Pet Transport South Africa to Australia: 2026 Guide
South Africa to Australia is among the most demanding international pet moves. Australia classifies South Africa as Group 4, triggering a full titre test process with a 180-day wait, an Ehrlichia canis test for dogs, mandatory Mickleham …
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Apply for DAFF Import Permit via BICON. Include Ehrlichia canis test requirement in application.
Responsible: Owner or agent
Start now. At least 10-12 months before intended travel.
2
Confirm ISO microchip is in place. Must pre-date rabies vaccinations.
Responsible: Your vet
Before any vaccination.
3
First rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your vet
After microchip is confirmed.
4
Second rabies vaccination (minimum 30 days after first)
Responsible: Your vet
30-365 days after first vaccination.
5
Dogs: Ehrlichia canis test at DAFF-approved lab. Must be negative.
Responsible: DAFF-approved laboratory
Can be done before or alongside titre test blood draw.
6
Blood draw for FAVN titre test at DAFF-approved laboratory
Responsible: DAFF-approved laboratory
At least 30 days after second rabies vaccination.
7
Wait 180 days from blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
180-day wait. This is the longest fixed delay in the process.
8
Pre-book Mickleham quarantine facility
Responsible: Owner or agent
Book as soon as you have a target travel date. Spaces are limited.
9
DALRRD State Vet issues health certificate within 5 days of travel
Responsible: DALRRD State Vet
5 days before travel.
10
Travel to Australia. 10-day Mickleham quarantine on arrival.
Responsible: Airline, DAFF
After 180-day wait has elapsed.
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
Required. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Two vaccinations required. Not less than 30 days apart, not more than 365 days apart. Both must precede the titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
RNATT/FAVN titre test required. Minimum result: 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at DAFF-approved laboratory. 180-day wait from blood draw date before entry to Australia.
Quarantine
Mandatory for all pets entering Australia. Minimum 10 days at Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility, Melbourne. Must be pre-booked.
Import permit
Required. DAFF Import Permit via BICON online system. Approximately AUD 420. Allow 20-30 days processing.
Health certificate
DAFF-format health certificate for South Africa. Issued within 5 days of travel.
Export permit (South Africa)
Veterinary Export Permit required from DALRRD (Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development) via the provincial State Veterinarian.
Two rabies vaccinations in South Africa: ZAR 300-800 each
Ehrlichia canis test: ZAR 500-1,000
FAVN titre test at approved lab: approximately USD 100-150
Mickleham quarantine (10 days): AUD 2,000-4,000
Airline cargo via hub: ZAR 8,000-20,000 (AUD 650-1,600)
DALRRD export documentation: ZAR 500-2,000
Total typical range: AUD 5,000 to AUD 12,000 (GBP 2,500 to GBP 6,000)
Critical points to read before you book
The 180-day wait is from the blood draw date, not the result date. If blood is drawn in August, the earliest possible entry to Australia is late February the following year.
Ehrlichia canis test is specific to South Africa. A positive result means treatment and retesting before an import permit will be issued. Tick prevention is essential in the weeks before blood draw.
Mickleham quarantine is the only DAFF facility in Australia for imported pets. It does not operate on weekends or public holidays. Book well in advance, especially for arrivals in summer (December-February).
Summer quarantine (December-February) carries heat stress risk. DAFF issues explicit heat stress warnings for Mickleham during this period. Brachycephalic breeds are at high risk.
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.
EMIRATES
Emirates
Johannesburg or Cape Town to Melbourne/Sydney via Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo. Most commonly used carrier for this route.
Cargo Only
SINGAPORE
Singapore Airlines
Johannesburg to Melbourne/Sydney via Singapore. Singapore Airlines Cargo.
Cargo Only
QANTAS
Qantas
No direct South Africa service. Via Singapore or connecting through Dubai/other hubs. Qantas Cargo.
Cargo Only
The 180-day wait: why it exists and what drives the timeline
Australia’s 180-day wait for Group 4 countries like South Africa is based on the incubation period of diseases including rabies. The logic is that a pet that has been free of disease for 180 days after a successful titre test has demonstrated adequate protection and exposure-free time.
The clock starts on the blood draw date. Not the result date, not the vaccination date. The blood draw date. This means that to target an arrival in Australia in, say, October, the blood draw must happen no later than late March. Work backwards from your target travel date when planning the vaccination and testing schedule.
If the titre test fails (result below 0.5 IU/ml), the process resets. A revaccination is followed by a 30-day wait and a new blood draw, then another 180-day clock. This is the main reason some South Africa to Australia moves end up taking 18 months or more.
Ehrlichia canis: the test that surprises many South African owners
Australia requires all dogs exported from South Africa to test negative for Ehrlichia canis before an import permit is issued. This is because Ehrlichia canis, a bacterial tick-borne disease, is widespread in South Africa and is not present in Australia.
For most owners, this is not a major obstacle if the dog has been kept on effective tick prevention. A dog that has been consistently protected against ticks is unlikely to test positive. However, dogs that have been in tick-heavy areas (bushveld, coastal subtropical areas) with irregular tick prevention may test positive.
If your dog tests positive, doxycycline treatment is effective. After a full treatment course, retest to confirm clearance. Treatment and retesting adds 6-10 weeks to the timeline but is manageable.
FAQ
Common questions about South Africa to Australia pet transport
Realistically, 8-12 months from starting preparations to arriving in Australia. The minimum is about 8 months if everything proceeds without delays: the DAFF permit (1 month), two vaccinations (1-2 months), titre test blood draw, 180-day wait, Mickleham quarantine (10 days). Build in buffer for potential Ehrlichia canis treatment or titre test retesting.
Ehrlichia canis is a tick-borne bacterial disease that causes serious illness in dogs. It is common in South Africa and other parts of Africa and Asia. Australia is free of this disease and has strict biosecurity measures to keep it out. All dogs from South Africa must test negative for Ehrlichia canis before DAFF will issue an import permit.
There are no direct flights from South Africa to Australia. All routes involve at least one connection. Emirates via Dubai, Singapore Airlines via Singapore, and Etihad via Abu Dhabi are the common options. Each carrier has specific pet cargo policies that need to be confirmed at the time of booking. Use a South Africa-based pet transport agent who has experience with this specific route.
No. The FAVN titre test must be done at a DAFF-approved laboratory. The list of approved labs is published by DAFF at aff.gov.au/biosecurity. Confirm the current approved laboratories in South Africa before arranging the blood draw. Only DAFF-approved labs’ results are accepted for import permit purposes.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your South Africa to Australia pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.