Shipping a dog or cat from Ivory Coast to Australia rewards owners who start planning early. Budget around 30-36 weeks and start early, because the mandatory waits on this route stack up quickly. Factor in 10 days of quarantine at the …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Ivory Coast to Australia
typically takes around 30-36 weeks.
Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Ivory Coast to Australia pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
DSV endorsement and health certificate arranged for the initial Abidjan-to-Paris move.
Responsible: Owner and DSV-registered vet
6-8 weeks before that first flight, with a 2-week buffer since DSV sets no fixed turnaround.
2
Fly Abidjan to Paris on Air France; the 180-day French residency clock starts on arrival.
Responsible: Owner
Day one of residency.
3
Rabies vaccination confirmed, then RNATT blood draw at least 30 days later, sent to an approved laboratory.
Responsible: French vet and approved laboratory
Within the first third of residency.
4
Microchip identity verification, timed before the RNATT draw and at least 180 days before the planned export date.
Responsible: French vet
Early in residency.
5
Apply for the DAFF import permit through BICON and book the Mickleham quarantine slot.
Responsible: Owner
Once the titre result is confirmed.
6
French export health certificate issued, then fly Paris to Australia via Singapore, landing on a weekday.
Responsible: Owner, French vet and the airline
After the 180 days clear.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Australia
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted before any rabies vaccination used for the RNATT titre test.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination administered or reconfirmed during the French residency period.
Rabies titre test
RNATT required, sample arriving at an approved laboratory between 180 days and 12 months before the Australia-bound flight. A first-time-vaccinated dog needs 3 to 4 weeks after vaccination before the blood draw counts. Source: DAFF.
Quarantine
Mandatory minimum 10-day quarantine at Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility, Melbourne, weekday arrivals only. The 10-day minimum requires microchip verification before the RNATT draw and at least 180 days before export; otherwise the stay extends to 30 days. Source: DAFF.
Import permit
DAFF import permit via BICON, applied for during the French residency once the titre result is confirmed. Fee: AUD 420.
Health certificate
DAFF-format health certificate from a French vet, valid 5 days from issue, dated at the end of the residency period.
Export permit (Ivory Coast)
No standalone export permit separate from the health certificate. The Direction des Services Veterinaires (DSV), under the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MIRAH), endorses the certificate that clears the animal to leave Cote d'Ivoire for the initial move.
Government endorsement
DSV endorsement is required before any airline accepts the paperwork. DSV publishes no fixed turnaround time online, so confirm directly with a registered vet in Abidjan and build in at least two weeks of buffer.
Costs
What this route typically costs
DSV endorsement and vet documentation in Cote d'Ivoire: FCFA 60,000-150,000 (roughly USD 100-250).
French RNATT titre test at an approved laboratory: EUR 150-300.
Cost of living in France during the 180-day residency: highly variable, not a fixed transport cost.
Cargo fares, Abidjan to Paris then Paris to Melbourne via Singapore: USD 3,000-5,600 combined.
Total direct transport and processing costs, excluding French living costs: USD 5,300-9,300.
Critical points to read before you book
Cote d'Ivoire's non-approved DAFF status makes the 180-day French residency unavoidable. There is no shortcut and no exception.
DSV does not publish a fixed processing time or fee schedule online. Confirm both directly with a registered vet in Abidjan and add at least two weeks of buffer before booking any flight date.
The microchip verification must happen before the RNATT blood draw and at least 180 days before export, or the Mickleham stay triples from 10 to 30 days.
This same pet, moved to the UAE instead, needs only a titre test and an import permit, with no residency requirement anywhere. DAFF and MOCCAE assess Cote d'Ivoire's rabies risk very differently.
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.
AIR FRANCE
Air France
Runs up to two flights daily between Abidjan and Paris Charles de Gaulle, the most frequent departure schedule of any option on this route and the leg that starts the French residency clock.
Cargo Only
SINGAPORE
Singapore Airlines
The usual choice for the Paris-to-Australia leg once residency ends. There is currently no direct Qantas service from Paris, so agents typically route through Singapore's Changi facility, which also happens to sit in a DAFF Group 2 country.
Cargo Only
ROYAL AIR
Royal Air Maroc
An alternative first leg out of Abidjan via Casablanca, useful if the Air France schedule does not suit, though it does not connect onward to France as directly.
Cabin and Cargo
Meeting Australia's entry requirements
Getting a pet into Australia means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.
Advice worth following
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
FAQ
Common questions about Ivory Coast to Australia pet transport
No. Cote d’Ivoire is not on any of DAFF’s approved country lists, so direct import is not permitted. The pet must complete 180 consecutive days of residency in an approved country, such as France, before the Australian import process can even begin.
France is a DAFF Group 3 approved country, and Air France already flies Abidjan to Paris up to twice daily, the same service used for Ivory Coast’s UK-bound pets. That frequency means the 180-day residency can start on the very next available flight rather than waiting for a less common connection.
A minimum of 10 days at Mickleham, provided the microchip is officially verified before the RNATT titre blood draw and that verification happens at least 180 days before export. Miss that sequencing and the stay extends to 30 days. Source: DAFF.
No. DSV does not publish a standard turnaround time or fee schedule online. Confirm directly with a registered vet in Abidjan and add at least two weeks of buffer before finalising any flight date.
No. MOCCAE requires only a titre test and an import permit for a pet from Cote d’Ivoire, with no residency requirement in a third country. DAFF’s non-approved country rule for Australia is a considerably higher bar for the same passport.
Airline guides
Air France
Singapore Airlines
Royal Air Maroc
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.