Bringing your dog or cat from the US 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 USDA-accredited vet.
2. Ask them to administer a rabies vaccination that’s approved in the US.
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 optional vet visits that reduce your pet’s quarantine from 30 days to 10 days. A USDA-accredited vet scans the microchip and submits a formal identity declaration to USDA through the VEHCS system.

1. Find a USDA-accredited vet who is set up for VEHCS and familiar with Australian export paperwork. Ask specifically when you call. USDA’s vet search tool can help you find one nearby.
2. Book an appointment. Bring your pet.
3. The vet scans the microchip, photographs the scan showing the chip number, and completes an identity declaration in VEHCS.
4. USDA reviews and endorses it electronically. Your vet will give you the certificate number when it’s done.
5. Record the date of this visit. You’ll log it in your dashboard.

Without both identity verification visits, 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. If you can arrange two vet visits before the blood draw, do it.

The second identity verification visit. A different USDA-accredited vet at a different clinic repeats the same process independently. Once this is done, your pet qualifies for 10-day quarantine.

1. Find a second USDA-accredited vet at a different clinic from Visit 1. Must be a different individual, different practice. USDA’s vet search tool can help you find one nearby.
2. Book the appointment. You can do this on the same day as the RNATT blood draw if you want to save a trip - DAFF permits same-day completion.
3. The vet scans the microchip, photographs it, and submits their own independent identity declaration through VEHCS to USDA.
4. USDA endorses it. Your vet gives you the certificate number.
5. Record the date. Once this is logged, your pet is on track for 10-day quarantine.

DAFF requires two independent verifications because it needs to be certain the pet entering quarantine is the same pet whose blood was tested. One vet isn’t enough - the independence of the second verification is what gives it weight.

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 both identity verification visits are done before booking this appointment.
3. Your USDA-accredited vet draws a blood sample and ships it to a laboratory approved for RNATT testing by USDA - Kansas State University or Auburn University are the two most commonly used from the US.
4. Get the date the lab receives the sample from your vet or the lab directly. That date - not today - 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, your vet needs to get a separate endorsed document from USDA called the RNATT Declaration. This is not the lab report - it’s a distinct USDA-endorsed certificate that you need before you can apply for the import permit.

1. Wait for the RNATT laboratory results to arrive. Once you have them, contact your USDA-accredited vet.
2. Ask your vet to submit the RNATT lab report and your pet’s rabies vaccination certificate to USDA through VEHCS, selecting commodity type ‘Dogs and cats - RNATT Declaration for Australia’.
3. USDA reviews and endorses the declaration. Your vet will give you the certificate number when it’s done. This typically takes a few business days.
4. Log the certificate number in your dashboard. You’ll need it for the import permit application.

DAFF requires both the RNATT laboratory report AND the USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration before they’ll process an import permit application. Most guides don’t mention this step clearly, which is why people get surprised when their permit application is rejected for missing documentation. Get the declaration as soon as your results are back.

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 US).
3. When applying in BICON, attach your RNATT lab report issued by the testing laboratory (not the forwarding laboratory) and the endorsed RNATT declaration. The RNATT declaration is endorsed by USDA and your vet will request this through VEHCS - ask them to confirm it has been completed before you submit your permit application. Retain a copy to attach in BICON and a copy to travel with your pet on the export health certificate. 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 your identity declaration from your USDA-accredited vet 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 QANTAS freight 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. Work with your transport agent to confirm the flight. Your pet travels as manifested cargo on an IATA-approved airline.
2. Your pet flies as QANTAS Freight cargo from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne.
3. If routing via the UK, Dubai, or Doha, confirm the transhipment arrangements with your agent.
4. 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 pet will fly as manifested cargo in an IATA-approved rigid crate. The crate must be the right size, correctly labelled, and familiar to your pet well before departure day. If you show up at the cargo facility with the wrong crate, your pet cannot fly.

1. Buy an IATA-approved rigid crate - hard plastic, fibreglass, metal, solid wood, or plywood. Wire or fabric crates are not accepted for cargo.
2. Measure your pet standing naturally: 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. This is the IATA sizing formula - the crate must be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
3. Attach "Live Animal" stickers and orientation arrows to the outside. Most crate manufacturers include these.
4. Label the crate with your name, phone number, and destination address.
5. Add a water bowl that attaches to the crate door (spill-proof). Food is not required for flights under 12 hours.
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. Weeks of familiarity makes the journey far less stressful.
8. Confirm the crate with Qantas Freight before your departure date. Qantas has specific crate requirements - check their live animal cargo page or confirm directly with the cargo office.
9. Before Qantas Freight will confirm your cargo booking, you need to have your import permit number and your PEQ prepayment receipt ready. Book and pay the Mickleham quarantine deposit first, then proceed with the Qantas Freight booking.
10. On departure day, bring your pet to the Qantas Freight terminal at 6555 W. Imperial Highway, Los Angeles CA 90045. Allow extra time - clearing your pet through the cargo facility takes longer than a standard airport check-in.

Qantas Freight will weigh and measure the crate at check-in. If the crate is too small, the wrong type, or improperly labelled, your pet will be refused. There is no fixing this at the airport - you’ll need to rebook. Buy the right crate early so you have time to acclimatise your pet and confirm the crate meets requirements.

Dogs from the US 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.

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 USDA-accredited 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 USDA-accredited 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 USDA-accredited 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 USDA-accredited 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 USDA-accredited 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 USDA-accredited vet administers the second internal parasite treatment and documents it.
3. Confirm the final health examination and USDA 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 USDA-accredited 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 the export health certificate - this is the document that summarises everything. It must be accurate and complete.
4. Once the certificate is done, it goes to USDA for endorsement. Your vet typically submits it through VEHCS.
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.

This is the last piece of paperwork - and the most time-sensitive. Your USDA-accredited vet submits the completed health certificate through VEHCS for USDA APHIS to review and endorse. Endorsement typically takes 2 business days after receipt. USDA processes Monday–Friday only. If your pet is traveling over a weekend, you need the endorsed certificate back by end of day Friday - which means your vet needs to submit no later than Wednesday. You’ve done everything right to get here. This step is stressful because it’s last and the timeline is tight - but USDA endorses these certificates regularly. As long as every document is complete and accurate, it goes through.

1. Confirm your vet has submitted the health certificate through VEHCS - ask them to confirm the submission date and reference number.
2. Track status through your vet - USDA cannot provide individual status updates directly to owners. Your vet submits the documents and can track endorsement status through VEHCS.
3. Follow up with your vet the next business day after submission to confirm it’s in the queue.
4. If traveling on a weekend: call your vet Wednesday morning to confirm submission and chase status. Don’t wait until Thursday.
5. Once endorsed, your vet prints the certificate from VEHCS and gets it to you. Confirm how they’re delivering it - email, courier, or collection.
6. Australia uses a green VEHCS banner - meaning USDA can digitally endorse the certificate in VEHCS. No physical stamp or embossed seal needed. Your vet prints the digitally endorsed version and it travels with your pet.
7. If you need to follow up urgently: call your vet first - they are your point of contact for status. If your vet cannot get a status update: USDA APHIS VS Exports Office - (844) 820-2234, Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:00pm Eastern Time. Email: CustomerServiceCallCenter@aphis.usda.gov. VEHCS processing is staffed Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 4:30pm Central Time, excluding Federal holidays.

If you’re using a transport agent: they’ll coordinate directly with your vet on the VEHCS submission and chase the endorsement on your behalf. Your job is to confirm with your agent that submission has happened and ask for an update the day before travel. You still want to know it’s done - don’t assume.

your pet travels to Melbourne as QANTAS Freight cargo. On arrival, Mickleham staff collect your pet directly from the airport. You won’t see your pet until collection day.

1. Drop your pet off for QANTAS Freight check-in at your departure airport on the day of the flight. Your QANTAS Freight contact will confirm the check-in process.
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.