Pet travel to Australia. International pets transfer quick guide.

Australia boasts one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world. In fact, the nation is home to more pets than people!⁹ If you’re an Australian wanting to bring your pet home or someone looking to travel to Australia with a pet, this guide is here to help you navigate the process.

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What kind of pets can you bring in to Australia

Australia has a set list of animals that can be imported into the country as a pet.¹

• cats
• dogs
• horses
• rabbits
• birds

Within each type of animal there are some restrictions on the country of export or origin, as well as the breed.

How pet travel to Australia works – What are the regulations

In Australia, pet importation is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) using the Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system. The regulations can vary depending on what type of animal your pet is and where it is being imported from.

How to bring your cat or dog with you to Australia

The process to bring your cat or dog to Australia depends on whether you’re coming from a Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 country.

Bringing pets from Group 1 countries to Australia

Group 1 countries are the easiest because there’s no quarantine period and you don’t need to organise an import, permit unless you’re bringing a cat from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.⁴

The actual process varies slightly between each of the three places but you can find step-by-step guides on the DAFF website.

• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• New Zealand
• Norfolk Island

Importing pets from Group 2 countries to Australia

Group 2 countries are considered to be rabies-free by the Australian government.⁴ While the vaccination and testing requirements are slightly different for cats and dogs, here’s a basic overview of the process.⁵

1. Check your pet meets the eligibility criteria to be imported
2. Verify their microchip and identity (at least 180 days before export)
3. Apply for the DAFF import permit on BICON
4. Arrange the pets travel to Australia
5. Book the post-entry quarantine
6. Get the required health checks, treatments, tests and vaccinations
7. Complete the pre-export vet check
8. Collate the export documents
9. Travel to Australia
10. Complete quarantine

There are specific guides on the DAFF website for Group 2 cats and dogs.

• Importing Group 2 dogs
• Importing Group 2 cats

Taking pets from Group 3 countries to Australia

The countries listed in Group 3 are classified by the Australian government as not having rabies or having rabies well under control. Pets coming in require an import permit.

The overall process for coming from a Group 3 country is similar to a Group 2 country, with the main difference being the addition of rabies related criteria.⁶

• The pet must be vaccinated with a valid and approved inactive or recombinant rabies vaccine
• A rabies neutralising antibody titre (RNAT) test needs to be done

When organising the RNAT test the general recommendation is to wait at least 3-4 weeks after the vaccination so that antibodies can develop. A test result of at least 0.5 IU/m is required. Keep in mind that only certain labs can process this type of test and depending on the country it can take over a month to get results back.

To learn more about Group 3 countries you can access the up to date guides on the DAFF website.

• Importing Group 3 cats
• Importing Group 3 dogs

Approved countries and their respective categories

Here’s a complete list of the Group 1, 2 and 3 countries you can bring cats and dogs into Australia from.⁴

Group 1	Cocos (Keeling) Islands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island
Group 2	American Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, Mauritius, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna.
Group 3	Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands , Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America (excluding Guam and Hawaii), Uruguay, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands.

What if my country is not listed?

Unfortunately it’s not possible to export a pet to Australia from a country that’s not listed under any of the groups.⁷ To get around it you need to take your cat or dog to a Group 1, 2 or 3 country and reside there for at least 180 days before importing them to Australia.

How to bring your pet rabbit with you to Australia

If you have an eligible companion rabbit in New Zealand you’re allowed to bring it to Australia.² Here’s a basic outline of the process you need to follow.

1. Organise transportation to Australia
2. Obtain the veterinary health certificate
3. Formally notify DAFF at least 3 working days prior to arrival
4. Transport the rabbit to Australia on an approved route
5. On arrival the rabbit and relevant paperwork is inspected by a biosecurity officer

You don’t need an import permit from DAFF and there’s no quarantine period.

Importing a pet bird to Australia

At the moment Australia still allows the importation of eligible psittacine birds originating from New Zealand.³ However, there is a proposal to change the rules which could prevent this, so you’re best to check the most current conditions on the BICON website.

Which airlines allow pet travel to Australia

These are some of the airlines that will carry pets to Australia.

• Qantas Airways
• Emirates
• Air Canada
• Garuda Indonesia
• Malaysia Airlines
• Singapore Airlines

Something to keep in mind is many airlines will not allow you to book your pet as manifested cargo yourself. Instead, they require you to use a freight forwarder or pet transportation company.

Read more: Qantas pet travel

Can you travel with your pet in the cabin to Australia

If you’re travelling on a commercial airline you can’t travel with your pet in the cabin because they need to be manifested cargo.⁷

Read more: Virgin Australia pet travel

What are the fees or costs

When you apply to import your pet into Australia there’s costs associated with the import permit.⁸

Cost per pet	Fee for Lodgement	Fee for Assessment
First cat or dog	$122 AUD	$444 AUD
Additional cats or dogs on the same consignment	$122 AUD	$148 AUD

If your pet has to undergo quarantine in Australia there’s also a cost to that.⁷ There are a number of different fees that apply, but DAFF estimations put it at around $2800 AUD for a 10 day quarantine or $3800 for 30 days.

There will also be other costs which can include the following.

• Flights
• IATA approved transportation crate
• Vet visits
• Vaccinations, treatments and tests

Using pet travel companies/specialists

Bringing a pet to Australia can be a complicated process and it’s essential that you get it right, or you could be faced with refusal of entry. To help out you may want to contact a pet travel company.

These companies can assist with all aspects of the pet importation process, including booking flights, applying for permits and organising appointments and quarantine.

Here are a few of the pet transport companies operating in Australia.

• Jetpets
• Aeropets
• Dogtainers
• Petraveller

Keep in mind

Australia takes its biosecurity rules very seriously and there can be severe consequences for submitting falsified or inaccurate information.

FAQs

If you have more questions take a look at our FAQ below.

How long does it take to import a pet into Australia?

For cats and dogs, DAFF advises owners to allow at least 6 months to complete the entire process.⁵ How long it actually takes will be influenced by various factors including your pets health and vaccination history, country of export and pet travel history.

Where can my pet quarantine?

Australia’s post entry quarantine facility for cats and dogs is located in Mickleham, Victoria.⁷ As a result, pets must enter the country at Melbourne International Airport.

How long does my cat or dog need to stay in quarantine?

Pets that need to be quarantined must stay at the Mickleham facility for at least 10 to 30 days. It can be up to 180 days if there is a greater biosecurity risk.⁷

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Sources:

1. Australian Border Force - Can You Bring It In? Live animals and pets
2. Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions - Case: Live Rabbits
3. Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions - Case: Household pet birds
4. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Step-by-step guides
5. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - How to bring your dog to Australia from a Group 2 country
6. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Group 3: Step by step guide for cats
7. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Cats and dogs frequently asked questions
8. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Import permits for cats and dogs coming to Australia
9. RSPCA - How many pets are there in Australia?

Sources checked on: 11 March 2024