Moving Your Pet to Australia
What the Process Actually Looks Like
Australia is one of the most process-intensive pet relocation destinations in the world — alongside Japan and New Zealand. The requirements are strict, the timeline is long, and the steps must happen in a specific sequence that can’t be shortcut. But the process is entirely manageable when you start early and know what’s coming.
Here’s an honest breakdown of what the process involves, what drives the timeline, and how Global Tails guides and coordinates each step.
Yes — Australia sits at the top of the complexity spectrum. The country treats biosecurity seriously, and the process reflects that. Both dogs and cats require an RNATT, a 180-day wait after that test, mandatory quarantine on arrival, and an identity verification process that involves two separate USDA-accredited veterinarians.
Complexity level: HIGH
Recommended start time: 6+ months before travel
Titer test required: Yes — dogs and cats
Post-arrival quarantine: Yes — 10 days (with identity verification) or 30 days (without); all at Mickleham, Melbourne
Is Australia Difficult for Pet Relocation?
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How Will Your Pet Travel?
Pets traveling from the US to Australia must travel as manifest cargo. In-cabin and excess baggage are not available for this route. Global Tails handles the cargo booking and check-in at the cargo facility. On arrival, the PEQ facility arranges the transfer from the airport to Mickleham and coordinates pickup with the owner at the end of quarantine.
Some carriers accommodate brachycephalic and strong breeds as manifest cargo, provided IATA crate requirements are met and temperature conditions allow. We identify the right carrier for your pet’s breed and route.
Manifest Cargo
Entry Points
Pets entering Australia route through MEL (Melbourne). All quarantine is served at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility in Melbourne, Victoria. If your pet needs to continue to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, or another part of Australia after quarantine, we coordinate a domestic import agent for that onward leg.
Step-by-Step: How Pet Relocation to Australia Works
Step 1 — Microchip
Your pet must have an ISO-standard microchip. The microchip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination — no exceptions. The chip number must be consistent across every document: vaccination records, RNATT results, identity declaration, health certificate, and import permit.
If your pet isn’t chipped yet, this is the first appointment to schedule.
Step 2 — Rabies Vaccination and Core Vaccinations
Rabies: Your pet must have a current rabies vaccination. Your vet will confirm the manufacturer’s required immunity period and document it on the certificate.
Core vaccinations — dogs: - DHPPi (Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza) - Leptospirosis: Primary course is 2 doses, 2–4 weeks apart. The booster or final primary dose must be given between 12 months and 14 days before export. The health certificate must document the original 2-dose primary course and show an unbroken booster history through departure — a gap in coverage resets the requirement. Alternatively, a negative Leptospira MAT test (within 45 days of export) may substitute for vaccination. - CIV (Canine Influenza Virus): Primary course is 2 doses per manufacturer protocol, at least 14 days apart, and must be completed at least 14 days before export. The health certificate must document both original doses and show an unbroken booster history through departure — a gap in coverage resets the requirement.
Required tests — dogs: - Leishmania infantum: Required for all dogs. IFAT or ELISA, negative result. Must be tested within 45 days of the export date. - Brucella canis: Required for intact (unneutered) dogs. RSAT, TAT, or IFAT, negative result. Not required if spayed/neutered.
Core vaccinations — cats: - FVRCP
All vaccination certificates must include the manufacturer name and product name, batch/lot number, vaccine shelf expiry date, date administered, and next due date — and must be signed by the vet with their name and license number.
Step 3 — Identity Verification (Do This Early — Reduces Quarantine from 30 to 10 Days)
This step is optional, but we strongly recommend it. Without it, your pet serves 30 days in quarantine in Australia. With it, quarantine is reduced to 10 days. The difference matters — both in cost and in how quickly your pet settles into their new home.
The identity verification must be completed at least 180 days before export — and before the RNATT blood draw. DAFF requires the identity declaration to be in place before any pre-export blood sampling. It involves two separate USDA-accredited veterinarians at different clinics:
• Part 1: Your first USDA-accredited vet scans your pet’s microchip, photographs the pet with the scanner showing the chip number visible, and submits an identity declaration for USDA endorsement.
• Part 2: A second USDA-accredited vet at a different clinic repeats the same process independently.
• Part 3: One of the two vets submits a request for USDA to complete the final identity declaration. USDA issues it and sends it directly to Australia.
Identity declarations remain valid as long as your pet can be identified by the verified microchip and continues to reside in an approved country
Step 4 — RNATT Rabies Titer Test
Both dogs and cats from the US must pass a rabies neutralizing antibody titer test (RNATT). The blood must be drawn by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. The result must be ≥0.5 IU/ml. Only DAFF-approved laboratories are accepted; Global Tails will confirm the right lab for your case. Once you receive the result, a USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration must be obtained — this document must accompany your pet during travel. Titer results are valid for 365 days from the date the sample arrives at the laboratory.
Step 5 — 180-Day Wait
From the date the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory, 180 days must pass before your pet can be exported to Australia. There are no exceptions. If the titer result expires before travel, a new blood draw and RNATT are required.
During this window, your pet’s rabies vaccination must remain continuously valid. We track expiry dates on every case and flag when a booster is coming due.
This 180-day wait is what drives the 6+ month minimum timeline. The identity verification (Step 3) must come first — DAFF requires it to be complete before the RNATT blood draw can happen.
Step 6 — Import Permit (DAFF / BICON)
All pets entering Australia require a biosecurity import permit issued by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), applied for through their BICON system.
Allow significant lead time: - Standard processing: 20–40 business days - Complex cases: up to 123 business days
Apply well before your target travel date — do not wait until the 180-day wait is almost over. The permit is valid for a fixed period, so timing the application around your planned departure matters. We guide you through the application and help coordinate the timeline as part of every case.
Step 7 — Quarantine Pre-Booking (Mickleham)
All pets entering Australia serve mandatory post-entry quarantine at the Mickleham PEQ facility in Melbourne, Victoria. Quarantine must be pre-booked through DAFF before your pet travels.
• 10-day quarantine: Available for pets that have completed the identity verification process (Step 3)
• 30-day quarantine: Required for pets without completed identity verification
Quarantine fees are paid to DAFF and are the owner’s responsibility. We guide you through the booking alongside the permit and travel arrangement so everything aligns.
Step 8 — Antiparasitic Treatments and Health Certificate
Antiparasitic treatment for Australia is more involved than most destinations — start planning these early.
External parasite treatment: Must begin at least 30 days before export. The product must kill ticks and fleas on contact and remain effective through the export date. Your vet will repeat treatment per the manufacturer’s schedule and examine your pet for parasites at each visit. If fleas or ticks are found, treatment is restarted.
Internal parasite treatment (nematodes and cestodes): Requires two treatments within 45 days before export, spaced at least 14 days apart. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before export. The second treatment and the final health certificate exam can be done at the same vet visit.
Final exam and health certificate (within 5 days before export): Your USDA-accredited veterinarian completes the clinical examination, then issues the Australia-specific health certificate — using the correct form for your pet type (dogs and cats cannot share one certificate). The completed certificate is submitted through VEHCS for USDA endorsement.
Good news: digital endorsement is accepted for Australia — unlike the EU and UK, which require ink signatures and embossed seals. The digitally endorsed certificate can be printed directly from VEHCS.
Allow 3–5 business days for USDA endorsement. APHIS processes Monday–Friday, 7am–4:30pm CT, excluding federal holidays.
Step 9 — Travel Day and Arrival
The following documents must physically accompany your pet:
• USDA-endorsed export health certificate
• USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration
• USDA-endorsed identity declaration
• RNATT laboratory report
• Vaccination records
• Import permit
On arrival, your pet is transferred to the Mickleham PEQ facility to begin quarantine. DAFF officers will verify all documentation. For compliant pets, clearance at the end of the quarantine period is routine.
What Documents Travel With Your Pet
USDA-endorsed export health certificate (dogs and cats on separate certificates)
USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration
RNATT laboratory report
USDA-endorsed identity declaration (Part 3)
Rabies vaccination certificate(s)
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Leishmania infantum test result (dogs)
Brucella canis test result (intact/unneutered dogs only)
Import permit (issued by DAFF)
Airway Bill (AWB)
Post-Arrival: Quarantine at Mickleham
All pets entering Australia from the US serve mandatory quarantine at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility, regardless of their final destination city. During quarantine, DAFF staff care for your pet, administer any required treatments, and verify documentation. PEQ arranges the transfer from the airport to Mickleham on arrival, and coordinates pickup with the owner at the end of quarantine. Quarantine fees apply per day. The 10-day quarantine (with completed identity verification) is the standard path for well-prepared pets from the US. The 30-day quarantine is the fallback if identity verification wasn’t completed — a significant difference that makes Step 3 worth prioritizing early.
Common Questions
The 180-day wait starts from the RNATT blood draw date — so 6 months is the minimum from that point. But if your pet hasn’t been vaccinated against rabies yet, you’ll need to vaccinate first and allow roughly 21–30 days for immunity to develop before the blood draw will yield a passing result. Identity verification also has to be completed before the blood draw. From absolute scratch, that adds at least a month of lead time before the 180-day clock even starts — making the realistic minimum closer to 7+ months. The import permit processing adds another 20–40 business days on top of that. Contact us the moment you know Australia is the destination.
Yes — for all pets entering Australia from the US, quarantine at Mickleham is mandatory, no exceptions. The goal is to minimize it to 10 days through the identity verification process rather than 30 days. We build the identity declaration into every case from the start.
They can travel on the same flight, but Australia requires separate health certificates — dogs and cats cannot share one document. The requirements also differ: dogs need Leptospirosis vaccination or MAT test, CIV vaccination, Leishmania infantum test, and Brucella canis test (if intact). Cats require only FVRCP, rabies, and the RNATT. Each pet’s documents must be prepared independently
Australia prohibits certain dog breeds under federal law: American Pit Bull Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Perro de Presa Canario. These breeds cannot be imported under any circumstances. Other breeds may have airline-level restrictions (brachycephalic breeds) but are not prohibited by Australia itself.
Australia has more moving parts than most destinations, but you won’t be navigating it alone. We coordinate the identity declaration, RNATT timing, health certificate, USDA endorsement, and cargo booking — and we guide you through the import permit application and quarantine reservation, which you’ll submit and pay directly. Vaccinations and the blood draw happen at your local vet; we’ll tell you exactly what to ask for and when.
A Note on Timing
The 180-day wait is the constraint that governs everything for dogs — but the sequence matters too. Identity verification must come first; DAFF does not allow the RNATT blood draw until the identity declaration is in place. Once identity verification is complete, the RNATT sample is sent to the lab, and the 180-day clock starts from the date it arrives there. These two steps together set your earliest possible travel date. Everything else — the import permit, quarantine booking, health certificate — follows from that date. Starting early is the entire ballgame. If you’re planning a move to Australia with your pet, the first call to us should happen the day you decide to go.
Ready to Get Started?
Australia is demanding, but it’s a process we know well. The best first step is a conversation.
Requirements sourced from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and USDA-APHIS. Last verified: July 2026. Requirements can change without notice — we verify current conditions for every case before proceeding.