I moved my dog Babka from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Before I did it, I spent weeks buried in government PDFs, Facebook group threads, and conflicting advice, trying to piece together what the process actually was. This guide is what I wish someone had handed me on day one.
Here's the honest version: moving a pet from the US to Australia is one of the most regulated pet import processes in the world. It takes a minimum of seven months from start to finish, involves up to 20 steps depending on your pet's species and desexed status (cats see fewer steps; dogs see the full list), and has several points where a single mistake can reset the clock. It is absolutely doable. Thousands of Americans do it every year. But it requires planning, attention to detail, and starting early.
This guide covers every step in the right order, explains why each one matters, and flags the most common mistakes. By the end of it you will understand the whole process.
Why does Australia's process take so long?
Australia is one of the few genuinely rabies-free countries in the world. The entire import process exists to keep it that way. The core requirement is the RNATT - the Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test - which proves your pet has developed immunity from their rabies vaccination. After that test, Australia requires a mandatory 180-day waiting period before your pet can enter the country. That single requirement is why the process takes more than six months.
Everything else in the process is about proving your pet is healthy, properly identified, and free of parasites. The sequencing matters as much as the steps themselves - doing things in the wrong order can double your pet's quarantine from 10 days to 30, or reset the 180-day clock entirely.
The steps, in order
These are the steps required to import a dog or cat from the US to Australia, as specified by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and USDA APHIS. Not every step applies to every pet - cats don't need the Canine Influenza Vaccination or Brucella test, for example - but this is the full list for a dog.
| Step | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Microchip confirmed | Confirm your pet's microchip is ISO-compliant (15 digits). Must be done before any vaccinations. | Every document in the import process is tied to the microchip number. |
| 2. Rabies vaccination | Get your pet vaccinated against rabies by a USDA-accredited vet. Must be done after microchipping. | The RNATT blood test measures immunity from this vaccination. |
| 3. Identity verification (2 vet visits) - optional but strongly recommended | Two separate USDA-accredited vets at two different clinics scan the microchip, photograph it, and each submit an identity declaration to USDA through VEHCS. Must be done before the RNATT blood draw. The second vet can draw blood on the same day. | Reduces quarantine from 30 days to 10 days minimum. Without it, your pet is in quarantine for 30 days regardless of everything else. |
| 4. RNATT blood draw | A USDA-accredited vet draws blood and ships it to an approved laboratory. Must be at least 30 days after primary rabies vaccination. | The lab measures rabies antibody levels. 0.5 IU/ml or higher is required. |
| 5. RNATT lab submission | Blood sample arrives at the approved lab. The 180-day wait starts from this date - not the blood draw date. | The most misunderstood date in the whole process. |
| 6. Wait 180 days | Your pet must remain in an approved country for 180 days after the lab receives the sample. While waiting, you can progress with steps 7, 8, and 9. | Australia requires this waiting period to confirm no rabies exposure before the vaccination. |
| 7. Obtain RNATT Declaration from USDA | Once your RNATT results are back, ask your vet to submit the lab report to USDA through VEHCS to obtain an endorsed RNATT Declaration. This is a separate document from the lab report and is required for the import permit. | Without the RNATT Declaration, the import permit application is incomplete and DAFF will not issue the permit. |
| 8. Apply for import permit | Apply through DAFF's BICON system. Requires the RNATT lab report, RNATT Declaration, and rabies vaccination certificate. Takes 10–20 business days. Can be done during the 180-day wait. | You cannot book quarantine without a confirmed import permit. |
| 9. Book quarantine | Book a place at Mickleham through the PEBS portal. Must be done immediately when the permit arrives. Can be done during the 180-day wait. | Quarantine slots fill up. Book on the same day your permit arrives. |
| 10. QANTAS freight booking | Book your pet as cargo on a QANTAS Freight flight to Melbourne. Must be direct to Melbourne International Airport. | QANTAS is the main carrier for this route. All pets enter via Melbourne. |
| 11. Canine influenza vaccination (dogs only) | Vaccinate your dog against Canine Influenza Virus (CIV). Dogs only. | Must be given per manufacturer schedule before the health certificate is issued. |
| 12. Leishmania test (dogs only) | Test your dog for Leishmania. Within 45 days of departure. | Australia requires a negative result for import. |
| 13. Brucella test (unneutered dogs only) | Test unneutered dogs for Brucella. Within 45 days of departure. | Required for intact dogs only. |
| 14. Leptospira test (dogs only) | Test your dog for Leptospira. Within 45 days of departure. | Timing requirements - check with your vet. |
| 15. External parasite treatment | Treat your pet for external parasites. Dogs within 30 days, cats within 21 days of departure. | Applied by a vet and documented. |
| 16. Internal parasite treatment 1 | First internal parasite treatment. Within 45 days of departure. | Two treatments required, at least 14 days apart. |
| 17. Internal parasite treatment 2 | Second internal parasite treatment. Within 5 days of departure, at least 14 days after the first. | Tight timing window - plan backwards from departure date. |
| 18. Health examination | Final veterinary health examination within 5 days of departure. | Generates the export health certificate. |
| 19. USDA endorsement | Health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS before departure. | Must be done before your pet boards. Allow several business days. |
| 20. Departure and quarantine | Your pet travels as QANTAS Freight cargo to Melbourne. Transferred to Mickleham on arrival. Minimum 10 days (or 30 if identity verification was skipped). | This is what it's all been building toward. |
The three mistakes that cause the most problems
These are the errors that come up again and again in expat communities. All three are preventable if you know about them in advance.
The identity verification must happen before the RNATT blood draw. Doing it after automatically puts your pet in 30-day quarantine instead of 10. No exceptions.
Mistake 1: Doing the identity verification after the RNATT blood draw. This automatically puts your pet in 30-day quarantine instead of 10. The identity verification must happen before the blood draw, every time, no exceptions.
Mistake 2: Confusing the blood draw date with the lab receipt date for the 180-day countdown. The 180 days starts when the laboratory receives the sample, not when your vet draws the blood. If shipping takes three days, those three days are lost.
Mistake 3: Not booking quarantine immediately when the import permit arrives. Permits are time-limited and quarantine slots are not guaranteed. Book on the same day your permit arrives.
For the full list, see the 7 most common mistakes.
How long does the whole process actually take?
The minimum is about 7 months. Here's a realistic timeline working backwards from a departure date:
- Day 1: Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant. Start the process.
- Days 1–14: Rabies vaccination (if not already current)
- Week 3–4: Identity verification - two separate USDA-accredited vets at two different clinics. Both submit through VEHCS to USDA. Must be completed before blood draw.
- Week 4–5: RNATT blood draw. Can happen same day as second identity verification vet visit. Sample shipped to DAFF-approved lab.
- Day the lab receives the sample: 180-day clock starts
- Weeks 5–10: RNATT results arrive (3–6 weeks after lab receipt). Ask your vet to obtain the RNATT Declaration from USDA through VEHCS.
- Month 3–4: Apply for import permit through BICON with RNATT lab report, declaration, and vaccination certificate. Takes 10–20 business days. You can do this during the 180-day wait.
- As soon as permit arrives: Book quarantine immediately through PEBS. Slots fill up fast.
- Month 5–6: Book QANTAS freight. Start scheduling final vet steps.
- 6 months + 2–4 weeks before departure: Leptospira and Leishmania tests, CIV vaccination
- 5 days before departure: Final parasite treatments, health examination, USDA endorsement
- Departure day
Do you need a pet transport agent?
Not necessarily. Many people manage this process themselves successfully. Whether you need an agent depends on your situation: your departure airport, your pet's breed, your comfort with paperwork, and how much of your time you want to spend on it.
The cases where an agent genuinely earns their fee: brachycephalic breeds (the QANTAS restrictions are more complex), or if you simply don't want to manage the process yourself. For a healthy standard-breed dog or cat departing from LAX, many people do this without an agent. Read more in our honest breakdown of when an agent is worth it.
What does it cost?
Budget a realistic $6,000–12,000 USD for a single pet, depending on size, crate, departure city, and whether you use an agent. The biggest line items are QANTAS freight (roughly $2,000–4,000 depending on crate size and weight), Mickleham quarantine (approximately AUD 3,000 for 10 days), and agent fees if used ($2,000–4,000). See the full cost breakdown.
What you need to know about quarantine at Mickleham
All pets from the US spend at least 10 days (or 30 days if the identity verification wasn't completed correctly) at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility near Melbourne Airport. You cannot visit your pet during this time. The facility is professionally run, modern, and specifically designed for this purpose. Your pet will be fed, exercised, and health-checked daily. Read the full Mickleham guide.
Frequently asked questions
At least 8 months before your intended departure date. 10 months is better. The 180-day wait alone takes 6 months, and getting all the pre-blood-draw steps done correctly takes several weeks before that.
Yes. The process is largely the same for both. Cats don't need the CIV vaccination, Leishmania test, or Brucella test that dogs require. The RNATT, identity verification, and quarantine requirements are identical.
Yes. Several breeds are prohibited, including American Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, and Presa Canarios. Bengal cats were banned from import effective 1 March 2025. Savannah cats remain prohibited. Check the DAFF prohibited breeds list before starting the process.
No. Mickleham operates as a strict biosecurity facility. No visits are permitted during the quarantine period. The facility notifies you when your pet arrives and contacts you if any health concerns arise.
Yes, and you should. The import permit is applied for after the blood draw. You can complete the microchip, vaccination, identity verification, and blood draw steps before the permit is in hand. Don't wait for the permit to start.