Pet Transport from France to Australia: The Complete 2026 Guide

DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) administers all pet imports into Australia. For dogs and cats from France (Group 3), the requirements are: ISO-compliant microchip implanted before or simultaneously with the first rabies vaccination; a completed rabies vaccination course; a rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT) at a DAFF-approved laboratory, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml, from blood drawn at least 30 days after the most recent vaccination; a mandatory 180-day post-titre waiting period; a DAFF import permit via the BICON portal; and the DAFF-specific health certificate for France, countersigned by DGAL (Direction générale de l’alimentation) or regional veterinary services. Source: DAFF, agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs.

Dogs face additional requirements. Tests for Brucella canis and Ehrlichia canis, plus tick and internal parasite treatments, must be completed within specific timeframes set out in the import permit. Missing a treatment window is a serious problem; it can require the permit to be reissued and the timeline to restart. On arrival, all pets complete ten days of mandatory quarantine at Mickleham. Owners cannot visit during quarantine but DAFF provides updates on their pet’s status.

EU pet passports issued in France are not accepted by Australia. The EU pet passport governs intra-EU movements under Regulation 576/2013 and has no standing at Australian biosecurity entry points. For this route, a separate Animal Health Certificate in DAFF’s exact prescribed format for France is required, signed by a French official vet and countersigned by DGAL or the relevant regional veterinary authority. DAFF publishes the approved form for each origin country; use the current version, not an older template.

France’s export process for pets is administered by DGAL (Direction générale de l’alimentation) under the Ministry of Agriculture. There is no separate export permit; the endorsed AHC covers departure. Vaccinations and microchipping can be done at your regular vet, but the health certificate must be signed by a French official vet and countersigned by DGAL or the appropriate regional veterinary services. Allow time to schedule these appointments around the DAFF-specified validity window for the certificate.

There is no direct passenger or cargo flight between France and Australia. All pets travel via a hub. From Paris CDG, the main routing options are via Singapore (SIN) with Singapore Airlines Cargo or Qantas Freight, via Dubai (DXB) with Emirates SkyCargo, or via Hong Kong (HKG) with Cathay Pacific Cargo. Air France Cargo handles the European leg and connects with onward partners for Australia. Gulf summer heat (June to September) can impose temperature embargoes on the Dubai routing; Southeast Asian humidity and heat affect Singapore-routed bookings in certain months. No carrier on this route currently accepts pets in the cabin for international long-haul segments. Confirm breed eligibility, crate requirements, and seasonal availability with your cargo agent before settling on a travel date.

Work backwards from your planned arrival date. The 180-day post-titre waiting period is the anchor point. To arrive in Australia in October 2027, the titre test blood draw must occur no later than April 2027. Rabies vaccination must be complete at least 30 days before that blood draw, pointing to a vaccination completion date of around March 2027. Add microchipping (if not yet done), DAFF permit processing (four to eight weeks), health certificate preparation, and cargo booking, and the realistic start of the process is around eleven months before your planned arrival date.

The costs are considerable. Airline cargo from Paris to Melbourne typically runs AUD 2,500 to AUD 6,000 depending on pet size and routing. Quarantine adds approximately AUD 1,877. Titre testing and endorsement fees add EUR 300-700. Budget for all of these from the outset and factor agent fees into the total if you are using a specialist. On a route this complex, the agent’s knowledge of DAFF’s current documentation requirements and ability to troubleshoot delays is generally worth the cost.