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BRINGING A CAT FROMAustralia to United Kingdom

Cat · Moving

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Prep time about 4 weeks

No quarantine when the paperwork is in order. Needs port of entry, transport rules, microchip, rabies vaccination, animal health certificate, health certificate, owner's declaration, non-commercial limits and customs declaration.

Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.

Entry requirements

Tap the seal to stamp a step done.0 OF 9 STAMPED
Source:Defra / APHA (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (printable guide))· checked 24 Sep 2026

Great Britain pet health certificate signed by a government-authorised official vet within 10 days of arrival; no titer test; air cargo on an approved route.

01
Port of entry
before travel

Travel on an APHA-approved route and carrier — see the entry points (commercial airlines fly pets into London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Newcastle as of 2026-09-22). Link to the live list.

DETAILS +

Travel on an APHA-approved route and carrier — see the entry points (commercial airlines fly pets into London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Newcastle as of 2026-09-22). Link to the live list.

Source:APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Pet travel: approved air, sea and rail carriers and routes)· checked 04 Oct 2026
02
Transport rules
before travel

By plane the pet must travel as cargo (not in the cabin), except on chartered private planes or for assistance dogs. By private boat only from Ireland or Northern Ireland.

DETAILS +

By plane the pet must travel as cargo (not in the cabin), except on chartered private planes or for assistance dogs. By private boat only from Ireland or Northern Ireland.

03
Microchip
on or before the rabies vaccination

Microchip before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination (otherwise revaccinate). ISO 11784/11785 chips are read on arrival; with a non-ISO chip you may have to bring your own reader. An unreadable chip means refusal or quarantine.

DETAILS +

Microchip before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination (otherwise revaccinate). ISO 11784/11785 chips are read on arrival; with a non-ISO chip you may have to bring your own reader. An unreadable chip means refusal or quarantine.

before or on the day of the rabies vaccination

04
Rabies vaccination
21+ days before arrival

Inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine at ≥12 weeks of age. Travel no earlier than 21 full days after the first vaccination (or the last dose of the primary course); day 1 is the day after vaccination. No wait after a booster if there was no gap in cover.

DETAILS +

Inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine at ≥12 weeks of age. Travel no earlier than 21 full days after the first vaccination (or the last dose of the primary course); day 1 is the day after vaccination. No wait after a booster if there was no gap in cover.

21 full days after the primary vaccination (day 1 = the day after); no wait after an in-date booster

05
Animal health certificate
within 10 days before arrival

Great Britain pet health certificate (GOV.UK form), signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian authorised by the origin government. A pet passport or a GB AHC cannot be used from a Part 2 country.

DETAILS +

Great Britain pet health certificate (GOV.UK form), signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian authorised by the origin government. A pet passport or a GB AHC cannot be used from a Part 2 country.

Source:APHA (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Pet travel: apply for a Great Britain pet health certificate)· checked 04 Oct 2026
06
Health certificate
before travel

Only for cats from Australia: certificate from the Australian Department of Agriculture that the cat was not exposed to Hendra virus in the 60 days before leaving.

DETAILS +

Only for cats from Australia: certificate from the Australian Department of Agriculture that the cat was not exposed to Hendra virus in the 60 days before leaving.

07
Owner's declaration
before travel

Fill in the pet travel declaration that the pet will not be sold or its ownership transferred.

DETAILS +

Fill in the pet travel declaration that the pet will not be sold or its ownership transferred.

08
Non-commercial limits
before travel

Max 5 pets unless attending/training for a competition, show or sporting event (all over 6 months old, with written evidence). More than 5 pets, pet arriving more than 5 days before/after the owner, or sale/rehoming → commercial "Balai" rules instead.

DETAILS +

Max 5 pets unless attending/training for a competition, show or sporting event (all over 6 months old, with written evidence). More than 5 pets, pet arriving more than 5 days before/after the owner, or sale/rehoming → commercial "Balai" rules instead.

09
Customs declaration
before travel

Arriving from outside the EU, the pet is released only after customs clearance (usually done by an agent, the airline or travel company).

DETAILS +

Arriving from outside the EU, the pet is released only after customs clearance (usually done by an agent, the airline or travel company).

No quarantine when the paperwork is in order

If the pet does not meet the rules: Quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if the pet came by sea; the owner pays any fees or charges.

Source:Defra / APHA (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Put your pet in rabies quarantine)· checked 04 Oct 2026
+1 more
Also:Defra / APHA (GOV.UK)

Timeline

Working out your dates…

Documents

One paper per requirement above; carry originals. 0 of 6 ready.

Official fees

The official pages we researched for this route name no fee. Vet, lab and airline charges are not covered here.

Entry points

Where a pet may enter the United Kingdom, per the rules.

Airlines

Airline rules are separate from entry rules and change without notice — confirm in writing when you book. Only what the carriers' own pages say, read 25 Sep 2026. All airlines

  • Lufthansa LH
    CabinYes
    HoldYes
    Snub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
  • Emirates EK
    CabinNo
    HoldYes
    Snub-nosedCargo: only Nov – Apr
  • ANA (All Nippon Airways) NHhold: cargo only on this route
    CabinNo
    HoldYes, up to 45 kg incl. crate
    Snub-nosedHold: not 1 May – 31 Oct
  • Qantas QF
    CabinNo
    HoldCargo only
    Snub-nosedNot stated
  • Delta Air Lines DLcabin: not on this route
    CabinYes
    HoldNo
    Snub-nosedHold, cargo: no
  • KLM KLcabin / hold: not on this route
    CabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cm
    HoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crate
    Snub-nosedHold: no
  • Air France AFcabin / hold: cargo only on this route
    CabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cm
    HoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crate
    Snub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
  • British Airways BAcargo: conditions on this route
    CabinNo
    HoldCargo only
    Snub-nosedCargo: restricted
  • Qatar Airways QRhold: cargo only on this route
    CabinNo
    HoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crate
    Snub-nosedHold: restricted

Announced changes

Return trip to Australia

Hard for a returning pet (no separate returning-resident rule; standard import rules apply), about 30 weeks of preparation. Quarantine: at least 30 days at a government quarantine station.

  • Rabies antibody (titer) test — the blood draw must happen before you leave, so plan it into the outbound trip: RNATT by FAVN or RFFIT, ≥0.5 IU/ml, sample taken by a government approved vet in an approved country between 12 months and 180 days before export; export at least 180 days after the sample arrives at the lab; valid 12 months from sampling.
  • Waiting period — 180+ days after the lab receives the sample: Export 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.
  • Residence period — 180+ days before departure: Continuously resident in approved countries for at least 180 days immediately before export.
  • Import permit: BICON permit applied for after the RNATT declaration, with the lab report and declaration; 20–40 business days typical, up to 123; valid until the RNATT expires.
  • Quarantine booking: Book Mickleham PEQ after the permit is granted; airline "OK to Forward" approval before departure.
Source:Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) (opens official site: How to bring your cat to Australia from a Group 3 country)· checked 25 Sep 2026
+2 more
Also:U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)

Full checklist for a cat from United Kingdom to Australia

Leaving United Kingdom with the pet

  • Leaving Great Britain with a pet is not researched yet — GOV.UK covers it under "taking your pet abroad".
Source:Defra / APHA (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (printable guide))· checked 24 Sep 2026

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Sources

Every requirement above comes from one of these pages. Last researched 24 Sep 2026. Seen a change? Tell us.

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