Bringing Pets To: Australia

Moving a dog or cat from the US to Australia takes a minimum of six to seven months. The process is sequencing-dependent: getting the order of the microchip, identity check, and RNATT blood draw wrong does not just delay the move. It resets the entire 180-day waiting period, or locks your pet into 30 days of quarantine instead of 10. This guide covers every required step for US-based pet owners, in the order they need to happen.

Moving a dog or cat from the US to Australia is one of the most preparation-intensive international pet moves in the world. Australia is rabies-free and enforces strict biosecurity. Every dog and cat entering the country must complete mandatory post-entry quarantine at a government facility, pass a rabies titer test, and meet a precise sequence of vaccination, identity verification, and documentation steps before travel is permitted.

The requirement that most US families underestimate is the identity check: a three-part VEHCS process involving two separate USDA-accredited veterinarians at two different clinics, which must be completed before the RNATT blood draw. Completing it correctly is what determines whether your pet serves 10 days or 30 days in quarantine at Mickleham. Everything else in this guide builds around that sequence.

Entry Requirements at a Glance

Microchip

Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip (10 or 15 digits) implanted before any vaccinations, blood tests, or treatments are administered. The exact microchip number must match on every lab report, health certificate, import permit, and identity declaration. A single incorrect digit will halt the import.

If your pet has two microchips, both numbers must be recorded on all documents and both must be scanned at every vet visit. Australia explicitly refuses microchips beginning with the prefix "999". These are not considered globally unique and will not be accepted.

Rabies Vaccination and RNATT

Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies after the microchip is confirmed in place. The minimum age for the first vaccination is 90 days. Wait 3 to 4 weeks after vaccination before drawing blood for the RNATT. This allows enough time for the antibody response to build to a passable level.

The RNATT must use the FAVN or RFFIT method and must be processed at a DAFF-approved laboratory. The minimum passing result is 0.5 IU/ml. If the result does not pass, the pet must be revaccinated and retested, and the 180-day wait restarts from the date the new sample reaches the lab.

The RNATT result is valid for 12 months from the date of blood draw. The 180-day mandatory wait begins on the date the laboratory receives the sample, not the date blood was drawn. Because of this, the functional travel window after a passing RNATT is approximately 185 days. If your pet does not travel within that window, the process resets. A new RNATT can be drawn before the previous result expires to avoid this. Coordinate the timing with your relocation coordinator well before the window closes.

The rabies vaccine must remain continuously valid from the date of the RNATT blood draw through the date of export. If the vaccine expires during the 180-day wait, the titer test result is immediately voided and the entire process restarts from zero.

The Identity Check: What Determines 10-Day vs. 30-Day Quarantine

This is the step that most US families are not told about clearly enough, and the one that most directly affects cost and timeline.

All pets entering Australia from the US serve quarantine at Mickleham. Whether that is 10 days or 30 days depends entirely on whether the identity check was completed correctly before the RNATT blood draw. Pets that complete the check correctly are eligible for 10-day quarantine. Pets that do not complete it, or where the documentation was submitted incorrectly, default to 30 days.

The identity check is a three-part VEHCS process:

Part 1: The first USDA-accredited veterinarian scans your pet's microchip and submits an identity declaration through VEHCS for USDA endorsement.

Part 2: A second USDA-accredited veterinarian at a different clinic scans the microchip and submits a second identity declaration through VEHCS. The RNATT blood draw can happen on the same day as Part 2, or on any day after, but not before Part 2 is complete.

Part 3: The USDA VMO endorses a final identity declaration remotely, based on Parts 1 and 2. Part 3 must be endorsed within 3 months of the date of the Part 1 scan.

Booking the blood draw as a separate appointment on a different day from the Part 2 scan is the cleaner approach and removes any sequencing ambiguity.

Pets originally from Australia that have a valid Australian export permit automatically qualify for 10-day quarantine and do not need to complete this process.

A total of five USDA endorsements are required for a standard US-to-Australia move with a completed identity check: the Part 1 declaration, the Part 2 declaration, the Part 3 final declaration, the RNATT declaration, and the export health certificate.

Additional Requirements for Dogs

Dogs from the US have several requirements that do not apply to cats.

Canine Influenza (CIV): Mandatory for all dogs traveling from the US to Australia. This is an import requirement, not a quarantine-facility recommendation.

Brucella canis: Required for intact (non-desexed) dogs only, within 45 days of export. Accepted test types are RSAT, TAT, and IFAT. Australia does not accept the AGID test for Brucella canis. Confirm the specific test type with your vet before scheduling. The wrong test type means the result cannot be used.

Leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum): Required for all dogs, within 45 days of export. Accepted methods are standard quantitative IFAT or standard quantitative ELISA only. Rapid and SNAP versions of these tests are strictly rejected by DAFF.

Leptospirosis: Dogs must either be vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola, with an annual booster administered between 12 months and 14 days before export, or pass a negative MAT test within 45 days of export. Vaccination is the recommended route; the MAT blood test carries a meaningful false positive risk that can delay the move significantly.

Intact dog timing: Intact dogs cannot be mated or artificially inseminated within 21 days before the Brucella canis blood draw. After the sample is collected, the dog cannot be mated again before export. If the dog is pregnant on the travel date, it must be no more than 30 days pregnant. Identify intact dogs early and map this timeline explicitly before any testing begins.

Babesia canis: Testing is triggered only if a dog has ever resided in or traveled to South Africa at any point in its life. It is not a standard requirement for all US dogs.

Parasite Treatments

Both dogs and cats require two rounds each of internal and external parasite treatment before travel.

Internal parasites: Two treatments are required, both covering nematodes AND cestodes (tapeworms). Treatment 1 must be given within 45 days of export. Treatment 2 must be given within 5 days of export. The two treatments must be spaced at least 14 days apart.

Many combination products commonly prescribed for parasite prevention, including Bravecto Plus, Simparica Trio, and Nexgard Spectra, do not cover cestodes despite covering other internal parasites. If a vet uses one of these products, a separate cestocidal treatment containing Praziquantel or Fenbendazole must also be administered and documented on the same visit. Missing cestode coverage is the most common compliance failure at the pre-export vet appointment and results in failed inspection.

External parasites: The treatment timeline depends on the species. For dogs, treatment must be administered at least 30 days before export. For cats, treatment must be administered at least 21 days before export. Australia requires a product that kills fleas and ticks on contact. Oral systemic products, including NexGard (afoxolaner), do not meet this requirement and are not accepted. Tick collars are also not accepted. Permethrin is approved for dogs but is highly toxic to cats and must never be used on them.

Banned Breeds and Restricted Species

Only dogs and cats may be imported to Australia under the standard pet import program.

Banned dog breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, and Perro de Presa Canario. Dogs derived from a cross with a non-domestic species, such as a wolfdog, are also prohibited.

Banned cat breeds: As of March 1, 2026, Bengal cats are no longer permitted to enter Australia. Savannah cats, Chausie cats, and all other domestic/non-domestic feline hybrids remain banned. Cats that were granted exemptions before February 28, 2025 and have permits to arrive before February 28, 2026 fall under a transition period. Confirm current status directly with DAFF for any Bengal cases in progress.

If your pet is coming from a country not on Australia's approved country list, direct import is not possible. The pet must spend a required period in an approved staging country before traveling to Australia.

Import Permit

Once the RNATT result is endorsed and the identity verification process is complete, you can apply for an import permit through Australia's BICON (Biosecurity Import Conditions) system. The permit must be issued before quarantine space at Mickleham can be booked. An approved permit does not guarantee quarantine availability. These are two separate steps.

Quarantine at Mickleham

All dogs and cats entering Australia complete post-entry quarantine at the government Post Entry Quarantine Facility in Mickleham, Victoria, near Melbourne. All pets arrive into Melbourne regardless of their final destination in Australia. Domestic transfers from other airports are not permitted.

Pets that completed the identity check process correctly are eligible for 10 days at Mickleham. Pets that did not complete the identity check default to 30 days.

The minimum standard quarantine fee is $1,877 AUD, which breaks down as a $269 reservation fee, a $1,078 importation charge, and $530 for 10-day accommodation at $53 per day. Additional fees apply for extended stays, extra treatments, or veterinary care during quarantine. Confirm the current fee schedule directly with DAFF before finalizing travel dates, as government fees are updated periodically.

Quarantine must be pre-booked and space is limited. Book as early as possible after the import permit is issued. No visits are permitted during the quarantine stay. Do not place toys, blankets, or personal items in the travel crate. Australia confiscates and destroys any unauthorized items found in or attached to the crate as biosecurity waste, with no reimbursement. The Mickleham facility provides bedding and food. Special dietary or medical requirements should be flagged during the permit and booking process.

For a full breakdown of the Mickleham facility, daily care arrangements, and what to expect at pickup, see our guide to Australia's pet quarantine facility.

Timeline: USA to Australia

7 months before departure: Confirm your pet's microchip is ISO-compliant and implanted. Schedule Part 1 of the identity check with a USDA-accredited vet. Schedule Part 2 with a second USDA-accredited vet at a different clinic.

6 to 7 months before departure: After Part 2 is complete, draw blood for the RNATT. Booking it on a separate day from Part 2 is the cleaner approach and removes any sequencing ambiguity. Send the sample to a DAFF-approved laboratory. The 180-day wait begins when the lab receives the sample.

During the 180-day wait: Complete all dog-specific tests and vaccinations (CIV, Brucella canis if intact, Leptospirosis vaccination, Leishmaniasis). Apply for the import permit through BICON once the RNATT endorsement is in hand. Book quarantine space at Mickleham as soon as the permit is issued.

Within 45 days of departure: First round of internal and external parasite treatments.

Within 5 days of departure: Second internal parasite treatment.

Within 2 days of departure: Final vet exam and export health certificate issued through VEHCS with USDA endorsement. All vaccinations must still be valid through the end of quarantine.

At Melbourne: DAFF transfers your pet directly to Mickleham from the airport. Owner collection at the airport is not possible for pets subject to quarantine.

Common mistakes that reset the timeline or extend quarantine:

• RNATT blood draw completed before Part 2 identity scan is done. This defaults to 30-day quarantine.
• Rabies vaccine expires during the 180-day wait. The RNATT is voided and the entire process restarts.
• AGID test used for Brucella canis. Not accepted by DAFF.
• Cestode coverage missing from internal parasite treatment. Pet fails inspection.
• Oral product used for external parasite treatment. Not accepted by Australia.
• Quarantine not pre-booked before travel dates are confirmed.

How PetRelocation Can Help

We have coordinated thousands of moves to Australia, including cases involving non-approved countries, intact dogs, multiple pets, and complex medical needs. Which service tier fits depends on how much of the process you want to manage yourself.

Complete Support covers the full coordination: USDA-accredited vet scheduling across both identity check clinics, RNATT timing management, BICON permit application, health certificate facilitation through VEHCS, USDA endorsement handling, airline cargo booking, Mickleham quarantine booking, and post-quarantine delivery.

Vet Paperwork Support focuses on the documentation chain: identity check sequencing, RNATT declaration, import permit, and export health certificate, while you manage travel logistics independently.

Consultation gives you direct access to our team to map your specific timeline, confirm your pet's current eligibility, and identify the right starting point based on where you are in the process today.

Ready to start? Get a free quote from PetRelocation and talk through your Australia move with a relocation manager.

For official requirements, see the Australian Department of Agriculture (DAFF) pet import page.