Bringing a dog or cat to Australia
From easy to hard, depending on which of the authority's 8 origin groups your pet starts in.
Requirements
It depends on where you're coming from. Pick your country, or compare the origin groups the authority itself uses below.
Dog from Germany (Group 3): 23 requirements
Open as my dated checklist- 01MicrochipISO-compliant microchip before starting (10 or 15 digits; numbers starting 999 refused), scanned at each visit and before any blood sample; its number must be on every document — corrected lab reports are refused.
- 02OPTIONALOfficial microchip checkOptional but recommended: official government veterinarian verifies identity (country template) before — and not at the same visit as — the RNATT blood draw, and sends it directly to DAFF. Pet passports or chip certificates are not accepted instead. Reduces quarantine from at least 30 to at least 10 days.
- At least 180 days before departure
- Before the blood sample — not at the same vet visit as the RNATT blood draw
- 03Rabies vaccinationApproved rabies vaccine given at 84 days of age or older, by a government approved vet, approved for dogs in the export country; must stay valid continuously from the RNATT sample to export (boosters on or before the due date). A lapse means revaccination, a new RNATT and a new 180-day wait. 3-year vaccines accepted if given per label. DAFF suggests 3–4 weeks between a first vaccination and the RNATT blood draw.
- 04Rabies antibody (titer) testRabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT): blood taken by a government approved vet in an approved country, tested by FAVN or RFFIT at a lab recognised by the export country's government (can be in another approved country); result ≥0.5 IU/ml. Sample taken between 12 months and 180 days before export; export no earlier than 180 days after the sample ARRIVES at the lab (no exceptions). Valid 12 months from sampling — retest before expiry (sample must reach the lab within 12 months of the first) to avoid restarting the 180 days. English lab report on the testing lab's letterhead.
- At least 180 days and at most 365 days before departure — blood sampling date; DAFF equates 12 months with 365 days
- At least 3 weeks after the rabies vaccination — after a first rabies vaccination (3–4 weeks); regularly vaccinated dogs may not need to wait
- 05Waiting periodExport no earlier than 180 days after the RNATT blood sample arrives at the laboratory — no exceptions (a residency period, not quarantine). Counted from the lab's receipt date, not the sampling date.
- At least 180 days after the lab receives the sample
- 06Official titer declarationRNATT declaration on the country-specific template, completed, signed and stamped by an official government veterinarian (not the preparing vet) from the vaccination certificate and lab report; microchip, result and sampling date must match exactly; name the testing (not submitting) lab. Needed for the permit application.
- 07Residence periodContinuously resident in an approved country (or countries) for at least 180 days immediately before export; a stay in a non-approved country restarts it. Quarantine time in the approved country does not count.
- At least 180 days before departure
- 08Condition of the animalNot more than 30 days pregnant, not nursing, not under quarantine restrictions at export.
- 09Import permitApply in BICON after the RNATT declaration, uploading the RNATT lab report and declaration (and the identity declaration or Australian export certificate for the 10-day quarantine); pay in full on submission. Most permits take 20–40 business days, up to 123. Valid until the RNATT expires (12 months from blood sampling) and must be valid on arrival.
- 10Quarantine bookingBook Mickleham PEQ online after the permit is granted (partial payment at booking); airline "OK to Forward" approval before departure.
- 11One of the following
- 11aOther vaccinationsFully vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola (usually 2 doses 2–4 weeks apart, then yearly boosters); the booster or final primary dose between 12 months and 14 days before export.
- At least 14 days before departure
- At most 12 months before departure
- 11bDisease testNegative Leptospira Canicola microscopic agglutination test (MAT) within 45 days before export.
- At most 45 days before departure
- 12Disease testNegative Brucella canis test (standard RSAT, TAT/SAT or IFAT; 2ME and AGID variants refused) within 45 days before export; no mating/insemination in the 21 days before sampling or after it. Pregnant dogs only if not more than 30 days pregnant.
- At most 45 days before departure
- Only if: Only for entire (not neutered) animals
- 13Disease testNegative Leishmania infantum test (standard quantitative IFAT or ELISA) within 45 days before export.
- At most 45 days before departure
- 14Parasite treatmentExternal parasites: product killing ticks and fleas on contact applied by a government approved vet, starting at least 30 days before export and repeated per label until export; restart if parasites are found. Oral isoxazolines (Bravecto, NexGard…), selamectin and tick collars are not accepted.
- At least 30 days before departure
- 15Parasite treatmentInternal parasites (nematodes and cestodes), first of two treatments — within 45 days before export, ≥14 days before the second.
- At most 45 days before departure
- 16Parasite treatmentInternal parasites, second treatment within 5 days before export (can be at the final vet check).
- At most 5 days before departure
- At least 14 days after step "Internal-1"
- 17Parasite treatmentImidocarb dipropionate (7.5 mg/kg once, or 6.0 mg/kg twice 14 days apart, subcutaneous) within 28 days before export.
- At most 28 days before departure
- Only if: the dog has ever visited mainland Africa
- 18Health certificatePre-export clinical exam within 5 days before export by a government approved or official vet; the country-specific veterinary health certificate (blank from the competent authority) completed by the approved vet and endorsed — every page signed and stamped — by an official government veterinarian within 5 days before export, together with the RNATT, Leishmania, Brucella and (if not vaccinated) Leptospira reports. Originals with wet-ink stamps travel with the dog, plus the permit and RNATT declaration.
- At most 5 days before departure
- 19Transport rulesManifested cargo (not cabin) in an IATA-approved crate, nothing else in the crate. Transit anywhere; transhipment only in an approved country, staying airside under the competent authority's supervision.
- 20Port of entryDirectly into Melbourne International Airport (MEL); no domestic transfers (e.g. via Sydney).
- 21Arrival inspectionDAFF collects the dog at Melbourne airport and takes it to Mickleham; health and documents are checked. Landing windows: Mon, Tue, Sat, Sun 05:00–14:30; Wed–Fri 05:00–21:00; out-of-hours fees for weekends, holidays and after 14:30. Release only after the account is paid in full.
- 22Breed declarationState the breed in the permit application and sign that the dog is not an ineligible breed.
Dog from Germany: 23 requirements.
In short: Rabies vaccine, titer test (≥0.5 IU/ml) and a 180-day wait counted from the lab's receipt of the sample; official RNATT declaration; import permit; leptospirosis vaccine or test, Brucella canis (if entire) and Leishmania tests; supervised parasite treatments; endorsed certificate; manifested cargo direct to Melbourne; at least 30 days quarantine (10 with an official identity check before the titer blood draw).
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Compare by origin group
The groups are the authority's own lists. Pick a cell to see that group's checklist above.
| From | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
Group 1 new zealand 1 placeNew Zealand | ||
Group 1 norfolk island 1 placeNorfolk Island | ||
Group 1 cocos islands From Cocos (Keeling) Islands: cat 1 placeCocos (Keeling) Islands | ||
Group 2 17 placesAmerican Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu | ||
Group 2 no certificate 10 placesChristmas Island, Cook Islands, Iceland, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna | ||
Group 3 58 placesArgentina, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Réunion, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay | ||
Group 3 no certificate 10 placesAntigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Seychelles | ||
Not approved (every country not listed elsewhere) |
Quarantine
Quarantine: at least 30 days at a government quarantine station
At least 10 days at a government quarantine station when an official government veterinarian verified the dog's identity before the RNATT blood sample, or the dog is of Australian origin with its identity on the Australian export certificate
Official fees
- import permit, first animal in consignmentDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 626 per consignment
- import permit, each additional animalDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 299 per animal
- PEQ reservation charge (non-refundable)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 282 per animal
- PEQ importation charge (non-refundable)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 1,132 per animal
- PEQ 30-day accommodation (AUD 56 per day)Only 30-day quarantine (no official identity check before the RNATT)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 1,680 per animal
- PEQ 10-day accommodation (with identity check)Only 10-day quarantine (official identity check before the RNATT, or Australian-origin pet)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 560 per animal
- DAFF estimate, total government cost with 30 days quarantineOnly 30-day quarantine (no official identity check before the RNATT)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 4,234 per animal
- DAFF estimate, total government cost with 10 days quarantineOnly 10-day quarantine (official identity check before the RNATT, or Australian-origin pet)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
- AUD 3,114 per animal
Official fees only. Vet, airline and courier prices are not part of the rules.
Going back to Germany
Returning to Germany from Australia: 0 weeks; a rabies antibody test is needed. Timing set by: Rabies antibody (titer) test.
Germany guideApproved entry points
Airports: MEL
2 notes on this list
Applies to Group 2 and Group 3 origins (post-entry quarantine at Mickleham is the only facility).
Only Mickleham (Melbourne) offers post-entry quarantine for cats and dogs.
List as of 24 Sep 2026Any port of entry.
Note on this list
Pets from New Zealand, Norfolk Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are cleared at any first point of entry (air or sea) — see those rules. By sea, the port must be a first point of entry for live cats and dogs.
List as of 24 Sep 2026
Breed bans
- Banned from import · dogs
- dogo Argentino
- fila Brasileiro
- Japanese tosa
- American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
- Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario
Customs regulation 3(1) makes the Schedule 1 goods an absolute import prohibition.
Mixed-breed dogs, including mixes of these breeds, are not restricted by this ban (DAFF FAQ).
Ownership restrictions on these breeds inside Australia are set by states and territories — not researched.
- Banned from import · dogs
- Czechoslovakian wolfdog (Czechoslovakian Vlcak)
- Saarloos wolfdog
- Lupo Italiano (Italian wolfdog)
- Kunming wolfdog
Crosses of these breeds included.
Any domestic × wild hybrid (e.g. dog–wolf) is excluded under the EPBC Act; the list is 'not limited to' these breeds. Ask DCCEEW (exotic.species@dcceew.gov.au).
- Banned from import · cats
- Savannah cat (any serval ancestry)
Crosses of these breeds included.
- Banned from import · cats
- Safari cat
- Chausie
- Bengal cat
- other domestic × wild cat hybrids
Crosses of these breeds included.
Official sources differ on when the Bengal ban started — DAFF guides say 1 March 2026; the DCCEEW news release (Dec 2024) says 1 March 2025 and ended the "5 generations" exemption. Either way Bengal cats cannot be imported now.
DAFF's wording of the Bengal change.
The New Zealand guide still says Bengal cats are banned 'except in some cases' in its list, next to the same 'no longer permitted' notice — treat Bengals as banned.
Transit through Australia
Transit rules for Australia have not been researched yet. Ask the authority and your airline before booking a connection with the pet.
Leaving Australia with your pet
A pet leaving Australia loses its Australian health status immediately; plan the return before departure.
To keep a quick return possible from Group 3 or non-approved countries, vaccinate against rabies and do an RNATT at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP, ≥0.5 IU/ml) before leaving, then keep both valid overseas.
Short trips (under 45 days) may qualify for adjusted "short-stay" conditions — say so in the permit application.
Australian export requirements (export certificate, DAFF export permit) were not researched.
Our note, not a rule.
Rule changes
- ANNOUNCED
DAFF is reforming the import pathway for assistance animals to include cats (no date given).
Good to know
Legal basis — live animals may be brought into Australia only if covered by an import permit or if the Determination sets "alternative conditions" (it does so only for cats and dogs from New Zealand and Norfolk Island).
Australia sorts approved origin countries into Group 1, 2 and 3 by disease risk; any other country is "not approved" and pets cannot be imported from it directly.
Group 1 and 2 countries are recognised as rabies-free; Group 3 countries are not.
The permit, not the web guide, is what counts: each pet's import permit lists its exact conditions and quarantine period. Non-compliant pets can be held longer, tested, re-exported or euthanised at the owner's cost.
DAFF warns that conditions can change without notice.
Middle East conflict — DAFF asks owners affected by the conflict to contact it, but says the requirements for pets from Middle Eastern countries have not changed.
Pet passports, vaccination cards and microchip certificates are not accepted in place of the official identity check.
Heat — December to February temperatures can exceed 40 °C; DAFF advises early-morning or late arrivals and extra care for brachycephalic, long-haired, overweight or unwell animals.
Source:Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) (opens official site: Quarantine in Australia)· checked 25 Sep 2026Flea and tick products that need a bite to work are refused for the external parasite treatment — isoxazolines (Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica, Credelio), selamectin (Revolution) — and so are tick collars. DAFF lists accepted products per species.
No upper age limit — DAFF does not refuse a permit because of age, but warns that old or sick animals cope badly with the flight and quarantine.
Part of the quarantine fee is paid when booking; the rest before release.
Owners cannot visit their pet in post-entry quarantine.
After release, register the pet with the local council / state (registration, microchip database, fees); DAFF is not involved.
Pets on private or chartered flights need permit conditions for that mode of travel, a Notice of Intent at least 3 business days before departure, and (from Group 2/3) must land at a first point of entry in Victoria; pets on the same flight may all get the longest quarantine period of any of them.
Questions about Australia
Answered in plain words from the authorities' own pages, each linked to the page it comes from. Confirm with the authority before travelling.
01How much does it cost to bring a cat or dog to Australia?
The department estimates about AUD 3,114 for one cat or dog that spends the minimum 10 days in quarantine. For one that spends the minimum 30 days, the estimate is AUD 4,234.
02How long will my pet have to stay in quarantine in Australia?
Every cat and dog spends at least 10 - 30 days, and up to 180 days, at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility in Melbourne. The stay can be longer if problems come up that raise the biosecurity risk.
03Can my cat or dog fly to Australia in the cabin with me?
No. Cats and dogs have to fly to Australia as manifest cargo, which means the animal can be traced.
04Which Australian airport does my pet have to arrive at?
Your pet has to fly directly into Melbourne International Airport, where the department takes it to the quarantine facility. It cannot land at a different Australian airport and then continue to Melbourne on a domestic flight.
05Which dog breeds are banned from entering Australia?
Australia bars pure-bred dogs of these breeds: Japanese Tosa, dogo Argentino, Presa Canario (Perro de Presa Canario), fila Brasileiro, and pit bull terrier, including the American pit bull terrier. Mixed-breed dogs can still be imported, even when they are crosses of these breeds.
06Can I bring a Bengal, Savannah or other hybrid cat to Australia?
No. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, cats that are crosses between domestic and wild cats are banned. This includes Savannah, Safari, Chausie and Bengal cats. When you apply for the permit, you must give your cat's breed and sign a declaration that it is not an ineligible breed.
07How early should I start preparing my pet for the move to Australia?
The department recommends starting at least 7 months before export if you are exporting from a category 3 country. From a category 2 country, where no rabies preparations are needed, it recommends starting at least 6 months ahead.
08What kind of microchip does my pet need for Australia?
The microchip must be readable by an ISO compatible reader, and its number should be 10 or 15 digits long. Chip numbers that start with 999 are not accepted, and neither are 9-digit AVID chips.
09Can I bring my pet to Australia from a country that isn't on the approved list?
Possibly. Your pet must first live without a break in an approved Group 1, 2 or 3 country for 180 days or more right before export. It must also fully meet all other import conditions for that approved country.
10What does my pet need to qualify for the shortest (10-day) quarantine?
To qualify for the minimum 10-day quarantine, the competent authority of the export country must check your pet's identity before blood is drawn for the RNAT (rabies antibody) test.
11Which flea and tick treatments are accepted for Australia?
The product has to kill fleas and ticks on contact. Tablets like NexGard or Bravecto don't count, because they only work after the parasite has bitten. Tick collars are also refused, because they can come off and some weather makes them less effective.
12My pet is returning to Australia — can it skip the 180-day waiting period?
An exemption may be considered in only one case. The pet must have had an RNATT result of 0.5IU/ml or higher before it left Australia. It must also be coming back from an approved country within 12 months of that test's blood sample date. No other circumstances qualify.
Checklists to Australia
Step-by-step route pages for the origins people move from most, dated timeline and all.
No traveller reports for Australia yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.
Share your tripEvery official page behind this guide, with the last day its text was confirmed unchanged.
- Cats and dogs frequently asked questions (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Cats and dogs returning to Australia (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- External and internal parasite treatment (dogs and cats) — accepted products (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Fees and charges — post-entry quarantine for cats and dogs (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Glossary of terms for import of cats and dogs to Australia (Group 1/2/3 lists, definitions) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
Show all 23 sources
- How to bring your cat or dog to Australia from New Zealand (Group 1 country) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- How to bring your cat or dog to Australia from Norfolk Island (Group 1 country) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- How to bring your cat to Australia from a Group 2 country (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- How to bring your cat to Australia from a Group 3 country (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- How to bring your cat to Australia from Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Group 1 territory) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- How to bring your dog to Australia from a Group 2 country (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- How to bring your dog to Australia from a Group 3 country (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Import permits for cats and dogs coming to Australia (application, documents, fees, validity) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Live cats and dogs arriving on private or chartered flights (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Our facility — Post-Entry Quarantine Facility, Mickleham (booking, arrival windows, medication, release) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Quarantine in Australia (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Rabies vaccination and tests for cats and dogs coming to Australia (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Step-by-step guides to bring your cat or dog to Australia (approved-country lists; countries without a certificate) (opens official site)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- New policy for importing Bengal cats (news, 10 December 2024) (opens official site)Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) · checked 25 Sep 2026
- Biosecurity (Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Determination 2021, ss 5, 11, 12, 14 (opens official site)Federal Register of Legislation · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, reg 3(1) and Schedule 1 item 26 (opens official site)Federal Register of Legislation · checked 24 Sep 2026
- List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import (EPBC Act s 303EB), Part 1 — domestic dog and cat (opens official site)Federal Register of Legislation (instrument prepared by DCCEEW) · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Pet Travel From the United States to Australia (exporting-country authority; corroboration only) (opens official site)U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · checked 04 Oct 2026