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Flying to Australia with a pet

Requirements reviewed: April 2026 · Official authority: Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Importing cats and dogs

Cat beside pet travel documents, microchip scanner, and a carrier

Entry requirements at a glance

Microchip
Required

ISO 11784/11785 standard 15-digit microchip. Must be implanted before or at the time of the first rabies vaccination — never after.

Rabies vaccine
Required. Primary course plus boosters; specific timing relative to other tests/treatments.
Health certificate
USDA APHIS-endorsed export health certificate (Australia-specific format). Must be obtained and endorsed before travel.
Rabies titer test
Required Required: FAVN titer test at an approved laboratory, at least 6 months before arrival.
Quarantine on arrival
Mandatory quarantine Minimum 10 days at an approved quarantine facility (Mickleham, Victoria, or other approved facility). Quarantine fees are charged to the owner.
Breed restrictions / bans
Australia bans several breeds including Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier, and Perro de Presa Canario. Crossbreeds of these may also be banned.

Step-by-step process notes

Australia is one of the most complex destinations for pet travel. Only cats and dogs are permitted — other species may be prohibited entirely. Steps in sequence: (1) microchip; (2) rabies primary course; (3) titer test at an approved lab; (4) specific internal and external parasite treatments on a DAFF schedule; (5) export health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS; (6) pre-export isolation period; (7) 10-day+ quarantine on arrival. Quarantine must be pre-booked and can book out months in advance. Contact the Australian Department of Agriculture before starting — the process typically takes 6–12 months.

Confirm with the official authority

This page summarizes Australia's pet-import requirements as of April 2026. Pet-import rules change. Always verify with the official government authority before travel.

Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Importing cats and dogs

Build your travel checklist

Use the Pet Travel Readiness tool to turn Australia's requirements into a sequenced, dated checklist — microchip, vaccines, titer test wait period, and USDA health certificate window — from your travel date.

Build my Australia checklist

Useful guides

USDA health certificate, step by step Microchip and rabies rules

Other destinations

United Kingdom Microchip req. · No quarantine Canada No microchip · No quarantine Mexico No microchip · No quarantine Japan Microchip req. · Quarantine New Zealand Microchip req. · Quarantine
All destinations