AU
Australia
✈️
US
United States
Pet Transport Australia to USA: The Simplest US Entry
See key factsQuarantine on arrival
Low routeExpert coordination essential
4-8 weeksPreparation lead time
Fully managedDoor to door service available
Official rules on this page checked
Step by step
The Australia to United States pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online at cdc.gov/importation
Responsible: Owner
Before travel. Valid for 6 months. Bring the QR code receipt.2
Arrange DAFF export documentation
Responsible: Australian accredited vet, DAFF
2-4 weeks before travel.3
Accredited vet health certificate for the airline
Responsible: Australian accredited vet
Within the airline-required window before travel4
CBP inspection on arrival. CDC form receipt scanned.
Responsible: US Customs and Border Protection
On arrival. No quarantine. Collect from cargo terminal.Which United States rules depend on a pet coming from Australia?
The United States sorts countries into 2 groups, and Australia falls in “Dog rabies-free or low-risk countries”.
Dog has been only in these countries for 6 months before entry: CDC Dog Import Form receipt (valid 6 months), age 6 months, microchip, healthy; any airport, seaport or land border. Official source
These rules apply to that group, on top of the rules every pet follows:
- Import permit: For dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries, the receipt is valid 6 months unless the dog visits a high-risk country or a different low-risk country in that time. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: No document beyond the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is listed for dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: Not required: CDC does not require a general health certificate for pets (cats, and dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries). Airlines and some states may still ask for one.
Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies vaccination: CDC recommends, but for dogs only from rabies-free or low-risk countries does not list as an entry requirement, rabies vaccination. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Bringing a Dog into the United States, checked 2 October 2026 - How your pet may travel: Not required: no federal restriction on mode of travel for dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries; they may arrive by air, sea or land. Cabin, checked baggage or cargo is an airline matter. (Seattle's CDC facility takes cargo-only reservations, and the LAX facilities prefer cargo, for high-risk dogs.) Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: Dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries may enter at any airport, seaport or land border. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
One rule for every pet entering the United States decides whether yours can travel at all:
- Minimum age: Every dog must be at least 6 months old on entry or return to the US.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Minimum age: Not listed: cats. CDC's cat section requires only that cats appear healthy on arrival (they may be inspected, examined at the owner's cost if ill, or refused if they show a zoonotic disease); rabies vaccination proof is not required. APHIS states it has no animal health requirements for pet cats (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats). Neither sets a minimum age; destination states may.
Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026
The rules that apply to every pet entering the United States, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our United States guide.
What does Australia require before your pet leaves?
- Export permit: A Notice of Intention (NOI) to Export Live Animals (other than Livestock) must reach the regional office at least 10 working days before departure or the start of isolation. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Exporting companion animals and other live animals, checked 1 October 2026 - Export permit: An export permit is issued and the animal must leave within 72 hours of issue; fees apply to the NOI, the health certificate and the permit. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Exporting companion animals and other live animals, checked 1 October 2026 - Export permit: All exported cats and dogs, including assistance dogs, need an export permit and health certificate (industry advice 80-2023, 11 April 2023). Applies to dogs and cats, including assistance dogs, exported from Australia.
80-2023: Information on international travel with cats, dogs and assistance dogs, checked 1 October 2026 - Export permit: Export permit fee for non-livestock animals (which includes exported cats and dogs): AUD 305 per document in 2026-27 (DAFF live animal exports cost recovery implementation statement 2026-27, Table 7 'Fees, charges and volumes', columns: modelled revenue AUD 2,925,255, modelled volume 9,591, 2026-27 price AUD 305). Time-based assessment and inspection fees and the NOI fee are charged separately. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Cost recovery implementation statement: live animal exports 2026-27, checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: DAFF's certifying veterinary officer assesses documents and prepares the export health certificate; DAFF charges a time-based fee for this. Check importing country requirements in MICoR. Page last updated 27 August 2026. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Exporting companion animals and other live animals, checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: Final health and welfare examination by a registered veterinarian within 72 hours of departure (or the period the importing country sets), before the DAFF appointment. Applies to dogs and cats exported from Australia.
Exporting companion animals and other live animals, checked 1 October 2026
Costs
What this route typically costs
Cargo airline fee: AUD 2,500 to AUD 6,000 from Sydney or Melbourne to a US hub
DAFF export documentation and accredited vet certificate: AUD 300 to AUD 700
Pet transport agent fee: AUD 800 to AUD 2,500
IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 200 to AUD 600
US cargo terminal handling on arrival: $100 to $300
Total typical range: AUD 4,000 to AUD 10,000
Critical points to read before you book
The CDC Dog Import Form is required for ALL dogs entering the USA, including dogs from low-risk Australia. Complete it online before travel and bring the QR code receipt.
The transpacific flight is long (around 13-15 hours direct, longer with connections). Discuss welfare preparation with your vet, especially for older dogs or anxious animals.
If routing via Hawaii, be aware Hawaii has its own strict pet entry rules separate from mainland USA. Transiting through Honolulu requires careful planning.
United Airlines offers cabin-only pet carriage and no cargo service. Qantas cargo is the standard choice for dogs on this route.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
QANTAS
Qantas
Direct Sydney or Melbourne to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas. Primary carrier for this route. Cargo pet service.
DELTA AIR
Delta Air Lines
Transpacific connections to the US. Cargo pet service on applicable routes.
HAWAIIAN
Hawaiian Airlines
Via Honolulu. Note: Hawaii has its own strict pet entry rules; transiting requires care.
UNITED
United Airlines
Cabin only for small pets via LAX or SFO. No cargo service. Not suitable for most dogs.
FAQ
Common questions about Australia to United States pet transport
No. Australia is a CDC low-risk (rabies-free) country, so dogs do not need a titre test, quarantine, or any rabies-specific certification beyond what the airline requires. The only mandatory CDC document is the Dog Import Form, completed free online at cdc.gov/importation. This is the simplest category of US dog entry.
It requires care. Hawaii has its own strict pet entry rules, separate from mainland USA, including potential quarantine and specific documentation. Simply transiting through Honolulu can trigger Hawaii’s requirements depending on how the routing is handled. If your final destination is the mainland, a direct flight to a mainland hub (such as Los Angeles) avoids the Hawaii complications. Discuss routing with your agent if Hawaii is involved.
A direct flight from Sydney or Melbourne to Los Angeles is around 13-14 hours; connections are longer. The cargo hold is climate-controlled and pressurised. For most healthy adult animals the journey is manageable. For older, very young, or anxious pets, talk to your vet about preparation. Sedation is usually not advised for air travel. A direct flight minimises total journey time and is generally the better choice for welfare on long-haul routes.
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Route at a glance
FromAustralia
ToUnited States
Prep time4-8 weeks
ComplexityLow
Related routes
Country and airline guides
Sources
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.