Bringing a dog or cat into Australia

The short version

• Rabies blood test required
• Import permit needed
• Quarantine
• Government endorsement of certificate
• Extra disease test for some origins
• Some origins not allowed

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

Australia sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (Australia: approved country groups for cat and dog imports, checked 2026-10-08).

• Hawaii (US-HI) and Guam are Group 2; the rest of the USA is Group 3.
• Denmark includes Greenland in Group 3.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. 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.”

2. 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”

3. 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.”

4. 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.”

5. 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.”

6. 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.”

7. 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.”

8. 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.”

9. 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.”

10. 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

    “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”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Leptospira Canicola: vaccinate or test

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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.”

2. Vaccination

   Canine influenza vaccination

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and you travel from United States or South Korea

   Dogs from the USA and South Korea must be fully vaccinated against canine influenza; a first primary course must be completed at least 14 days before export.

   Details and the official words

   “Dogs from the United States of America (USA), the Republic of South Korea must be fully vaccinated against Canine influenza (CIV) for import to Australia.”

3. Vaccination

   Canine influenza: vaccinate, or isolate and test

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and you travel from Canada

   Dogs from Canada must either be fully vaccinated against canine influenza, or be isolated from other dogs for 10 days before export with a negative PCR test on a swab taken within 7 days of export.

   Details and the official words

   “Dogs coming from Canada to Australia must”

4. Test

   Brucella canis test (if not desexed)

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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.”

5. Test

   Leishmania infantum test

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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.”

6. Treatment

   Dogs: start tick and flea treatment at least 30 days before export

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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.”

7. Treatment

   Cats: start tick and flea treatment at least 21 days before export

   Applies when: your pet is a cat

   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”

Only if the destination asks for it

1. 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.”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not allowed · The country you travel from is in the group: Not approved for cat/dog export to Australia

  Australia does not accept dogs or cats exported from this country. Your pet would need to live in an approved country and complete every step there (at least 180 days) before flying to Australia.

• Not allowed · The country you travel from is in the group: Group 2 — approved, but no negotiated health certificate yet or Group 3 — approved, but no negotiated health certificate yet

  This country is approved, but Australia has not yet agreed a health certificate with it — so dogs can't currently be exported from here to Australia.

• Not covered by us yet · The country you travel from is in the group: Group 1 (New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Cocos Islands) or Group 2 (rabies-free)

  We have verified Australia's Group 3 pathway (dogs and cats) only. The Group 1 and Group 2 pathways are not covered yet.

Restricted breeds

Banned in Australia: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canario, and some wolf hybrids.

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.

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.
• When you plan to export your cat, it must not be under quarantine restrictions, more than 30 days pregnant or nursing kittens.When: Your pet is a cat