Bringing your pet to Australia? We’ve handled thousands of pet exports Down Under — let us help with yours.
Traveling abroad with your pet is already a complex process. It becomes even more challenging when traveling to countries like Australia with added layers of requirements. We have extensive first-hand experience with pet travel to help you and your pet every step of the way.
Below, we walk you through everything you need to know about pet relocation to Australia.
Eligible Pets and Country Restrictions
Australia has both breed- and country-specific restrictions. Before moving forward with complex travel plans, you’ll need to ensure your pet is eligible for travel from its country of export.
Eligible Pets
Australia only allows the import of pet cats and dogs (not exotic animals). From there, certain breeds, including crossbreeds, are banned from entry.
Banned dog breeds and mixes include:
- Japanese tosa
- American pit bull terrier
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Presa Canario
- Any dogs derived from non-domestic species like the wolf (e.g., Czechoslovakian wolfdog, Saarloos wolfdog, Lupe Italiano)
Banned cat breeds and hybrids include:
- Savannah cats (domestic cat crossed with a serval)
- Safari cats (domestic cat crossed with a Geoffrey’s cat)
- Chausie cats (domestic cat crossed with a jungle cat
- Bengal cats (domestic cat crossed with a leopard cat)
Dogs and cats should not be more than 30 days pregnant or nursing puppies or kittens at the time of travel.
Approved Countries
Australia only allows the import of pets from approved countries and territories. Approved countries fall into 3 different groups based on the rabies risk in that country.
Group 1 and Group 2 are rabies-free countries and territories like New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Hawaii, and Singapore. Group 3 countries like the United States, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom require pets to meet additional vaccination requirements.
Approved countries are available from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
Pets traveling from countries not on these lists must reside in an approved country for 6 months before applying for an Australian import permit. There are no exceptions for importing pets from a non-approved country.
Microchip and Vaccinations
Your cat or dog should have an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before getting a rabies vaccination and before rabies titer tests can be administered.
Microchip
Microchip number information should match across all import documents. Any discrepancies or an inability to scan your pet’s microchip could delay import.
Vaccinations
Pets traveling from Group 3 countries must have a rabies vaccination valid up to the date of export. All pets must be vaccinated against leptospirosis or test negative for the bacteria as part of their final health checks.
Dogs from the U.S. and South Korea must be fully vaccinated against canine influenza (CIV). Dogs coming from Canada can choose to undergo isolation and testing for CIV in the 7 days before arriving in Australia.
Australia also recommends the following vaccines for dogs:
- Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
- Canine parainfluenza
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
These vaccines are recommended for cats:
- Feline panleukopenia/distemper
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis
- Feline calicivirus
While these vaccines are only recommended, we suggest pet owners follow these vaccine recommendations to protect pets spending time in quarantine facilities before and after air travel.
ID Verification
ID verification is a new process that reduces the quarantine period for Group 3 pets from 30 days to 10 days. The process is optional but highly recommended. Requirements vary by origin point, but pets coming from the U.S. will need declarations from 2 separate USDA-accredited vets operating out of 2 different practices (they may not work at the same location).
These declarations are then sent electronically to the USDA before you’re provided with a pet identity declaration certificate. This is all done before your pet has blood taken for their rabies antibody test results.
You can find accredited vets on the USDA’s database, but it can be challenging to keep track of paperwork moving from one office to the next. We make sure you don’t miss a step along the way.
Blood Tests and Treatments
In addition to the rabies vaccination requirements, you’ll need to make arrangements for rabies antibody testing and other tests and treatments, depending on your pet’s spay/neuter status and travel history.
Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT)
The RNATT is an antibody test that checks whether your pet has enough protection against rabies after their vaccinations. 3-4 weeks after they are vaccinated (and, preferably, after you have initiated the ID verification process), your veterinarian will take a blood sample processed by an approved lab.
You’ll then start a 180-day waiting period from the time the sample arrives at the lab to when your pet can travel to Australia, assuming the result is satisfactory.
In other words, the rabies vaccination, antibody test with waiting period, and mandatory quarantine put the time from vaccination to reuniting with your pet in Australia at a minimum of 211 days.
Other Tests and Treatments
Dogs traveling to Australia will need the following tests within 45 days of departure:
- Test for leptospirosis (if not vaccinated)
- Test for brucellosis/Brucella canis (if not spayed/neutered)
- Test for leishmaniasis
All pets should receive an external parasite treatment for ticks and fleas and an internal parasite treatment (nematodes and cestodes) before export. Dogs that have visited Africa will also need to be treated with imidocarb dipropionate, a drug used for parasitic infections.
Import Documents
All pets are required to travel with a health certificate that ensures they’re healthy to fly. All pets, including those coming from the U.S., will also need to apply for an import permit. Applications are completed online on the Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) portal.
Group 3 pets will need a completed Australian Export Health Certificate signed by an accredited vet and endorsed by the government vet prior to export. This document is completed within 5 days of leaving their country of origin, and each certificate is country-specific. For pets traveling from the U.S., this includes a rabies vaccination certificate, titer test declaration, and other paperwork endorsed by a USDA government vet.We recommend giving yourself at least 2 months to apply for and receive import permits. DAFF warns that it could take up to 4 months in some cases.
Finding the Right Airline
Qantas Airlines is the only direct carrier for pets traveling from North America to Australia. Flights run from Los Angeles to Melbourne, the only airport in Australia that accepts pet imports. (This is an important point, as many travelers assume they can fly into Sydney.)
Qantas flights also run seasonally from Dallas Fort Worth International and John F. Kennedy International, depending on temperature restrictions.
For pets flying out of Los Angeles, flights depart in the evening and arrive in the morning about 16 hours later to avoid potential temperature concerns with midday travel.
We often work with Qantas as our preferred carrier for pets flying into Melbourne from the U.S. The airline’s itineraries and live animal transport protocols are ideal.
Quarantine
Pets must spend 10 or 30 days at the Post-Entry Quarantine Facility in Mickleham near Melbourne (the shorter time for those pets who have met ID verification requirements). The facility is spacious, modern, and responsive to pet needs.
It’s important to note here that no news is good news, even with more anxious pets. You won’t get any updates from the facility until it’s time to schedule your pet’s pickup unless there’s a concern quarantine officials need to speak to you about.
How Tailwind Can Help
At Tailwind, we help pet owners ensure they have every piece of paperwork, scheduling, and logistics complete from start to finish for international pet travel. From domestic flights to complex international travel, we’re here to make sure your pet has a stress-free journey!
We’re here for our clients 24/7, especially when the pet travel process feels exceptionally daunting.
Ready to get started? Each situation is a little different, even if it’s to the same destination.
See What Our Clients Have to Say
“Making the decision to return to Australia was difficult for my wife and me; it required extensive research and planning.
We knew we needed professional assistance when traveling with pets, nearly 10,000 miles from North America to Australia.
We provided Tailwind Global Pet with all our pets’ information, including photos, whether they are friendly or playful, their size, and everything else required for them to find a comfortable boarding experience where they are loved, preventing the experience of abandonment, and with someone who loves them as much as we do. Thank you, Christina, for having a big heart and being like a godmother to our pets.”
– Carlos S.
“We got caught up with the change in quarantine rules for rabies in Australia. It took us over a year to get our two dogs imported there, but Brady was with us all the way. He provided great advice and was always there in support. He was also very flexible with what we wanted to take care of, and what Tailwind could help us with. We so appreciated his sending us photos of the dogs on their way to the airport; knowing that they were in safe hands and being taken care of was greatly reassuring. Cannot recommend them more highly.”
–Jennie H.
“Tailwind Global Pet helped us safely transport our two dogs from Boise, Idaho, to Melbourne, Australia. I contacted many companies as we began this process, and Tailwind was the most responsive, detailed, and affordable. They are all very friendly, knowledgeable, and timely in their communication. They broke down all of the requirements and provided a schedule and documents to keep us organized and ensure a successful relocation. They were always available to me and my vet to answer any questions or concerns. Brady, Cara, and Alex helped us throughout the process. I cannot thank them enough for getting our boys safely to Australia!”
–Carleigh G.