Pet Import & Quarantine Guide (Dogs & Cats)

To bring a dog or cat you've been keeping along when you move or relocate to Australia, you must pass Australia's biosecurity quarantine — among the strictest in the world. Depending on your country of origin, the preparation alone can take about 6 months, so the key is to start as early as possible once your moving date is set. This page is general guidance based on the official standards of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

This guide is general information for all foreign residents of Australia, no matter which country you come from, and is not veterinary, legal, or immigration advice. Country group classifications, timeframes, costs, and documentation requirements are changed by DAFF from time to time, so before you actually begin preparations, please reconfirm the standards for your own country of origin and animal (dog/cat) at the official source (agriculture.gov.au) below.

At a glance — allow at least 6 months

Start now

DAFF advises allowing at least 6 months to complete all steps. Group 3 countries are required to observe a 180-day wait from the date the RNATT sample arrives, so once your moving date is set you should begin preparing for your pet first. Those who start late often find that only the people move first and the pet joins them several months later.

To keep Australia rabies-free, the entry of dogs and cats is managed very strictly. The overall flow is as follows.

Check your country group — the entire process differs depending on whether you fall under Group 1·2·3 or a non-approved country.
Microchip → rabies vaccine·RNATT antibody test → 180-day wait (Group 3) → import permit application → pre-departure health check·documents → Mickleham quarantine after entry.
Some steps can only be carried out and signed by an official government veterinarian in your country of origin, so you need to coordinate the schedule with your vet clinic in advance.

The specific dates, documents, and test items differ according to the step-by-step guide for each country group, so check the page that matches your situation on the official site.

First of all — check which group your country is in

Australia divides countries into groups according to rabies risk and applies different procedures to each group. Even for the same dog or cat, the testing, quarantine, and costs vary greatly depending on which country it departs from, so this is the first thing to check. (Group classifications can change, so check your own country directly on the official site.)

Group 1 — the simplest

This includes New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and others. This group generally does not require an import permit, is exempt from the rabies antibody test and quarantine facility stay, and only needs to meet basic health certificate conditions.

Group 2 — rabies-free countries (no RNATT needed)

These are countries and territories approved as free of rabies, such as Japan, Singapore, Hawaii, Iceland, and Fiji. This group is exempt from the RNATT antibody test, and after entry must spend at least 10 days in quarantine at the Mickleham facility. The import permit is usually valid for 12 months.

Group 3 — rabies-controlled countries (RNATT required)

These are countries and territories where rabies is present but approved as well controlled. A rabies vaccine + RNATT antibody test + 180-day wait are all required, and after entry there is at least 30 days of quarantine at Mickleham (which may be shortened to 10 days if conditions are met). Quarantine may be reduced to 10 days if an official government veterinarian verified identity by microchip before the RNATT blood collection, or if an animal that previously departed Australia proves identity with an Australian-issued export certificate.

If your country of origin is not on the group lists above (a non-approved country), you cannot send the animal directly to Australia. You must first have it reside continuously for at least 180 days in an approved Group 1·2·3 country immediately before departure, and complete the preparations under that country's standards. RNATT results taken in a non-approved country, or preparations done there, are not recognised. Be sure to check on the official site which group your country is in.

Step 1 — Microchip (the starting point of everything)

The microchip is the only means of identification that Australia recognises, and from then on all vaccines, tests, and documents are linked to this chip number. It must therefore be implanted before any other step.

The chip must be ISO standard. Generally, 10-digit or 15-digit numbers are ISO compatible.
Even if a chip is already in place, check in advance that it reads correctly with a scanner and that the number matches on all documents. A mismatched number is a common cause of entry refusal or extended quarantine.
If the chip is not ISO compatible, you may need to provide a compatible scanner that can read it at the time of quarantine.

All subsequent steps such as the rabies vaccine and RNATT blood collection are only valid if carried out after the chip has been implanted.

Step 2 — Rabies vaccine and RNATT antibody test

This step applies mainly to Group 3 countries (Group 1·2 are exempt or follow a different procedure).

After microchip implantation, administer the rabies vaccine.
Wait 3–4 weeks between the vaccination date and the blood collection date for the RNATT.
Use the collected blood to take the RNATT (Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test) to confirm that sufficient antibodies have formed.
The RNATT result is valid for 12 months (365 days) from the date of blood collection. This validity period governs the entire schedule and the import permit period.

The blood collection, testing, and signing are only recognised when done through an official government veterinarian and a designated laboratory in your country of origin.

180-day wait after RNATT — no exceptions

Dogs and cats from Group 3 countries can only depart for Australia after at least 180 days have passed from the date the RNATT sample arrived at the laboratory. There are no exceptions to this 180 days.

However, this period is not quarantine but simply a 'wait', so during this time the animal can live as usual with its owner or others in the country of origin (or an approved country). Because this 180 days lengthens the entire preparation, it is important to calculate the schedule backwards and set the blood collection date accordingly.

Step 3 — Apply for an import permit

Dogs and cats coming from Group 2·3 countries must have a valid biosecurity import permit on entry (Group 1 usually does not need one).

The import permit is applied for through DAFF's online system BICON.
Group 2: the import permit is usually valid for 12 months after issue.
Group 3: the import permit is valid until the end of the RNATT validity period (12 months from the blood collection date). In other words, when the RNATT expires, the permit expires too.
The permit also specifies pre-departure health check, parasite treatment, and document conditions, so you must coordinate the schedule with your vet clinic and veterinarian and carry them out without omission.

Processing takes time, so apply with plenty of leeway considering your departure and quarantine booking dates. Check the latest conditions and fees in the official BICON guidance.

Step 4 — Mickleham quarantine stay

Dogs and cats entering Australia spend their quarantine period at the single government-run quarantine facility. The location is Post Entry Quarantine Facility, 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham, Victoria 3064 (near Melbourne). Whichever airport they arrive at, the animal is transported here.

Quarantine period by group

Group 1: exempt from quarantine facility stay (where applicable).
Group 2: at least 10 days.
Group 3: at least 30 days. However, this may be shortened to 10 days if an official government veterinarian verified identity by microchip before the RNATT blood collection, or if a record of departure from Australia is proven.

If additional treatment, testing, or an extension is needed during quarantine, separate costs may apply.

Booking and enquiries

The quarantine facility has limited places, so advance booking is required and must match your entry and flight schedule. Enquiries about the facility, booking, and costs can be made on 1800 900 090 (within Australia) or +61 3 8318 6700 (from overseas). Check the latest availability on the official site.

Costs and overall timeline

The cost items below are subject to change, and quarantine facility fees are reviewed each year and adjusted on a cost-recovery basis. Be sure to check the actual amounts on the official DAFF 'Fees and charges' page, and the total can vary greatly depending on exchange rates, airfares, and whether you use an agent.

The total cost usually consists of the sum of several items.

Vet clinic costs in your country of origin such as microchip·rabies vaccine·parasite treatment·health check.
RNATT antibody test laboratory cost (Group 3).
Import permit application fee — charged separately for dogs and cats.
Mickleham quarantine facility accommodation·handling fees (proportional to the number of days) and additional charges for extra treatment or extensions.
International transport·air freight·quarantine facility transfer costs.

Timeline summary: DAFF advises allowing at least 6 months for the whole process. Group 3 proceeds in the order 'microchip → rabies vaccine → (3–4 weeks) → RNATT blood collection → 180-day wait → pre-departure check·documents → 10–30 days quarantine after entry'. It is safest to calculate the schedule backwards using the RNATT blood collection date and the 180-day wait as anchor points. Many people use a professional pet relocation agent because the process is complex, but the final responsibility and document checks rest with the owner.

Official sources

The links above are official pages of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Group classifications, test items, quarantine periods, and fees change from time to time, so please reconfirm the standards for your own country of origin and animal on the official site before and during your preparations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the preparation take?▾

DAFF advises allowing at least 6 months to complete all steps. In particular, Group 3 countries are required to observe a 180-day wait from the date the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory, on top of which the time for the vaccine, tests, import permit, and quarantine booking is added. Once your moving date is set, start preparing for your pet first.

How much does it cost?▾

It consists of the sum of vet clinic costs (microchip·vaccine·check), the RNATT test fee, the import permit fee (separate for dogs and cats), Mickleham quarantine facility accommodation·handling fees (proportional to days), and international transport costs. Quarantine facility fees are reviewed each year on a cost-recovery basis and therefore change, so the exact amount must be checked on the DAFF 'Fees and charges' page and in BICON.

What if my country is not on the group lists?▾

If your country of origin is a 'non-approved country' not in an approved group (1·2·3), you cannot send the animal directly to Australia. You must first have it reside continuously for at least 180 days in an approved Group 1·2·3 country immediately before departure, then complete the preparations under that country's standards. Tests and preparations done in a non-approved country are not recognised.

Do I have to do the same even for a short trip?▾

Yes. Australia applies the same biosecurity procedure (import permit·quarantine, etc.) to every dog and cat entering, regardless of the purpose or length of stay. Procedures are not waived just because it is a short visit, so for a short stay, carefully decide whether to bring your pet, taking into account the cost and quarantine burden.

Can the Mickleham quarantine period be reduced?▾

The default quarantine for Group 3 is at least 30 days, but it may be shortened to a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verified identity by microchip before the RNATT blood collection, or if a record of departure from Australia is proven with an Australian-issued export certificate. Group 2 is 10 days by default. The conditions for shortening must be met at the time of blood collection, so check with your veterinarian in advance.