The journey from North Macedonia to Australia for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. This is one of the more demanding routes, so allow around 40-55 weeks and treat the timeline as fixed. A 10 day quarantine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from North Macedonia to Australia
typically takes around 40-55 weeks.
Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The North Macedonia to Australia pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Confirm North Macedonia's current DAFF status and Singapore's current classification for pets arriving from North Macedonia
Responsible: You, checking BICON and AVS directly
Before anything else. Both lists can change.
2
Microchip, then complete the rabies primary course
Responsible: Vet in North Macedonia
Before travel to Singapore.
3
Fly to Singapore via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, meeting Singapore's own entry conditions
Responsible: You, or an agent working both legs
Once vaccination and paperwork clear Singapore's requirements.
4
Begin the 180-day continuous Singapore residency clock
Responsible: You
From the date your pet clears any Singapore quarantine or entry hold, whichever applies.
5
Apply for the DAFF import permit through BICON and pre-book Mickleham
Responsible: You or your agent
During the Singapore residency period, well before the 180 days are up.
6
Get the DAFF-format health certificate issued and AVS-endorsed in Singapore
Responsible: Singapore government vet
Within days of the Australia flight.
7
Fly Singapore to Melbourne, then 10 days at Mickleham
Responsible: Airline cargo handler and DAFF
Once the residency clock and permit are both in place.
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 the rabies vaccination or the vaccination doesn't count towards Singapore or Australian entry.
Rabies vaccination
Full primary course required before any blood draw, either in North Macedonia or after arrival in Singapore.
Rabies titre test
Not required for the Singapore-to-Australia leg, since Singapore is DAFF Group 2. Singapore's own entry conditions for a pet arriving from North Macedonia depend on how AVS currently categorises the country under its own three-schedule system; confirm this directly with Singapore's Animal and Veterinary Service (avs.nparks.gov.sg) before assuming no local quarantine applies, since that classification changes independently of DAFF's rules.
Quarantine
Mandatory 10 days at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility, Melbourne, on arrival from Singapore. All entries into Australia go through Melbourne, whatever your final Australian city.
Import permit
DAFF import permit applied for via BICON once your pet's Singapore residency clock is running. Roughly AUD 420, 20 to 30 days to process.
Health certificate
DAFF-format certificate, issued by an official vet in Singapore and endorsed by AVS, within days of the Australia flight.
Export permit (North Macedonia)
No formal export permit for a companion pet leaving North Macedonia. Contact the Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) directly, since requirements can shift depending on the transit country your pet passes through en route to Singapore.
Costs
What this route typically costs
FVA export paperwork in North Macedonia: MKD 2,500 to MKD 5,000
Skopje to Singapore cargo or cabin fee via Istanbul: USD 800 to USD 2,200
Singapore residency costs (rent, vet registration, any AVS-required quarantine): a minimum six-month outlay, highly variable by lifestyle
DAFF import permit: approximately AUD 420
Singapore to Melbourne cargo fee: AUD 1,200 to AUD 2,800
Mickleham 10-day quarantine: AUD 2,000 to AUD 4,000
IPATA agent fee for a two-leg move: AUD 1,500 to AUD 3,500
Total direct cost excluding Singapore living expenses: roughly AUD 8,000 to AUD 16,000
Critical points to read before you book
North Macedonia is not on any of DAFF's approved country lists. There's no shortcut and no waiver. A stepping-stone move through an approved country is the only legal route.
The 180 days in Singapore has to be unbroken. A trip back to North Macedonia, or anywhere outside the approved zone, resets the clock to zero.
Wizz Air's direct flights out of Skopje are irrelevant here since none reach Singapore. Book Turkish Airlines via Istanbul from the outset rather than assuming a cheap direct option exists.
Confirm Singapore's own classification of North Macedonia before you fly. If AVS treats it as higher-risk, your pet may need a Singapore quarantine stay before the Australian residency clock even starts.
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.
TURKISH
Turkish Airlines
Runs Skopje to Istanbul, then Istanbul to Singapore direct on the same carrier. Small pets in the cabin under 8kg; larger pets through Turkish Cargo's Istanbul live animal facility for both legs.
Cabin and Cargo
SINGAPORE
Singapore Airlines
Handles the Singapore-to-Melbourne cargo leg once your pet's residency period is complete. Frequent daily service, temperature-controlled hold, well used to the Mickleham handover.
Cargo Only
QANTAS
Qantas
Alternative for the Singapore-to-Australia sector. Qantas Freight is the other established option if Singapore Airlines Cargo capacity is full on your preferred date.
Cargo Only
WIZZ AIR
Wizz Air
Flies direct from Skopje to several destinations but carries no pets in cabin or cargo, only certified assistance dogs. Irrelevant to a Singapore-bound pet in any case, since it doesn't serve that city.
None
The rules for bringing a pet into Australia
Australia runs a strict import regime, so every document is checked closely on arrival. Build your plan around the fixed waiting periods, because they set the pace for everything else.
How to keep this move on track
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about North Macedonia to Australia pet transport
No. North Macedonia is not on any of DAFF’s approved country lists, so direct import is not permitted regardless of your pet’s vaccination history. You need to relocate the pet to an approved country, most commonly Singapore, and complete 180 consecutive days of residency there first.
Serbia and Montenegro both sit on DAFF’s Group 3 approved list. North Macedonia doesn’t appear on any DAFF group list at all, despite being in the same region. This is a DAFF biosecurity classification, not a reflection of North Macedonia’s own veterinary standards.
Not for the Singapore-to-Australia leg, since Singapore holds DAFF Group 2 status. Whether Singapore itself requires a titre test or quarantine period for a pet arriving from North Macedonia is a separate question, governed by Singapore’s own classification system. Check with AVS before travelling.
Budget 40 to 55 weeks from a standing start. The fixed cost is 180 days of Singapore residency, on top of whatever Singapore’s own entry process requires, plus the DAFF permit processing time and the 10-day Mickleham quarantine at the end.
No. Wizz Air doesn’t accept pets in cabin or cargo beyond certified assistance dogs, and none of its Skopje routes serve Singapore in any case. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the realistic option for the first leg of this move.
Airline guides
Turkish Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Qantas
Wizz Air
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your North Macedonia to Australia pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.