Bringing your dog or cat from the UK to Australia

your pet’s microchip needs to be registered on a DEFRA-approved UK database in your name. This is a quick step you can do online, and it needs to be sorted before the OV66 identity checks can begin.

1. Confirm your pet’s microchip is ISO-compliant (15-digit, ISO 11784/11785). Your vet can scan and verify.
2. Register the chip on a DEFRA-approved database (e.g. Petlog, PetScanner, MicrochipCentral) with your name and current UK address as the registered keeper.
3. Print or save the registration confirmation - the OV66 vet will need to verify it at your first identity check.

DEFRA requires proof that the pet’s microchip is registered to the exporting owner on an approved UK database before any Official Veterinarian (OV66) can sign off on identity checks. Without this, the OV66 appointment cannot proceed.

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 the UK.
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.

This is the first of two identity verification visits required for UK exports. An Official Veterinarian (OV66 qualified) scans your pet’s microchip and completes the first identity declaration. The OV66 must be a specialist - your regular vet cannot do this.

1. Find an Official Veterinarian with OV66 qualification. Your regular vet can refer you, or check the APHA list of OVs.
2. Confirm the OV has verified your pet’s DEFRA microchip registration before the appointment.
3. The OV scans the microchip, photographs the scan, and completes the identity declaration.
4. The OV submits the identity declaration directly to DAFF from their registered email address. You do not need to send it yourself.
5. Record the date and the OV’s details. You’ll need them for Visit 2.

Without both OV66 identity verification visits, your pet spends 30 days in quarantine instead of 10. The UK process requires Official Veterinarians specifically - standard vets are not authorised to complete these declarations.

The second OV66 identity verification visit. A different Official Veterinarian at a different practice repeats the identity check independently. Once done, your pet qualifies for 10-day quarantine.

1. Find a second OV66-qualified vet at a different practice from Visit 1.
2. Book the appointment. This can be on the same day as the RNATT blood draw - DAFF permits same-day completion.
3. The OV scans the microchip, photographs it, and submits their own independent identity declaration directly to DAFF from their registered email address.
4. Record the date. Once logged, your pet is on track for 10-day quarantine.

DAFF requires two independent verifications because it needs certainty that the pet entering quarantine is the same pet whose blood was tested. The two OVs must be from different practices. Each OV submits their declaration directly to DAFF - you do not need to send them yourself.

An OV66-qualified vet draws blood from your pet and sends it to an approved lab. This tests whether the rabies vaccine produced enough immunity. The Visit 2 OV66 can draw the blood, as long as the identity form was submitted to DAFF first.

1. Make sure it’s been at least 30 days since your pet’s rabies vaccination.
2. Confirm both OV66 identity verification visits are done and the identity declarations have been submitted to DAFF.
3. An OV66-qualified vet draws the blood sample. The Visit 2 OV66 can do this, provided the identity form was submitted to DAFF before the blood draw.
4. The OV66 ships the blood sample to a laboratory approved by APHA for RNATT testing. In the UK, the approved lab is Biobest (Penicuik, Scotland). Biotest (Chelmsford) was removed from the approved list in February 2026 - do not confuse the two.
5. Get the date the lab receives the sample from the OV or the lab directly. That date - not today - is when the 180-day clock starts.
6. 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. The UK requirement for an OV66 vet to draw the blood is stricter than the US/Canada process.

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, a third OV66-qualified Official Veterinarian must endorse the UK RNATT declaration (ET260 form). This is a separate document from the lab report and is required for the import permit application.

1. Wait for the RNATT laboratory results to arrive from the approved lab.
2. Find an OV66-qualified vet who is different from whoever drew the blood. This vet can be one of the two OVs who did identity verification, as long as they did not draw the blood sample.
3. The OV reviews the RNATT lab report and endorses the UK RNATT declaration (ET260 form).
4. Log the certificate details in your dashboard.

DAFF requires the UK RNATT declaration (ET260 form) endorsed by an OV66-qualified vet before the import permit application can proceed. Without it, the application is incomplete.

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 (the UK).
3. When applying in BICON, attach your RNATT lab report issued by the testing laboratory (not the forwarding laboratory) and your endorsed RNATT declaration signed and stamped by the official government veterinarian. If you have had more than one RNATT test, include all previous lab reports and their corresponding declarations. You do not need to attach the identity declarations - your OV66 vets submitted these directly to DAFF by email and DAFF collates them as part of the permit assessment. In your application, indicate that identity verification has been completed. 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. 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. There are no direct flights from the UK to Melbourne. Your agent routes via Dubai or Doha.
2. Confirm the departure date and routing with your transport 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.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Melbourne. your pet will fly via Dubai or Doha - a total journey of 24–30 hours including the transit stop. The crate needs to be IATA-approved, correctly sized, and sturdy enough for a long journey. Start acclimatisation early.

1. Ask your transport agent which crate model and size is required for your pet’s routing (typically Qatar Airways or Emirates cargo via Doha or Dubai).
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. For the longer UK routing (24–30 hours), also attach a small food container with a day’s portion of dry food.
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. For a journey this long, familiarity with the crate is especially important.
8. Confirm the final crate with your agent at least 4 weeks before departure.

The journey from the UK to Melbourne via the Middle East is long. your pet will spend 24–30 hours in the crate including ground handling and transit. A properly sized, familiar crate is critical for your pet’s comfort and safety over that duration. The airline will refuse any crate that doesn’t meet IATA requirements.

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 DEFRA 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 OV66-qualified 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 OV66-qualified vet within 5 days of your pet’s departure date.
2. The OV examines your pet and confirms all treatments, vaccinations, and tests are complete and within their valid windows.
3. The OV applies for the Export Health Certificate through the EHCO system at ehco.defra.gov.uk - EHC 2580 for dogs or EHC 2432 for cats.
4. The OV completes the certificate and submits it to APHA for DEFRA endorsement through EHCO (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. The OV66 vet must be experienced with Australian export certificates - the UK process uses specific EHC forms through the EHCO system.

The UK export health certificate (EHC 2580 for dogs, EHC 2432 for cats) is completed and signed by an OV66-authorised Official Veterinarian, typically at or very close to the departure airport. Unlike the US and Canada, this step is usually coordinated entirely by your transport agent - the OV66 vet signs the EHC as part of the pre-departure process on the day or day before travel. This is the last thing that needs to happen. If your agent is handling it, your job is to confirm it’s been arranged and get a final confirmation from your agent that the EHC is signed and in hand. Don’t assume - ask explicitly.

1. Confirm with your transport agent which OV66 vet is completing the EHC and when.
2. The EHC must be completed within 5 days of departure - confirm the exact appointment date with your agent.
3. Ask your agent to confirm in writing once the EHC is signed - you want explicit confirmation, not just silence.
4. The signed EHC travels with your pet as a hardcopy - confirm your agent has it or will have it before check-in.
5. If you’re self-managing without an agent: contact an OV66-authorised vet service near your departure airport. PassPets, Travel Vet, and The Export Vet all offer departure-day or day-before EHC signing services.

The EHC is the UK government’s confirmation that your pet meets Australia’s import requirements. Without a signed and endorsed EHC, Australian border authorities will not accept the documentation. The OV66 vet is the only person authorised to sign it.

your pet travels to Melbourne via an international hub, coordinated by 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 handles all cargo logistics including the transit stopover.
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.