Australia Pet Quarantine: What Actually Happens at Mickleham

Every dog and cat imported into Australia from a Group 2 or Group 3 country goes through government quarantine at one place: the post entry quarantine facility at Mickleham, near Melbourne, run by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). It is the only facility for cats and dogs, so your pet lands in Melbourne whether you are moving to Perth, Brisbane or Sydney.

The two questions owners ask first are how long, and why. Both answers are decided months before the flight.

How long the stay is

• Group 3 countries (for example the UK, the USA other than Guam and Hawaii, Canada, the UAE, Hong Kong and the EU member states DAFF lists): at least 30 days, reduced to at least 10 days if an official government veterinarian verified your pet’s identity before the rabies blood test.
• Group 2 countries (approved rabies-free places such as Japan, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji and Hawaii): at least 10 days, with no rabies blood test, but the official identity check must happen at least 180 days before export. Dogs from Singapore and Hawaii must be vaccinated against canine influenza.
• Countries not on DAFF’s approved list: no direct import at all. The pet must first live in a Group 2 or Group 3 country and be prepared there under that country’s rules.

The identity check is the detail most owners miss. It has to happen at a separate visit before the blood test. Done later, it cannot shorten the stay.

The 180-day rule

For Group 3 pets the rabies blood test (RNATT) sets the timetable:

1. Rabies vaccination at 84 days of age or older, kept valid without a gap until export.
2. Official identity check by a government veterinarian, before the blood test.
3. Blood sample 3 to 4 weeks after the vaccination, tested by FAVN or RFFIT, result 0.5 IU/ml or more.
4. No export until at least 180 days after the sample arrives at the laboratory.

Time the sample spends in the post is added to the wait, so ask the laboratory for the date it logged the sample. The result is valid for 12 months from the sample date. DAFF says to allow at least 6 months for a Group 3 move.

Booking the place

Book the Mickleham place after DAFF issues the import permit. DAFF says most permits take 20 to 40 business days, and some take up to 123, so apply early. The quarantine account must be paid in full before your pet is released.

Fees

From DAFF’s published fees, one pet’s government charges come to about AUD 3,000 to 3,300 with a 10-day stay and about AUD 4,100 to 4,400 with a 30-day stay. That covers the import permit, the quarantine reservation, importation charge, accommodation, inspection time and the airline’s release appointment. Extra charges apply for veterinary care, extra treatment or a longer stay, and DAFF reviews its fees each year.

Prices change with your pet’s size and crate, the airline and routing, the season, fuel surcharges and exchange rates. Your quote may differ.

Summer heat

DAFF warns that Australian summers, December to February, can go above 40 degrees Celsius, which is a real heat-stroke risk for snub-nosed, long-haired, overweight, old or unwell animals. If your pet is one of those, plan an arrival outside the summer months.

Sources: DAFF cat and dog import guides, quarantine facility and fee pages (agriculture.gov.au, checked 1 October 2026).