Importing Your Pet to Australia

Australia has the strictest pet import process of any country in this guide. That is not an exaggeration. There is mandatory quarantine for every imported dog and cat, no exceptions. The quarantine facility is in Melbourne, which means your pet arrives in Melbourne regardless of where in Australia you’re going. There is only one quarantine facility, at Mickleham, and spaces must be booked in advance.

The preparation timeline for most countries is a minimum of six months. For pets from USA, Canada, most EU countries, and South Africa (Group 4), the timeline is driven by the 180-day wait after the rabies titre test blood draw. You need two rabies vaccinations first, then wait 30 days, draw blood, get a passing result, then wait another 180 days before your pet can enter Australia. There is no way to shorten this.

Australia’s import process is complex enough that DAFF itself recommends using a professional pet transport agent. This is not boilerplate advice. If any documentation step is done out of sequence, the whole process may need to restart.

The 180-day rule and why you can't shortcut it

For dogs coming from Group 4 countries (USA, Canada, most EU countries, South Africa), the timeline is controlled by one number: 180 days. After the successful rabies titre test blood draw, your pet must wait 180 days from the blood draw date before entering Australia. Not from the date you get the result. From the date the blood was drawn.

To reach that blood draw date, you need two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart, then another 30-day wait after the second before drawing blood. Add the 30-day processing window for the DAFF import permit and you’re at a realistic minimum of seven to eight months from starting to flying. Six months is the absolute floor, and only if everything goes right the first time.

Mickleham: the one quarantine facility

All imported cats and dogs arrive in Melbourne and go to the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility. There is no other option. If you’re moving to Perth, Sydney, or Brisbane, your pet still arrives in Melbourne, completes quarantine, and is then released to you or transported onward.

Spaces at Mickleham must be pre-booked and they fill up. Don’t finalise your own travel date before you have a confirmed quarantine booking. The cost of 10 days’ quarantine is typically AUD 2,000-4,000 and is entirely the owner’s responsibility.

Blood tests beyond rabies