Moving sooner than planned? Applied for your import permit later than you wanted? Here's what to know about securing a quarantine booking at short notice.
The Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine facility near Melbourne is Australia's only pet quarantine facility. Every cat and dog entering the country goes through it. This means availability matters - and timing your booking correctly is one of the more stressful parts of the process.
How quickly can spots be secured?
Realistically, with a permit in hand, quarantine spots can be booked within a few weeks of your target arrival date. Real-world experience from pet owners consistently shows that 6-8 weeks of lead time is workable, and some have secured spots with as little as 2 months from permit submission to travel. Availability varies, though - public holidays and school holiday periods fill faster.
When to book
Book on the same day your import permit arrives. Not the next day - the same day. The permit does not hold a spot for you. Quarantine availability is separate from the permit, and popular dates do fill. The booking is made through PEBS (Post Entry Biosecurity System) at online.agriculture.gov.au/pebs.
If your preferred date isn't available
DAFF's quarantine team is responsive. Owners who have needed to change dates - sometimes multiple times due to flight disruptions - report that PEBS replies within hours when the request is urgent. Email peqservices@aff.gov.au and put URGENT in the subject line if you need a fast response.
Don't let parasite treatment timing slip
If you're working to a tight timeline, parasite treatments have specific timing windows that must be met before your pet can travel. Some of these need to start before the permit is even granted. Check the treatment schedule with your vet immediately - you don't want to be delayed by a treatment window after everything else is sorted.