Bringing your dog or cat from Canada to Australia

Before anything else happens, your pet’s microchip needs to be confirmed as readable and compliant. Every document in this process is tied to that chip number.

1. Take your pet to your vet and ask them to scan the microchip.
2. Confirm the number is 15 digits and ISO 11784/11785 compliant. Your vet can tell you this.
3. Write the number down. You’ll need it on every form from here.
4. If the chip is non-compliant or unreadable, get a new one implanted before doing anything else.
5. Consider sending a microchip scanner with your pet in the crate. If your pet’s microchip cannot be read on arrival in Australia, they may be exported back. A scanner gives Mickleham staff the best chance of reading it. Ask your agent or vet about this option.

Every document in the Australian import process - the health certificate, the RNATT results, the import permit - must list the same microchip number. If there’s a mismatch anywhere, the documents are invalid. Confirming the chip is readable before you start prevents the worst kind of delay.

Australia is rabies-free and intends to stay that way. your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination before any of the blood test steps can happen.

1. Book an appointment with your vet.
2. Ask them to administer a rabies vaccination that’s approved in Canada.
3. Get a vaccination certificate - you’ll need it for the import permit application.
4. Note the booster due date. your pet’s vaccination must stay current all the way through quarantine release in Australia.

The RNATT blood test - the next major step - measures whether the rabies vaccine worked. You can’t have the blood test without a vaccination, and the vaccination must have been given at least 30 days before the blood draw. Getting this done early gives you the most flexibility on timing everything else.

A single appointment at a CFIA Animal Health Office to verify your pet’s identity. A government official scans the microchip and completes the identity declaration. Unlike the US process, you only need one visit.

1. Contact your nearest CFIA Animal Health Office to book an identity verification appointment. Bring your pet.
2. A CFIA government official scans the microchip, photographs the scan, and completes form HA3201 (identity declaration).
3. The CFIA office sends the endorsed identity declaration directly to DAFF on your behalf.
4. Record the date of this visit. You’ll log it in your dashboard.

Without identity verification, your pet spends a minimum of 30 days in quarantine at Mickleham instead of 10. That’s 20 extra days apart and roughly AUD 1,100 in additional quarantine fees. Canada requires only one verification visit (not two like the US), but it must be done by a CFIA official at a government office - not by a private veterinarian.

A vet draws blood from your pet and sends it to an approved lab. This tests whether the rabies vaccine produced enough immunity. Once the lab receives the sample, the 180-day countdown begins.

1. Make sure it’s been at least 30 days since your pet’s rabies vaccination. (If regularly vaccinated, your vet may be able to do it sooner - ask them.)
2. Confirm identity verification at the CFIA office is done before booking this appointment.
3. Your vet draws a blood sample and ships it to a laboratory approved for RNATT testing - Kansas State University or Auburn University. Both labs are in the US, so the sample must cross the international border. Allow extra shipping time.
4. Get the date the lab receives the sample from your vet or the lab directly. That date - not the draw date - is when the 180-day clock starts.
5. Log the lab receipt date in your dashboard. Your fly date will calculate from it.

Australia requires proof that your pet has developed rabies immunity from the vaccination - a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher. Results typically take 3–6 weeks. If your pet passes, the 180-day wait begins from the lab receipt date. If not, a booster is needed and the process restarts. The earlier you get this done, the more buffer you have.

The blood sample arrives at the approved lab. From this date, your pet must wait 180 days before entering Australia. This is the official start of the countdown.

1. Confirm with your vet or the lab directly that the sample has been received. Ask for the exact receipt date.
2. Log that date in your dashboard. Your fly date and all downstream deadlines calculate from it.
3. While you wait, you don’t have to sit on your hands. You can obtain the RNATT Declaration, apply for the import permit, and book quarantine during the 180-day wait.

The 180-day wait isn’t arbitrary - it’s how long it can take for rabies symptoms to appear after exposure. Australia needs to be certain your pet was unexposed and immune before the vaccination, not just after. There are no exceptions to this waiting period.

Your vet will receive the RNATT result from the laboratory. Results typically take 2–4 weeks from the date the sample arrived at the lab. Follow up with your vet if you haven’t heard after 3 weeks.

1. Contact your vet to get the result. The lab sends it to them, not directly to you.
2. Once you have it, enter it below. A passing result is 0.5 IU/ml or above.

The result unlocks the next step - getting your RNATT declaration. Without it, your plan cannot progress.

your pet must be in an approved country for 180 days after the lab received the blood sample. This isn’t quarantine - your pet lives with you normally. You’re just waiting for the clock to run out.

1. Nothing specific - your pet lives normally with you during this time.
2. Keep the rabies vaccination current. If a booster falls due, it must be given on or before the due date. No exceptions.
3. Use this time productively: get the RNATT Declaration, apply for the import permit, and book quarantine. All three can happen during the wait.
4. Watch your RNATT expiry date. The test result is valid for 12 months from the blood draw date. If you haven’t departed before it expires, you’ll need to redo it.

The wait exists because rabies can incubate for up to six months before symptoms appear. Australia needs confidence that your pet was free of the virus before the vaccination took effect. There are no shortcuts and no exemptions - but the time passes faster than it sounds, especially if you’re using it to get the permit and quarantine booking sorted.

After your pet’s RNATT results come back, you need to visit a CFIA Animal Health Office in person to obtain an endorsed RNATT Declaration. This is not the lab report - it’s a distinct government-endorsed certificate (form HA3202) required for the import permit application.

1. Wait for the RNATT laboratory results to arrive.
2. Book an in-person appointment at your nearest CFIA Animal Health Office.
3. Bring the original RNATT lab report and your pet’s rabies vaccination records. The CFIA official will complete and endorse form HA3202 - you do not need to fill it out yourself.
4. CFIA reviews the documentation and endorses the RNATT Declaration. Processing may take several business days.
5. Log the certificate number in your dashboard.

DAFF requires both the RNATT lab report AND the CFIA-endorsed RNATT Declaration before they’ll process an import permit application. The in-person CFIA appointment is required in Canada - unlike the US, this cannot be done electronically through a vet.

You submit the import permit application to the Australian government. This is the first half - processing typically takes 4–8 weeks before you hear back.

1. Go to DAFF’s BICON system at bicon.agriculture.gov.au and create an account if you don’t have one.
2. Start a new import permit application for a cat or dog from a Group 3 country (Canada).
3. When applying in BICON, attach the following documents: your RNATT lab report issued by the testing laboratory (not the forwarding laboratory), the endorsed HA3202 RNATT declaration, and a copy of the HA3201 identity declaration. The CFIA also communicates the identity declaration directly to Australian authorities - but you must also include a copy in your BICON application to satisfy the Group 3 permit requirement. If you have had more than one RNATT test, include all previous lab reports and their corresponding declarations. Documents must be clear and legible. Multi-page documents should be submitted as a single file, not individual images. All documents must be in English or bilingual. Do not include pet photographs, vaccination records, or pet passports - DAFF will contact you if they need anything extra.
4. Include a copy of the HA3201 identity declaration from your CFIA Animal Health Office in your BICON application. Even if DAFF receives it through other channels, attaching a copy ensures your application is complete and avoids any risk of delay.
5. Pay the application fee - currently AUD $603 for the first animal ($130 lodgement + $473 assessment) and AUD $288 for each additional animal in the same consignment. Fees are reviewed annually - check the DAFF website for the current fee before applying. Apply early - most permits are issued in 20–40 business days, but it can take longer.

The import permit is the document that unlocks everything else. You can’t book quarantine without it. You can’t finalise your cargo booking without it. The earlier you apply (and you can apply during the 180-day wait), the more time you have to deal with any queries DAFF sends back.

Your import permit has arrived by email. This is the official greenlight - enter the permit number and approval date, then book quarantine immediately.

1. Check your email for the approved import permit from DAFF.
2. Enter the permit number and approval date below.
3. Book quarantine the same day - spaces fill up fast.

The permit specifies that your pet must arrive at Melbourne Airport specifically - not Sydney, not Brisbane. Without the permit number you can’t book quarantine or finalise freight.

The moment your import permit arrives, go straight to the PEBS portal and book your pet’s place at Mickleham. Slots fill up. The permit does not reserve a space automatically.

1. The same day your import permit arrives, go to the Post Entry Biosecurity System at online.agriculture.gov.au/pebs.
2. Book your pet’s quarantine using the permit details. You’ll need the permit number and your pet’s flight information.
3. When you make your quarantine booking through the PEBS system, a partial payment is required to secure the booking. Your booking will not be held without this payment. The remaining balance is due before your pet is released at the end of quarantine.
4. Schedule a collection appointment for your pet’s release date. Collection hours are 10am–12pm Monday to Friday only.
5. Log the booking reference and arrival date in your dashboard.

Mickleham is the only post-entry quarantine facility in Australia for cats and dogs. Every pet from a Group 3 country goes through it. Spaces are limited and popular departure periods book out fast. The import permit does not guarantee availability - it only confirms you’re approved to import. You still need to actually secure a space. People who wait a few days after receiving their permit have found their preferred dates unavailable.

Now that quarantine is booked, confirm your flight to Melbourne International Airport. Your pet must arrive as manifested cargo - not in the cabin. Your departure date is the anchor for all remaining pre-departure treatment windows.

1. Contact Air Canada cargo or your transport agent directly to confirm current booking requirements for your specific situation. Requirements may vary based on your pet’s age and the specific route.
2. Confirm the departure date and routing with your agent.
3. Once confirmed, enter your departure date below.

The parasite treatments, health exam, and export health certificate all have timing windows calculated from your departure date. Without a confirmed date, those deadlines are estimates.

Your transport agent coordinates the cargo flight - but you need to source and prepare your pet’s travel crate. It must be IATA-approved, correctly sized, and familiar to your pet well before departure.

1. Ask your transport agent which crate model and size is required for your pet’s cargo booking. They will know the airline’s specific requirements.
2. Buy the crate your agent recommends. It must be a rigid IATA-approved crate - hard plastic, fibreglass, metal, solid wood, or plywood. Wire or fabric crates are not accepted for cargo.
3. Measure your pet standing naturally to confirm fit: crate length = nose to tail base + 10 cm; crate height = top of head (or ears if erect) to floor + 10 cm; crate width = widest point (shoulders) + 10 cm.
4. Attach "Live Animal" stickers and orientation arrows. Label with your name, phone number, and destination address.
5. Add a spill-proof water bowl attached to the crate door.
6. Line the crate with an absorbent pad or soft bedding. A piece of your worn clothing placed inside can help calm your pet during the journey - the familiar scent makes a real difference. Do not put hard toys, chews, or bones inside the crate.
7. Start acclimatisation now: leave the crate open at home so your pet gets comfortable in it.
8. Confirm the final crate with your agent at least 4 weeks before departure.

Air Canada cargo will inspect the crate before accepting your pet. If the crate is the wrong size, type, or poorly labelled, your pet will be refused. Your agent handles the booking, but you source and prepare the crate at home.

Dogs from Canada must be vaccinated against canine influenza virus (CIV) before export. This isn’t needed right now - but don’t leave it too late. If your dog needs a two-dose primary course, you need to start at least 6 weeks before departure.

1. Check with your vet whether your pet has had CIV vaccination before.
2. If previously vaccinated: a booster is required - must be given between 12 months and 14 days before export.
3. If not previously vaccinated: a two-dose primary course is needed, with 2–4 weeks between doses - start at least 6 weeks before your planned departure date.
4. Ask your vet to confirm the vaccine covers H3N2 and H3N8 strains and is registered for use in dogs in your country.
5. Ensure the vaccination is recorded on the export health certificate.
6. Alternative to vaccination: 10-day isolation from other dogs plus a negative PCR nasal swab within 7 days of export. Confirm which pathway your vet recommends.

Canine Influenza Virus spreads easily in kennel environments like quarantine facilities. DAFF requires it to protect other animals at Mickleham. If the vaccination isn’t current and correctly documented on the health certificate, your pet may not be permitted to board.

Your dog has previously visited mainland Africa. Australian import conditions require treatment with imidocarb dipropionate before export.

1. Book an appointment with a government approved veterinarian.
2. Your vet must administer imidocarb dipropionate by subcutaneous injection only.
3. The treatment is either a single dose at 7.5 mg/kg, or two doses at 6.0 mg/kg given 14 days apart.
4. Treatment must be completed within 28 days of export.
5. Ensure the treatment is recorded on the export health certificate.

Dogs that have lived in or visited mainland Africa are at risk of carrying Babesia canis, a tick-borne blood parasite not present in Australia. Treatment with imidocarb dipropionate is a mandatory biosecurity requirement for all dogs with African travel history.

A blood test to confirm your pet is free of Leishmania, a parasitic disease. Must be done within 45 days of departure.

1. Ask your vet to perform a Leishmania serological test.
2. Time it within 45 days of your pet’s departure date. Don’t do it too early or it won’t be valid.
3. A negative result is required. Keep the lab report - it goes on the export health certificate.

Leishmania doesn’t exist in Australia and DAFF intends to keep it that way. It’s a serious parasitic disease that can affect both animals and humans. A negative test result is non-negotiable for import from Group 3 countries.

Unneutered dogs must test negative for Brucella canis before they can enter Australia. This is a blood test done within 45 days of departure.

1. Ask your vet to perform a Brucella canis serological test.
2. Schedule it within 45 days of your pet’s departure date.
3. A negative result is required. The result goes on the export health certificate.

Brucella canis is a bacterial disease that affects reproductive systems and is absent from Australia. DAFF requires testing for intact dogs because the risk of transmission is higher. If your pet is desexed this step doesn’t apply.

Dogs must either be vaccinated against Leptospira canicola or test negative for it. Your vet will advise which route is appropriate for your pet.

1. Ask your vet whether vaccination or testing is the right approach for your pet.
2. If vaccinating: confirm the full vaccination course requirements with your vet and ensure it’s complete before the health certificate is issued.
3. If testing: schedule the test within 45 days of departure. A negative result is required.
4. Ensure the vaccination or test result is recorded on the export health certificate.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmissible to humans that doesn’t exist in Australian dog populations. DAFF requires either vaccination or a negative test to ensure your pet isn’t a carrier. Your vet will know which approach is standard practice.

A vet treats your pet for external parasites using a DAFF-approved product. Must be done within a specific window before departure.

1. Book an appointment with your vet.
2. The vet applies an approved external parasite treatment. They document the product name, batch number, and date.
3. Treatment must be done within 30 days before departure.
4. The product must remain effective against new infestations until the date of export. Your vet will confirm this.

External parasites are a serious biosecurity risk in Australia - some species can carry diseases that don’t exist there. Mickleham inspects every arriving animal, and if parasites are found on your pet during intake, quarantine may be extended and remedial treatment applied at your expense. This treatment is the prevention.

Cat owners: The treatment window for cats is 21 days before departure (not 30 days as for dogs). Check the specific timing with your vet.

The first of two internal parasite treatments. Must be done within 45 days of departure and at least 14 days before the second treatment.

1. Book a vet appointment within 45 days of your pet’s departure date.
2. Your vet administers an approved internal parasite treatment (effective against both nematodes and cestodes) and documents the product, batch number, and date.
3. Note the date. The second treatment must happen at least 14 days later.

Certain internal parasites don’t exist in Australian wildlife and DAFF takes their exclusion seriously. Two treatments are required rather than one to ensure any larvae that survived the first treatment are caught by the second. The 14-day gap is the minimum time needed for this to work.

The second internal parasite treatment. Must be within 5 days of your pet’s departure and at least 14 days after the first treatment.

1. Book a vet appointment within 5 days of your pet’s departure date and at least 14 days after Treatment 1.
2. Your vet administers the second internal parasite treatment and documents it.
3. Confirm the final health examination and CFIA endorsement are also scheduled within this same window.

The second treatment is the final confirmation that your pet is free of internal parasites before entering Australia. The tight 5-day window before departure ensures your pet can’t be reinfested between treatment and travel. Your vet can often schedule both parasite treatments and the health examination in the same period to minimise trips.

Your vet does a final check-over of your pet and completes the export health certificate. This is the master document that travels with your pet to Australia. Must happen within 5 days of departure.

1. Book a final health examination with your vet within 5 days of your pet’s departure date.
2. The vet examines your pet and confirms all treatments, vaccinations, and tests are complete and within their valid windows.
3. The vet completes and signs the export health certificate - form HA3200 for dogs or HA3199 for cats. This is the master document that summarises everything.
4. Once the certificate is signed, you take it in person to a CFIA Animal Health Office for endorsement (see next step).
5. If possible, arrange for your pet to arrive in Australia early in the week rather than on a Friday or over the weekend. This gives Mickleham staff more time to settle them in and arrange veterinary attention promptly if needed.

The export health certificate is the document DAFF checks when your pet arrives in Australia. If anything is missing, incorrect, or outside its valid window, it can cause delays at the border. Getting this right with a vet who is experienced in Australian export certificates is critical. A vet who hasn’t done Australian paperwork before is a risk here.

The last step before departure. Your vet completes the export health certificate (HA3200 for dogs, HA3199 for cats) and takes it to your local CFIA Animal Health Office for endorsement by a CFIA official. Unlike the US electronic VEHCS system, Canadian endorsement is done in person at the CFIA office. This means you need an appointment - and you need it within the 5-day health exam window. You’ve done the hard work. This is the final stamp. Book the CFIA appointment the moment your final health exam is done - don’t leave it a day.

1. Your vet completes HA3200 (dogs) or HA3199 (cats) immediately after the final health exam.
2. Book a CFIA Animal Health Office appointment as soon as the certificate is completed - same day if possible.
3. Bring the original health certificate, original RNATT lab report, original rabies vaccination certificate, and your import permit to the appointment.
4. The CFIA official reviews all documents and endorses the certificate in person.
5. Confirm how you’re receiving the endorsed certificate from the CFIA office - same day collection is standard.
6. Bring all lab reports to your final CFIA appointment - not just the RNATT declaration. All laboratory reports accompanying your pet to Australia must be signed, dated, and stamped by the CFIA official veterinarian when they endorse the health certificate. Reports that have not been endorsed at this appointment cannot be added later.
7. Ensure the endorsed certificate reaches your transport agent or cargo handler before check-in.

CFIA endorsement is the Canadian government’s confirmation that the health certificate is authentic and was issued by an accredited veterinarian. The endorsement requires an in-person visit to a CFIA office - it cannot be done electronically. Without the endorsement, the certificate is not accepted by Australian border authorities.

your pet travels to Melbourne as Air Canada cargo, coordinated through your pet transport agent. On arrival, Mickleham staff collect your pet directly from the airport. You won’t see your pet until collection day.

1. Coordinate your pet’s check-in with your pet transport agent on the day of the flight. The agent will confirm the check-in process and location.
2. Mickleham staff collect your pet from Melbourne Airport on arrival. You do not collect from the airport yourself.
3. You’ll receive an email from Mickleham within 24 hours of arrival confirming your pet has arrived safely.
4. your pet spends the quarantine period at Mickleham - minimum 10 days if identity verification was completed, minimum 30 days if not.
5. On the release date, collect your pet from Mickleham (135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham VIC 3064) between 10am and 12pm. Bring your import permit and ID.

Quarantine is the final biosecurity check. Mickleham is purpose-built for this - individual climate-controlled accommodation, daily health monitoring, exercise yards for dogs. Most pets handle the stay better than their owners expect. The hardest part is the separation, but it has a fixed end date and then your pet is home.