Leaving and Returning to Australia with a Pet
Pet Transport to France & Re-Entry to Australia
Hi PetRelocation,
I adopted my dog in Australia. Can I go to France and then easily come back to Australia with him?
Thanks,
Manon
Hi Manon,
Thank you for your question. According to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, once a pet leaves Australia they immediately lose their Australian health status. This doesn't mean your dog is banned from coming back, but it will require a bit of work on your part to meet all the health requirements to do so smoothly.
Please take a look a this overview of the rules concerning cats and dogs returning to Australia. If you plan efficiently (and depending on the timing), you may be able to start the return process before you even leave (that statement will make more sense when you follow the link above to the DAFF website).
For your information, here are the pet import requirements for France, as well.
As far as general travel advice, we advise choosing a pet friendly airline, helping your dog to acclimate to the travel crate in the weeks before the move, and gathering cost estimates early on so that you know what to expect. Australia pet travel is pretty expensive by most people's standards, so it's a good idea to research in advance to avoid surprises.
If you think you would like to hire some assistance with this move, feel free to fill out our online consultation form to connect with a PetRelocation Specialist and discuss your options.
Thanks again for reaching out, and good luck with everything!
Pet Travel Question Details:
Name: Manon
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Bullmastiff
From: Australia
To: France