Requirement
Quarantine for pet travel: what it is and who requires it
When your pet is kept after arrival, and how to avoid it. What a quarantine is, why authorities require it, and the exact requirement in every country we cover, quoted from the official source.
Updated 2026-10-12
Quarantine means your pet is held at an approved facility, or sometimes at home, after arrival. Where it applies it is usually the result of a missing or incomplete preparation, or of coming from a higher-risk place.
Quarantine length ranges from none to many days or months, so it is worth understanding whether your route can avoid it by meeting the conditions beforehand.
What to watch for
- Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore all link quarantine to where your pet comes from and what you completed before travel.
- South Korea does not quarantine a pet that arrives with the right documents; it may hold one that lacks a microchip, a titer or a certificate, at the owner’s cost.
Who requires it, and exactly how
Each entry below is taken from the country’s rule file and links to the page it comes from. Where a rule only applies to some pets or origins, the condition is shown.
- Entering
Book post-entry quarantine at Mickleham
For every pet
After the permit is issued, book your pet's stay at the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility (at least 10 days with identity verification, otherwise at least 30 days) and arrange the flight.
“Your dog will stay at least 10 days in quarantine in Australia.”
- Entering
Book quarantine
The country you travel from is in the group: Group IIIA — rabies vaccination + blood test; at least 30 days' quarantine or Group IIIB — at least 120 days' quarantine
Pets from Group IIIA stay at least 30 days, and from Group IIIB at least 120 days, in quarantine (AFCD's Animal Management Centre or the SPCA licensed centre), at your cost. Submit the booking form (PC100) with your documents to join the waiting list.
“The estimated average waiting time for AFCD quarantine facility is approximately 3 months for dogs and 6 months for cats at present.”
- Entering
Quarantine observation if there is doubt
For every pet
Pets under the baggage rule are not routinely quarantined, but AQCS can keep a pet under quarantine observation if in doubt. AQCS's page says final clearance will be issued after 30 days.
“Pets under baggage can also be quarantined in case of doubt.”
- Entering
Quarantine on arrival: book a space at an Animal Quarantine Station
The country you travel from is in the group: Non-scheduled country: at least 7 days' quarantine on arrival or Australia: its own DVS document; at least 10 clear days' quarantine and a Hendra virus test
Pets from non-scheduled countries are quarantined for at least 7 days at an Animal Quarantine Station on arrival (pets from Australia: at least 10 clear days); it can be extended up to 6 months after a risk assessment. MAQIS says to book the space 14 days before the import date (form MK1, with a non-refundable deposit). Pets from scheduled countries skip this.
“Upon arrival the animal shall be placed in quarantine and may be vaccinated with approved anti-rabies vaccine and detained in quarantine for compulsory period of not less than seven (7) days.”
- Entering
Book a quarantine place in New Zealand (at least 10 days)
The country you travel from is in the group: Category 2: countries recognised as rabies free or Category 3: specified countries where rabies is absent or well controlled
After arrival your pet goes straight to the quarantine (transitional) facility named on the import permit and stays at least 10 days, with a vet inspection within 72 hours of arrival and again at the end. You get a signed quarantine booking form from the facility and include it in the permit application. The stay can be longer, for example if parasites are found.
“The cat or dog must remain in quarantine for a minimum period of 10 days; and”
- Entering
Book 30 days' quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Centre
The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule III — rabies vaccination + serology + at least 30 days' quarantine
Pets from Schedule III countries stay at least 30 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre and are vaccinated against rabies on arrival. Reserve the space in the Quarantine Management System (QMS) once the serology result is ready, with your pet's vaccination records.
“For animals arriving from Schedule III countries, post-arrival quarantine of at least 30-days at AQC is required.”
- Entering
10-day home quarantine (pet not arriving with you)
The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel and someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it)
Because your pet isn't arriving within 5 days of you, it needs at least 10 days of home quarantine (with a smart collar tag, S$29 per day). Apply for home quarantine first — AVS replies within 5 working days — then apply for the import licence.
“A minimum 10-day home quarantine is required for pets imported using a personal import license that do not satisfy the conditions above.”
- Entering
Dogs from some countries: 14 days' quarantine on arrival
Your pet is a dog and the country you travel from is in the group: Dogs from this country are quarantined for 14 days on arrival and re-tested
Dogs from countries not on the department's list are quarantined for 14 days on arrival, re-tested for the five diseases at the owner's expense, and may only arrive through OR Tambo (Johannesburg) or Cape Town. Before a quarantine booking is confirmed you must sign an indemnity form (the original, not a copy).
“Quarantine of 14 days will be imposed on some dogs, depending on the country of origin of the dog.”