Bringing a dog or cat to Australia
One of the hardest places in the world to bring a pet. Only pets from New Zealand and Norfolk Island skip the permit and quarantine. Everyone else needs a BICON import permit, a long list of vet tests and at least 10 days in the Mickleham quarantine station, and pets from Group 3 countries also need a rabies titer test (RNATT) followed by a 180-day wait. Pets from non-approved countries must first live in an approved country for 180 days and be fully prepared there.
Which rules apply to you
Australia sorts arriving pets by where they travel from. Find your group, then follow its steps.
| Arriving from | Titer test | Wait after sample | Permit | Quarantine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1: New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) IslandsPets that have lived only in New Zealand (or Norfolk Island) since birth or since import from Australia, or for at least 180 days immediately before export. Cocos (Keeling) Islands is also Group 1, but cats from there need a permit. | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
| Group 2: approved rabies-free countriesPets exported from a Group 2 rabies-free country or territory, including Hawaii (US). Hawaii has no ISO2 code, so it is not in the list. The pet must have lived in Group 1 or 2 countries since birth (or since leaving Australia), or for at least 180 days before export. | No | — | Yes | 10+ days |
| Group 3: approved countries where rabies is absent or well controlledPets exported from a Group 3 approved country, including the UK, the USA (but not Guam or Hawaii, which are Group 2), Canada and most of the EU. The pet must have lived in approved countries for at least 180 days before export. | Yes | 180 days | Yes | 10+ days |
| Non-approved countriesEvery country not in Group 1, 2 or 3 (for example India, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil and most of Africa). | Yes | 180 days | Yes | 10+ days |
Step by step
Microchip the pet
Use an ISO-compliant chip (usually 15 digits). Numbers starting with 999 are rejected. The chip is scanned at every vet visit.
Test dogs for Leishmania if needed
A dog that has ever lived outside NZ (other than in Australia) needs a negative Leishmania infantum IFAT or ELISA test, taken after at least 21 days in NZ.
Treat for parasites within 5 days of export
Apply a compliant topical tick and flea product and give a worming treatment against roundworms and tapeworms. Oral flea and tick products usually don't qualify.
Get the AUPET9 health certificate
An MPI-listed vet (AUPET9) or an MPI official vet (AUPETOA9) examines the pet and issues the certificate within 5 days before export. The original travels with the pet.
Fly direct as cargo and notify ahead
Fly directly from NZ to mainland Australia as manifested cargo (not in the cabin). Notify the department's regional office at least 3 days before arrival.
No quarantine if standard conditions are met
Microchip and verify identity
Implant an ISO chip (not starting with 999). At least 180 days before export, the export country's government authority verifies the pet's identity and sends a declaration to Australia.
Apply for a BICON import permit
Apply and pay in BICON, and book quarantine at Mickleham. Permits usually take 20–40 business days but can take up to 123. A permit is valid for up to 12 months and must be valid on arrival.
Do the dog tests within 45 days of export
Dogs need Leptospira canicola vaccination or a negative test, a Brucella canis test (if not desexed) and a Leishmania test. Dogs from Singapore and Hawaii also need canine influenza vaccination.
Treat for parasites
Start external parasite treatment at least 30 days before export. Give two internal treatments within 45 days of export, at least 14 days apart, with the second one within 5 days of export.
Exam and endorsed certificate within 5 days
A government-approved vet examines the pet and completes the health certificate within 5 days before export. An official government vet then endorses it and seals the crate.
Fly as cargo direct to Melbourne
The pet must arrive at Melbourne airport as manifested cargo in a sealed IATA crate. It stays at least 10 days at Mickleham quarantine.
At least 10 days at the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility in Melbourne. Fees must be paid before release.
Microchip the pet
Implant an ISO-compliant chip (not starting with 999) before any other step. It is scanned at every visit.
Vaccinate against rabies
Use an approved vaccine given at 84 days (12 weeks) of age or older. Keep vaccination valid without any lapse until export, or the RNATT and the 180-day wait start over.
Optional identity check, then RNATT blood test
Have an official government vet verify the pet's identity before the blood draw; this cuts quarantine from 30 to 10 days. Then take the blood 3–4 weeks after a first vaccine and send it to an approved lab. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Apply for a BICON import permit
Apply with the RNATT report and the signed RNATT declaration, and book Mickleham quarantine. Processing takes 20–123 business days. The permit expires when the RNATT expires.
Wait 180 days
Export no sooner than 180 days after the lab received the blood sample, and within 12 months of the sample date.
Do the dog tests and parasite treatments
Within 45 days of export, dogs need Leptospira (vaccine or test), Brucella canis (if not desexed) and Leishmania tests. Dogs from the USA, South Korea and Canada also need canine influenza steps. All pets get external parasite treatment from at least 30 days out, plus two internal treatments (the second within 5 days of export).
Exam and endorsed certificate within 5 days
A government-approved vet examines the pet and completes the certificate within 5 days of export, and an official government vet endorses it. Original documents with wet-ink stamps are required.
Fly as cargo direct to Melbourne
The pet must arrive at Melbourne airport as manifested cargo. Domestic transfers are not allowed. It goes to Mickleham quarantine for at least 10 or 30 days.
At least 10 days at Mickleham if a government vet verified the pet's identity before the RNATT blood draw. Otherwise at least 30 days.
No direct import possible
Australia does not accept cats or dogs exported from a non-approved country. Since 1 March 2023, all preparations must be done in an approved country.
Relocate the pet to an approved country
Move the pet to a Group 1, 2 or 3 country and keep it there continuously for at least 180 days immediately before export to Australia.
Redo the whole process there
Follow that country's full pathway, including a new RNATT blood sample drawn in the approved country. Tests done in non-approved countries are not recognised, whichever lab ran them.
Same as the approved export country's pathway (10–30 days at Mickleham)
Good to know
- Cats
- Mostly the same steps (microchip, permit, rabies vaccine and RNATT for Group 3, parasite treatments, quarantine). The dog-only tests (Leptospira, Brucella, Leishmania, canine influenza) don't apply. Some hybrid cats are banned.
- Banned breeds
- Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canario / Presa Canario, Dog-wolf hybrids (e.g. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Saarloos Wolfhound, Lupo Italiano), Hybrid cats (e.g. Savannah, Safari, Chausie, and Bengal within early generations)
- How many pets
- Not specified
- Parasite treatment
- Group 2/3: start external parasite treatment at least 30 days before export, and give two internal (nematode + cestode) treatments within 45 days of export, at least 14 days apart, with the second within 5 days of export. NZ: external and internal treatment within 5 days of export. Imidocarb treatment if the pet has been in mainland Africa.
- Arrival
- Group 2/3: Melbourne International Airport only, as manifested cargo in a sealed IATA crate, followed by Mickleham quarantine. No in-cabin travel. NZ pets can fly direct as cargo to mainland first points of entry, or arrive by sea.
- Allow at least 6–7 months for a Group 3 import.
- Pets must not be more than 30 days pregnant (Group 2/3) or nursing at export.
- Transhipment through Group 3 countries is restricted; for Group 2 pets it is allowed only in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, London, Dubai and Hong Kong.
- Mickleham quarantine must be booked and paid for; fees are charged per animal.
What we could not confirm
- The Group 2 and Group 3 lists were read from a DAFF page whose lists were not clearly labelled. Check them against BICON before publishing.
- The hybrid breed list (wolf hybrids, Savannah/Bengal-type cats) was not confirmed on an official page; the ABF page lists only the 5 prohibited dog breeds.
- The cat guides were not fetched (the site blocked the requests). Cat details are assumed to match the dog guides minus the dog-only tests.
- Some DAFF pages blocked automated reading (robots.txt), including the FAQ and the non-approved pathway guides.
- The Group 2 cat 180-day identity verification rule was assumed to match the dog rule.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) – Biosecurity, BICON before booking.