Not all pet transport agents are equal and the Australia route is specialist enough that experience matters a lot. Here's how to choose well.
Do you need an agent at all
It depends on your country of origin. For UK users, an agent is effectively required. There are no direct flights from the UK to Melbourne and neither Emirates nor Qatar Airways accepts direct owner bookings for live animal cargo. For Canadian users, most people use a transport agent to coordinate the Air Canada cargo booking as part of their service. For US users, it's technically possible to self-manage but the majority of people use a full-service agent for the flight booking and coordination.
For a deeper look at whether you need an agent, read the guide for US, UK, or Canada.
IPATA membership
IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) is the industry body for pet transport professionals. Membership requires adherence to a code of practice and provides some accountability. IPATA membership is a strong indicator of a reputable agent across all origin countries.
Search the IPATA member directory at ipata.org. Filter by destination country (Australia) and look specifically for agents who mention experience with your origin country.
The questions that separate good agents from average ones
How many moves from my country to Australia have you completed in the last 12 months?
A good agent answers specifically, not "we do a lot of Australia moves" but a number. An agent who has done 20 US-to-Australia moves in the last year has working relationships with USDA APHIS, knows which labs to use, and has handled complications before. An agent who has done two has not.
For UK users: do you have established OV66 contacts for all stages?
This is the question that separates UK-experienced agents from those who will be learning on your move. A good UK agent will answer immediately and specifically, naming the OV66 services they work with for each stage.
What is included in your fee and what is charged separately?
Some agents quote a service fee and then charge airline freight, DAFF endorsement fees, and quarantine separately. Others include everything. Know exactly what you're getting before signing anything.
What happens if my flight is disrupted or cancelled?
Flight disruptions are more common than people expect when moving pets. Strict temperature limits can ground cargo on hot days. An experienced agent has a plan for this and knows how to rebook and adjust the quarantine slot simultaneously.
Red flags
- Vague answers to specific questions, because experience produces specificity
- No IPATA membership
- Unwillingness to share client references from the same route
- No mention of the RNATT declaration or identity verification when discussing the process. These are the most common points of failure and an experienced agent knows them intimately
Finding agents
- IPATA directory: ipata.org, filter by Australia
- UK specialists: PetAir UK, PetsByPlane. See the complete UK-to-Australia guide and the complete Canada-to-Australia guide for country-specific details
- Expats and their pets moving to and from Australia Facebook group: real recommendations from people who have completed the route