Pet Transport from India to Australia

Australia operates one of the world’s most tightly controlled biosecurity regimes for pet imports. DAFF divides countries of export into groups (Group 1 through Group 6) based on their disease status and regulatory standards. Only countries that appear in one of these groups are approved sources for pet imports. India does not appear in any group. This means pets cannot be imported directly from India into Australia, period. Source: DAFF, agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs.

The approved Group 2 countries include Singapore, the UK, New Zealand, and a number of others. The Group 2 pathway from Singapore to Australia requires a titre test with a 0.5 IU/ml passing result, a 180-day post-titre wait, a mandatory 10-day quarantine at the Mickleham facility in Melbourne, and a DAFF import permit. All Australian entries must be through Melbourne International Airport only.

Other approved stepping-stone countries include the UK and New Zealand, but Singapore is the most practical option for owners relocating from India due to the short flight time (approximately 3.5-4 hours), the large Indian community already established there, and Singapore’s manageable pet import process administered by AVS (Animal and Veterinary Service).

The process begins in India. Your pet needs an ISO microchip and a full rabies vaccination primary course. The titre test blood draw should happen as soon as it is permitted (at least 30 days after the final vaccination) so the 180-day wait starts as early as possible. If you draw blood before relocating to Singapore, the wait continues while your pet lives there. This is the most efficient use of time.

For the India-to-Singapore leg, you need an AQCS No-Objection Certificate and an AQCS-endorsed health certificate in Singapore’s approved format. Singapore’s AVS manages pet imports, and your pet will need to meet Singapore’s own import requirements on arrival, including registration and any applicable Singapore quarantine rules. Singapore does not currently impose quarantine for dogs and cats from India, but check with AVS at nparks.gov.sg before travel.

Once your pet has been resident in Singapore for at least 6 months and the 180-day post-titre wait has elapsed, you can apply for the Australian import permit from DAFF and arrange the Singapore-to-Melbourne leg. The DAFF-format health certificate is issued in Singapore by an official vet and endorsed by AVS, and must be in the exact format specified by DAFF for Singapore as the country of export.

All dogs and cats entering Australia from Singapore (and all other source countries except Group 1) undergo mandatory 10-day quarantine at the Post Entry Quarantine facility in Mickleham, Victoria. The facility is near Melbourne International Airport, which is the only approved airport for live animal imports into Australia. Pets arriving at any other Australian airport will be refused entry.

The quarantine period is non-negotiable. Your pet will be housed in the DAFF-managed facility, examined regularly, and assessed for compliance with all import conditions. The cost is paid by the owner and typically runs AUD 2,000-4,000 for 10 days, depending on the number and size of pets. You can visit your pet during quarantine, subject to facility rules. Check the current schedule and booking procedures with DAFF before the travel date.

DAFF strongly recommends using an IPATA-registered pet transport agent for any Australian import. The documentation requirements are precise, the format of the health certificate is non-negotiable, and errors at any stage can result in quarantine extension or return of the pet.