Lead time needed
26-32 weeks
Quarantine
10 days
Route complexity
Very High
Airlines
10 carriers on this route
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AU

Pet Transport from Japan to Australia

Bringing your dog or cat from Japan to Australia takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Give yourself close to 26-32 weeks, as several stages run on fixed clocks that no agent can shorten. Your pet will spend 10 days in quarantine …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Japan to Australia typically takes around 26-32 weeks. Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival. A rabies titre test is not required.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared by , Senior Pet Relocation Consultant
Step by step

The Japan to Australia import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
First. Every document carries its number.
Check or implant an ISO compatible microchip

Responsible: Your vet

2
Before any other preparation, and at least 180 days before export. A dog becomes eligible 180 days after this check; a cat must have lived in a Group 1 or 2 country for those 180 days.
Official identity check by a government veterinarian

Responsible: Official government vet

3
DAFF says most permits are issued in 20 to 40 business days, and some take up to 123. A Group 2 permit is valid for 12 months.
Apply for the DAFF import permit through BICON

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

4
After the import permit is issued.
Book the Mickleham quarantine place

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

5
A Leishmania infantum test, a Brucella canis test if not desexed, and Leptospira Canicola vaccination or a negative test.
Dog tests in the last 45 days

Responsible: Government approved vet

6
An official government veterinarian endorses the certificate within 5 days before export and seals the crate; the seal must be intact on arrival.
Health certificate and crate seal

Responsible: Official government vet

7
Pets cannot travel in the cabin, and there are no domestic transfers.
Fly as manifested cargo directly into Melbourne

Responsible: Airline cargo

8
At least 10 days.
Quarantine at Mickleham, Melbourne

Responsible: DAFF

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Australia

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
An ISO compatible microchip, readable by an ISO compatible reader.
Rabies vaccination
DAFF's Group 2 guides do not require a rabies vaccination.
Rabies titre test
Not required from Group 2 countries.
Quarantine
At least 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility in Melbourne. …
Import permit
Required, from DAFF through its BICON system. DAFF says most permits are issued …
Health certificate
DAFF's certificate, endorsed by an official government veterinarian within 5 …
Export permit
No formal export permit required. Destination import documentation serves as …
Costs

What this route typically costs

Australian government charges for one pet (DAFF import permit and …
Veterinary work, tests and the health certificate in the export …
Flight as manifested cargo to Melbourne: depends on crate size, …
Prices change with your pet's size and crate, the airline and routing, …

Critical points

Japan is in DAFF's Group 2, the approved rabies-free group: no rabies blood test, but the official identity check must happen at least 180 days before export.

Quarantine is at least 10 days at Mickleham, and the crate seal fitted by the official vet must be intact on arrival.

Pets enter Australia only through Melbourne International Airport, as manifested cargo.

Australia bans these dog breeds outright: dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa, American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier, and Perro de Presa Canario, plus the wolf hybrids Czechoslovakian wolfdog, Saarloos wolfdog, Lupo Italiano and Kunming wolfdog. Non-domestic cat hybrids (Savannah, Safari, Chausie and Bengal, and their crossbred offspring) are banned, and Bengal cats have not been allowed into Australia since 1 March 2026 (DAFF).

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Japan Airlines (JAL)
Cargo: Pets transported as checked baggage in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic …
Cargo Only
Qantas
Cargo: QantasFreighter network for pet transport. Brachycephalic breeds restricted …
Cargo Only
Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic …
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Pets travel as manifest cargo only on this route; Australia does not accept arrivals in …
Cargo
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: Pets travel in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to …
Cargo Only
British Airways
Cargo: Pets transported via British Airways World Cargo in temperature-controlled hold. …
Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific
Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic …
Cargo Only
Air France
Pets travel as manifest cargo only on this route; Australia does not accept arrivals in …
Cargo
KLM
Pets travel as manifest cargo only on this route; Australia does not accept arrivals in …
Cargo
Korean Air
Pets travel as manifest cargo only on this route; Australia does not accept arrivals in …
Cargo

What Australia requires

Entry to Australia is tightly controlled, and officials verify each requirement in turn. Treat it as a sequence where every step gates the next.

Avoiding the common mistakes

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

FAQ

Common questions

At least 180 days from the official identity check, which must come before any other preparation. A dog is eligible 180 days after the check; a cat must have lived in Japan or another Group 1 or 2 country for that time.
Yes, at least 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility in Melbourne.
No. Japan is in DAFF’s Group 2, so no rabies blood test is needed.
Yes. Apply to DAFF through BICON before you book. DAFF says most permits are issued in 20 to 40 business days, and some take up to 123. A Group 2 permit is valid for 12 months.
DAFF’s own certificate, endorsed by an official government veterinarian within 5 days before export, who also fits a seal to the crate.
Airline guides
  • Japan Airlines (JAL)
  • Qantas
  • Emirates
  • Lufthansa
  • Singapore Airlines
  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Air France
  • KLM
  • Korean Air
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Australia.

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JP AUJapan to Australia
International pet transport route
Lead time26-32 weeks
Quarantine10 days
ComplexityVery High
Airlines10
ServiceDoor to door
Get a free quote for this route
Country and airline guides
Shipping from Japan→Importing to Australia→Japan Airlines (JAL) pet policy→Qantas pet policy→

Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

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