Every pet entering Australia from the US must spend time in quarantine at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility near Melbourne. The duration is either 10 days or 30 days. The difference between those two numbers comes down to a single step in the process: identity verification. This article explains exactly what identity verification is, when it must happen, and how to make sure your pet qualifies for the shorter 10-day stay.
What determines quarantine duration?
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) assigns quarantine duration based on whether your pet's identity was verified by two separate USDA-accredited veterinarians before the RNATT blood draw.
- 10-day quarantine: Identity verification was completed before the RNATT blood draw
- 30-day quarantine: Identity verification was not completed, or was completed after the blood draw
That's it. There is no appeals process, no discretionary assessment, and no way to change the duration after the fact. The documentation either shows that verification happened before the blood draw, or it doesn't.
Identity verification must be completed before the RNATT blood draw. If it happens after, your pet's quarantine is automatically 30 days instead of 10. There are no exceptions.
What is identity verification?
For US pets it works like this: two separate USDA-accredited vets at two different clinics each independently verify your pet's identity. Each vet scans the microchip, photographs the scan showing the chip number, and submits their own identity declaration to USDA through VEHCS (the Veterinary Export Health Certification System). USDA reviews and endorses both declarations. The final endorsed document goes directly to DAFF.
Both vets must be USDA-accredited in the state where they examine your pet. And here's the part that saves you a trip: the second vet can draw blood for the RNATT on the same day as the identity verification scan - as long as the scan happens before the blood is taken.
The two identity verification visits must be at two different clinics with two different USDA-accredited vets. They can be on the same day if logistics allow - but they cannot be the same vet and they cannot be at the same clinic.
The correct sequence:
- Microchip confirmed
- Rabies vaccination
- Identity verification Visit 1: first USDA-accredited vet scans microchip, photographs it, submits declaration through VEHCS
- Identity verification Visit 2: second USDA-accredited vet (different clinic) does the same. Can draw blood for the RNATT on the same day - but scan must come first.
- RNATT blood draw (after both identity verification visits are complete)
- 180-day wait from lab receipt date
- Once RNATT results are back: obtain RNATT Declaration from USDA through VEHCS
- Apply for import permit (can be done during the 180-day wait)
Why does the sequence matter?
Australia's logic is straightforward: the RNATT blood test is only meaningful if you can prove the blood came from the specific animal that was vaccinated. Identity verification establishes that chain of custody. If verification happens after the blood draw, there's no documented proof that the blood sample came from the verified animal.
From a practical standpoint, this seems overly strict - your vet knows your pet, and the microchip is unique. But Australian biosecurity regulations don't operate on "seems reasonable." They operate on documented evidence in the correct sequence. The regulation is clear and applied without exception.
How to find two USDA-accredited vets
Most people already have a primary vet. If that vet is USDA-accredited, that's one verification done. You then need a second accredited vet for the other verification.
Here's how to find them:
- Check the USDA Vet Search database. Use the USDA Accredited Veterinarian Search to find accredited vets near you. Filter by your state and city.
- Call and ask specifically about Australian export paperwork. Not all accredited vets have done it before. Ask: "Have you done identity verification for a pet being exported to Australia?" If the answer is no, ask if they're willing to learn - the paperwork isn't complex, but they need to know what to sign and how to format it.
- Ask in expat communities. The US to Australia pet import Facebook group often has recommendations for vets in major US cities who have done this before.
- Book both appointments before the blood draw. Schedule the two identity verification visits first, then schedule the blood draw after both are complete.
For a full guide on finding the right vet, read how to find a USDA-accredited vet who actually knows Australian export paperwork.
What if I already had the blood draw?
If the blood draw has already happened and identity verification wasn't done beforehand, your pet will be assigned 30-day quarantine. There is no way to retroactively fix this.
You have two options:
- Accept the 30-day quarantine. This adds approximately 20 extra days in quarantine and roughly AUD 1,100 in additional costs. Your pet will be well cared for at Mickleham - the facility is professional and modern. It's not ideal, but it's manageable.
- Redo the entire RNATT. Complete the identity verification now, then get a new rabies vaccination booster, wait 30 days, do a new blood draw, and wait another 180 days from the new lab receipt date. This resets your entire timeline but qualifies you for 10-day quarantine.
For most people who've already done the blood draw, accepting the 30-day quarantine is the more practical choice. Redoing the RNATT only makes sense if your move is still many months away and the extra 20 days in quarantine is a significant concern.
Also worth knowing: the second identity verification vet visit and the RNATT blood draw can happen on the same day at the same clinic, as long as the microchip scan is completed before the blood is drawn. This can save you a vet visit.
The cost difference
The difference between 10-day and 30-day quarantine is not just time - it's money.
| Quarantine duration | Approximate cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| 10 days | ~$3,000 |
| 30 days | ~$4,100 |
That's roughly AUD 1,100 more for the longer stay. Combined with the additional stress on your pet and the extra time waiting for collection, getting the identity verification right is one of the most impactful things you can do in the entire process.
A practical checklist
Before your RNATT blood draw, confirm:
- Your pet's microchip is ISO-compliant (15 digits) and scannable
- You have visited one USDA-accredited vet for identity verification and have signed documentation
- You have visited a second, different USDA-accredited vet for identity verification and have signed documentation
- Both identity verification dates are recorded and are earlier than the blood draw date
- You have copies of all identity verification documents with microchip numbers, vet signatures, and dates
If all five items are checked, you're on track for 10-day quarantine. If any are missing, sort them out before the blood draw.
Bringbabka now tracks each vet visit as a separate step in your dashboard, so you can log Visit 1 and return later for Visit 2 without losing your place.
Frequently asked questions
Yes - two different USDA-accredited veterinarians at two different clinics. Each submits their own independent declaration through VEHCS to USDA. They cannot be the same vet and cannot be at the same clinic. The second vet can perform the RNATT blood draw on the same day as the identity verification, but the microchip scan must happen before the blood draw.
Yes, as long as the verification happens before the blood draw. You could theoretically visit two different vets for verification in the morning and have the blood draw in the afternoon. What matters is that the verification dates and times are documented as occurring before the blood draw.
Contact the vet and have it corrected before the blood draw if possible. If the error is discovered after the blood draw, the validity of the verification may be compromised. Common errors include wrong microchip numbers, missing signatures, or incorrect dates. Prevention is far easier than correction - double-check every document before you leave the vet's office.
Yes. The identity verification requirement and its impact on quarantine duration applies equally to dogs and cats. Both species must have two separate USDA-accredited vets verify identity before the RNATT blood draw to qualify for 10-day quarantine.