Australia has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world. Every dog and cat entering the country must complete mandatory quarantine, pass a rabies titer test, and meet a precise sequence of vaccination and documentation steps before travel is permitted. Most families moving from the US need to start planning well in advance -- the titer test alone triggers a mandatory waiting period that runs for months before travel is even possible.
This guide covers what dogs and cats moving from the United States to Australia need: titer test protocol, identity verification, import permit, health certificate, quarantine, and costs.
Australia groups origin countries into categories that determine what your pet must do before travel. The United States falls in Group 3, approved countries where rabies is absent or well-controlled. Hawaii and Guam follow a different path under Group 2 and should be reviewed separately with DAFF before any planning begins.
All dogs and cats moving from the US mainland to Australia need:
Dogs have additional requirements beyond what cats need, including extra vaccinations, blood tests, and parasite treatments. The DAFF step-by-step guides for dogs and cats are the authoritative source for the full species-specific checklist.
The titer test is the central timing constraint for this route. The sequence matters as much as the test itself -- and the 180-day wait that follows is the longest single delay in the entire process.
Your pet must be microchipped before any rabies vaccination is given. Once vaccinated, a USDA-accredited vet can draw blood for the RNATT. The sample must be sent to a DAFF-approved laboratory. If the result meets the minimum passing threshold, the 180-day wait begins from the date the lab receives the sample -- not the date blood was drawn. Your pet cannot travel to Australia until at least 180 days after that lab receipt date.
The 180-day wait is not a quarantine. Your pet stays with you at home while the calendar runs. But if your pet's rabies vaccination lapses after the RNATT, the case can reset -- meaning another vaccine, another titer test, and another 180-day wait. Keeping rabies coverage current through the entire process is essential.
If the titer result does not pass, your pet must be revaccinated and retested, and the 180-day wait restarts from the new qualifying lab receipt date.
Dogs also require a valid canine influenza vaccination before travel from the United States. Intact dogs must be tested for Brucella canis -- the test must be one of three approved types (RSAT, TAT, or IFAT). Several commonly available tests are not accepted by DAFF, so confirm the specific test type with your vet before scheduling. Additional parasite treatments apply based on timing windows that must align with the rest of the protocol.
All vaccinations must remain valid through the entire post-entry quarantine period.
At least five veterinarian visits are required for a move to Australia. Estimated cost for vaccinations, titer test, and related vet services: approximately $1,500 USD. Confirm current estimates with your veterinarian.
Completing the identity verification process is optional -- but it determines whether your pet spends the shorter or longer period in quarantine. Most families choose to complete it.
The process requires two separate USDA-accredited veterinarians at two different clinics. Each vet must scan the microchip, take a color photo of the pet and the scanner together with the microchip number visible, and submit an identity declaration through VEHCS (USDA's Veterinary Export Health Certification System) for endorsement. USDA charges a fee for each endorsement.
The blood draw for the RNATT cannot happen until after the second vet completes their microchip scan -- though it can happen on the same day. After both declarations are endorsed, a third submission (Part 3) must be completed through VEHCS within three months of the first microchip scan. USDA sends the final identity declaration directly to Australia electronically. You must retain a copy to travel with your pet.
This is where moves most commonly go wrong. Owners know a microchip is required but miss the two-vet structure, or schedule the blood draw before the second scan is complete. Getting the sequence right before any appointments are booked saves significant time and cost.
Once the RNATT is complete and identity verification is underway, you can apply for an import permit through Australia's BICON system. You need the permit before you can book quarantine. To qualify for the shorter quarantine option, you must include a copy of the government-endorsed identity declaration with your permit application.
The application requires your pet's rabies vaccination certificate, RNATT results, and RNATT Declaration. Most permits take 10 to 20 business days to assess. Do not book flights until the permit is confirmed -- it specifies your pet's required entry port, and the quarantine booking must align with it.
Import permit fees are charged in Australian dollars by DAFF. Check the current fee schedule on the DAFF permit page before applying, as fees are reviewed periodically.
Your pet's export health certificate must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS. The certificate is completed close to departure within the timing window specified in your DAFF permit and step-by-step guide. The endorsed certificate must travel with your pet.
Confirm that your vet holds current USDA accreditation before scheduling the appointment. A certificate issued by a non-accredited vet cannot be endorsed and will require starting over. USDA-accredited vets can issue and submit the certificate through VEHCS for digital endorsement -- the document does not need to be mailed.
If your dog received a primary leptospirosis course of two vaccinations, both must be recorded on the certificate. If your dog received an annual booster, that booster and the prior vaccination must both be recorded.
Two USDA endorsements are required for an Australia move: one for the RNATT Declaration and one for the final export health certificate. Check current USDA APHIS endorsement fees at the time of your move.
Dogs and cats entering Australia travel as manifest cargo. All pets arrive at Melbourne, where DAFF transfers them directly to the Mickleham quarantine facility. If your pet's route requires a change of aircraft, transhipment is only permitted at a limited set of approved airports: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, or airports in Group 1 or Group 2 countries.
Start crate training well before travel. Your pet should be comfortable resting quietly in their crate for extended periods. For large dogs, confirm crate dimensions meet both IATA standards and your specific airline's size requirements -- some carriers cap crate dimensions in ways that affect routing options.
You can read more about crate training for travel and how the rabies titer test fits into an international move.
Airfreight costs are based on dimensional weight and vary significantly by pet size, crate dimensions, and route. Confirm current pricing with your airline or logistics coordinator before finalizing travel dates.
All dogs and cats entering Australia complete post-entry quarantine at the Mickleham facility in Victoria. Visitation is not permitted during the stay.
Pets that complete the identity verification process correctly are eligible for a shorter quarantine period. Pets that do not complete the process stay longer. The current quarantine lengths are set by DAFF -- confirm the latest requirements on the DAFF quarantine page when planning your move.
Quarantine must be pre-booked and space is limited. Book as early as possible after your import permit is issued. If any biosecurity issue arises during the stay, the period can be extended. A dedicated handler is typically assigned to each pet throughout the quarantine stay.
Dogs and cats from Hawaii and Guam follow different requirements. Contact DAFF before beginning any steps: imports@agriculture.gov.au.
Quarantine fees are charged by DAFF in Australian dollars and vary based on length of stay and any treatments required. Check the current fee schedule on the DAFF website when budgeting -- fees are reviewed periodically.
Not every pet is eligible to enter Australia. Confirm your pet's eligibility before investing time or money in the medical protocol.
The following dog breeds are prohibited from entry under federal law:
Wolf hybrids and certain hybrid cat breeds are also prohibited or heavily restricted. Savannah cats cannot be imported regardless of generation. As of March 1, 2026, Bengal cats are no longer permitted for import -- a previous exemption for fifth-generation Bengals was revoked following biosecurity review.
Breed determinations are made by Australian authorities. Check the current restricted breed and species list on the DAFF website before beginning the process -- policies in this area have changed and will continue to be reviewed.
The table below covers the main cost categories for a move from the United States to Australia. Government fees are reviewed periodically and airline pricing varies. Use this as a budgeting framework and confirm current figures with DAFF, USDA APHIS, and your airline before finalizing plans.
| Item | Notes | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarian Services | Vaccinations, titer test, blood work, health certificate. Minimum 5 visits. | ~$1,500 USD |
| Import Permit | DAFF fee, charged in AUD. See current DAFF fee schedule. | See DAFF |
| Mandatory Quarantine | DAFF fee, charged in AUD. Varies by quarantine length and any additional treatments. | See DAFF |
| USDA Endorsements | Two endorsements required: RNATT Declaration and final health certificate. | See USDA APHIS |
| Airfreight | Based on dimensional weight. Varies by pet size, crate, and route. | Confirm with airline |
Complete Support: We manage the full process -- RNATT coordination, identity verification scheduling, BICON permit application, health certificate guidance, USDA endorsements, airline booking, cargo arrangements, quarantine booking, and post-arrival coordination. Australia has more steps and tighter sequencing than almost any other destination we handle. This tier is strongly recommended for this route.
Vet Paperwork Support: We guide you and your vet through the documentation chain, titer test sequencing, identity verification, and USDA endorsement steps. You handle travel and quarantine logistics independently.
Consultation: A session to map your specific timeline, confirm your pet's current eligibility, and identify the right starting point based on where your pet is in the process today.
Australia moves require more lead time and more precise sequencing than almost any other destination. If you want to understand where your pet stands and what needs to happen next, contact PetRelocation to start planning.