packed, and labelled in English. Approval from the relevant health authority is required.
ISPM 15: All solid wood packaging material in shipments from non-EU countries must comply with ISPM 15.
Electrical standard: Malta uses 230V, 50Hz with British-style three-pin plugs (Type G). Appliances from countries with different standards may require adapters or transformers.
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook -- Malta *(community-maintained successor to the CIA World Factbook, which was discontinued in February 2026)*
- Wikipedia -- Malta
- Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA)
- Customs Division -- Transfer of Residence
- Transport Malta
- PetTravel.com -- Malta Pet Import Requirements
- EU Pet Travel Regulations
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