Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Portugal → Australia
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Portugal publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. DGAV's page gives no fixed deadline or fee: the destination's requirements, which DGAV lists country by country in its Certific@+ system, decide what you need.
How early to start
about 7 months
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
about 6 months
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Portugal is in the group “Group 3 (rabies present but well controlled)” in Australia (from a Group 3 country)’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Australia
- Rabies blood test required
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine
- Government endorsement of certificate
- Extra disease test for some origins
- Some origins not allowed
What your dog needs
Dogs
Identification
ISO microchip
Your dog or cat needs a working ISO-compliant microchip (numbers starting 999 are not accepted), scanned at every vet visit and before any blood sample.
Details and the official words
“Your dog must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant.”
“Your cat must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Vaccinate with an approved rabies vaccine when your dog or cat is at least 84 days old. The vaccination must stay valid continuously from the RNATT until export. For a first vaccination, wait 3–4 weeks before the RNATT blood sample.
Details and the official words
“Wait 3-4 weeks between the rabies vaccination and the date a blood sample is taken for the RNATT.”
“Wait 3-4 weeks between rabies vaccination and the date a blood sample is taken for the RNATT”
Blood test
Rabies antibody test (RNATT)
A government-approved vet takes the blood sample (FAVN or RFFIT test, result 0.5 IU/ml or more). Your pet cannot be exported until at least 180 days after the sample ARRIVES at the laboratory, and the sample must be no more than 12 months old at export.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: If the RNATT is more than 12 months old at export, the pet must be retested and wait another 180 days.
“Your dog cannot be exported to Australia for at least 180 days after the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory.”
“The RNATT sample must be taken between 12 months and 180 days before the date of export.”
“Your cat cannot be exported to Australia for at least 180 days after the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory.”
“The RNATT sample must be taken between 12 months and 180 days before the date of export.”
Official stamp
RNATT declaration from your official government vet
Ask your country's competent authority for the country-specific RNATT declaration, completed, signed and stamped by an official government veterinarian, using the lab report and vaccination certificate.
Details and the official words
“Request an RNATT declaration from the competent authority in your country of export.”
“Request an RNATT declaration from the competent authority in your country of export.”
Permit
Apply for the Australian import permit (BICON)
Apply and pay in BICON with the RNATT lab report and declaration. Most permits are issued in 20–40 business days, but it can take up to 123 business days. The permit is valid until the RNATT expires.
Details and the official words
“Most permits are issued in 20-40 business days. It can take up to 123 business days in some cases.”
“Most permits are issued in 20-40 business days. It can take up to 123 business days in some cases.”
Quarantine
Book post-entry quarantine at Mickleham
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.
Details and the official words
“Your dog will stay at least 10 days in quarantine in Australia.”
“Your cat will stay at least 10 days in quarantine in Australia.”
Vaccination
Leptospira Canicola: vaccinate or test
Either keep your dog fully vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola (final primary dose or booster between 12 months and 14 days before export), or have a negative MAT blood test within 45 days of export.
Details and the official words
Test option instead: negative MAT test within 45 days of export.
“The annual revaccination (booster) or final vaccination of the primary course must be administered between 12 months and 14 days before export to Australia.”
Test
Brucella canis test (if not desexed)
If your dog is not desexed, a negative Brucella canis test (RSAT, TAT or IFAT) on a sample taken within 45 days of export.
Details and the official words
Desexed dogs skip this test.
“Test for Brucella canis (brucellosis) within 45 days of the date of export.”
Test
Leishmania infantum test
A negative Leishmania infantum test (standard quantitative IFAT or ELISA — not 'snap' tests) on a sample taken within 45 days of export.
Details and the official words
“Test for Leishmania infantum (leishmaniosis) within 45 days of the date of export.”
Treatment
Dogs: start tick and flea treatment at least 30 days before export
A government-approved vet starts a tick and flea treatment that kills on contact, at least 30 days before export, and keeps it effective until export.
Details and the official words
“Start at least 30 days before export and repeat according to manufacturer’s directions.”
Treatment
Internal parasite treatment #1
First of two treatments against nematodes and cestodes, within 45 days of export and at least 14 days before the second.
Details and the official words
“Your dog must be treated twice within 45 days before export.”
“Your cat must be treated twice within 45 days before export.”
Treatment
Internal parasite treatment #2
Second treatment, at least 14 days after the first and within 5 days before export (can be done at the final vet check).
Details and the official words
“The two treatments must be spaced at least 14 days apart. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before the export date.”
“The two treatments must be spaced at least 14 days apart. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before the export date.”
Vet exam
Final pre-export vet check
A government-approved vet examines your dog or cat for parasites and signs of disease within 5 days before export, and completes the veterinary health certificate.
Details and the official words
“Within 5 days before your dog’s export date.”
“Within 5 days before your cat’s export date.”
Paperwork
Health certificate endorsed by an official government vet
The official government veterinarian of your country endorses the country-specific veterinary health certificate and stamps every page of the lab reports, within 5 days before export and after the final vet check.
Details and the official words
Request the certificate in DGAV's Certific@+ system and collect the paper original: To get the certification the destination requires, use DGAV's Certific@+ system, where you have to register. Information about the health conditions required is also there, and you don't need to register to read it. After the certificate is issued, you must go to the DGAV office you are told to, to collect the health certificate: the paper document is essential for the trip.
DGAV's page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be: the destination's own requirements decide.
“Take the completed health certificate and laboratory test reports to the competent authority for endorsement by an official government veterinarian in the country of export.”
“Take the completed health certificate to the competent authority for endorsement by an official veterinarian in the country of export”
“Para obtenção da certificação exigida, deve utilizar um sistema informático denominado Certific@+”
“após emissão do certificado, será necessário que se desloque ao Serviço da DGAV que lhe for indicado”
“(documento em suporte físico essencial para a viagem)”
Only if the destination asks for it
Check · only if the destination asks
Identity verification by an official vet (optional)
Optional but recommended: have your country's official government veterinarian verify your pet's identity BEFORE the RNATT blood sample (at a separate visit). This cuts quarantine in Australia from at least 30 days to at least 10 days.
Details and the official words
“This is an optional step that can reduce the time your dog will need to stay in quarantine in Australia from minimum 30 days to minimum 10 days.”
“This is an optional step that will reduce the time your cat will need to stay in quarantine in Australia from a minimum of 30 days to a minimum of 10 days.”
Good to know
- Australia's own advice: this is a complex process — allow at least 6 months and consider an experienced pet transport agent.
- Banned in Australia: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canario, and some wolf hybrids.
- Your dog or cat must fly directly into Melbourne as manifested cargo (not in the cabin) in an IATA-approved crate, then go to the Mickleham quarantine facility.
- DGAV says its information is not exhaustive: the destination's health authorities can change their rules without notice. Plan ahead, because the destination may have to be consulted and that can take time.
- In most cases the trip needs certificates issued in Portugal. For some countries only official involvement in the animal's own documents is needed, and for a few no official involvement at all. DGAV has a page per destination and species where you can confirm which applies.
- Ask the transport company about the way your pet will be carried: the carrier's rules are separate.
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
What your cat needs
Cats
Identification
ISO microchip
Your dog or cat needs a working ISO-compliant microchip (numbers starting 999 are not accepted), scanned at every vet visit and before any blood sample.
Details and the official words
“Your dog must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant.”
“Your cat must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Vaccinate with an approved rabies vaccine when your dog or cat is at least 84 days old. The vaccination must stay valid continuously from the RNATT until export. For a first vaccination, wait 3–4 weeks before the RNATT blood sample.
Details and the official words
“Wait 3-4 weeks between the rabies vaccination and the date a blood sample is taken for the RNATT.”
“Wait 3-4 weeks between rabies vaccination and the date a blood sample is taken for the RNATT”
Blood test
Rabies antibody test (RNATT)
A government-approved vet takes the blood sample (FAVN or RFFIT test, result 0.5 IU/ml or more). Your pet cannot be exported until at least 180 days after the sample ARRIVES at the laboratory, and the sample must be no more than 12 months old at export.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: If the RNATT is more than 12 months old at export, the pet must be retested and wait another 180 days.
“Your dog cannot be exported to Australia for at least 180 days after the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory.”
“The RNATT sample must be taken between 12 months and 180 days before the date of export.”
“Your cat cannot be exported to Australia for at least 180 days after the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory.”
“The RNATT sample must be taken between 12 months and 180 days before the date of export.”
Official stamp
RNATT declaration from your official government vet
Ask your country's competent authority for the country-specific RNATT declaration, completed, signed and stamped by an official government veterinarian, using the lab report and vaccination certificate.
Details and the official words
“Request an RNATT declaration from the competent authority in your country of export.”
“Request an RNATT declaration from the competent authority in your country of export.”
Permit
Apply for the Australian import permit (BICON)
Apply and pay in BICON with the RNATT lab report and declaration. Most permits are issued in 20–40 business days, but it can take up to 123 business days. The permit is valid until the RNATT expires.
Details and the official words
“Most permits are issued in 20-40 business days. It can take up to 123 business days in some cases.”
“Most permits are issued in 20-40 business days. It can take up to 123 business days in some cases.”
Quarantine
Book post-entry quarantine at Mickleham
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.
Details and the official words
“Your dog will stay at least 10 days in quarantine in Australia.”
“Your cat will stay at least 10 days in quarantine in Australia.”
Treatment
Cats: start tick and flea treatment at least 21 days before export
A government-approved vet starts a tick and flea treatment that kills on contact, at least 21 days before export, and keeps it effective until export.
Details and the official words
“Start at least 21 days before export and repeat according to manufacturer directions”
Treatment
Internal parasite treatment #1
First of two treatments against nematodes and cestodes, within 45 days of export and at least 14 days before the second.
Details and the official words
“Your dog must be treated twice within 45 days before export.”
“Your cat must be treated twice within 45 days before export.”
Treatment
Internal parasite treatment #2
Second treatment, at least 14 days after the first and within 5 days before export (can be done at the final vet check).
Details and the official words
“The two treatments must be spaced at least 14 days apart. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before the export date.”
“The two treatments must be spaced at least 14 days apart. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before the export date.”
Vet exam
Final pre-export vet check
A government-approved vet examines your dog or cat for parasites and signs of disease within 5 days before export, and completes the veterinary health certificate.
Details and the official words
“Within 5 days before your dog’s export date.”
“Within 5 days before your cat’s export date.”
Paperwork
Health certificate endorsed by an official government vet
The official government veterinarian of your country endorses the country-specific veterinary health certificate and stamps every page of the lab reports, within 5 days before export and after the final vet check.
Details and the official words
Request the certificate in DGAV's Certific@+ system and collect the paper original: To get the certification the destination requires, use DGAV's Certific@+ system, where you have to register. Information about the health conditions required is also there, and you don't need to register to read it. After the certificate is issued, you must go to the DGAV office you are told to, to collect the health certificate: the paper document is essential for the trip.
DGAV's page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be: the destination's own requirements decide.
“Take the completed health certificate and laboratory test reports to the competent authority for endorsement by an official government veterinarian in the country of export.”
“Take the completed health certificate to the competent authority for endorsement by an official veterinarian in the country of export”
“Para obtenção da certificação exigida, deve utilizar um sistema informático denominado Certific@+”
“após emissão do certificado, será necessário que se desloque ao Serviço da DGAV que lhe for indicado”
“(documento em suporte físico essencial para a viagem)”
Only if the destination asks for it
Check · only if the destination asks
Identity verification by an official vet (optional)
Optional but recommended: have your country's official government veterinarian verify your pet's identity BEFORE the RNATT blood sample (at a separate visit). This cuts quarantine in Australia from at least 30 days to at least 10 days.
Details and the official words
“This is an optional step that can reduce the time your dog will need to stay in quarantine in Australia from minimum 30 days to minimum 10 days.”
“This is an optional step that will reduce the time your cat will need to stay in quarantine in Australia from a minimum of 30 days to a minimum of 10 days.”
Good to know
- Australia's own advice: this is a complex process — allow at least 6 months and consider an experienced pet transport agent.
- Your dog or cat must fly directly into Melbourne as manifested cargo (not in the cabin) in an IATA-approved crate, then go to the Mickleham quarantine facility.
- Banned in Australia: non-domestic cat hybrids, including Savannah, Safari, Chausie and (from 1 March 2026) Bengal cats, and any crossbred offspring. The ban comes from environmental protection law, so ask DCCEEW (exotic.species@dcceew.gov.au) about hybrids.
- When you plan to export your cat, it must not be under quarantine restrictions, more than 30 days pregnant or nursing kittens.
- DGAV says its information is not exhaustive: the destination's health authorities can change their rules without notice. Plan ahead, because the destination may have to be consulted and that can take time.
- In most cases the trip needs certificates issued in Portugal. For some countries only official involvement in the animal's own documents is needed, and for a few no official involvement at all. DGAV has a page per destination and species where you can confirm which applies.
- Ask the transport company about the way your pet will be carried: the carrier's rules are separate.
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Portugal to Australia?
Yes: A government-approved vet takes the blood sample (FAVN or RFFIT test, result 0.5 IU/ml or more).
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into Australia?
Yes: Apply and pay in BICON with the RNATT lab report and declaration.
Will my dog be quarantined in Australia?
It can be: 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.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: Your dog or cat needs a working ISO-compliant microchip (numbers starting 999 are not accepted), scanned at every vet visit and before any blood sample.