Animal Transportation to Australia

Pet Transport to and from Australia

Organising pet transport to and from Australia requires careful preparation: obtaining an import permit, following the veterinary protocol, booking quarantine and arranging air travel as freight. With over 20 years of expertise in international pet travel, Air Transport Animal supports you at every stage to help secure your companion’s journey and coordinate the different parties involved, from your home to arrival in Australia.

Whether you are bringing a pet to Australia as part of a move, an expatriation or repatriation, our team adapts its support to your needs. We can handle all or part of your pet’s travel arrangements, including document checks, IATA travel crate compliance, air freight booking, custom formalities upon departure and the onward journey after quarantine.

The process needs to be started well in advance. For a dog or cat travelling from France, which is classified as a Group 3 approved country by the Australian authorities, you should generally allow at least 6 months before departure to meet the timelines linked to rabies, antibody testing and other import requirements. Our role is to make your pet’s journey to Australia easier to plan with clear follow-up, practical advice and a dedicated point of contact.

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Types of Pets That Can Be Transported to or from Australia

Dogs and cats are the pets most commonly accepted for import, provided that they come from an approved country and meet the full protocol established by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Bringing a dog or cat to Australia is therefore possible, but only after completing the required health and administrative preparation.

Other species may be admitted in tightly controlled circumstances. DAFF indicates that certain rabbits, horses and birds may be imported from authorised countries, subject to specific conditions.

However, many domestic or exotic animals, including ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, reptiles and several other vertebrates, cannot be imported into Australia as pets.

Restrictions also apply to certain hybrid dogs and cats, as well as specific prohibited dog breeds.

Prohibited pure dog breeds:

• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff)
• Japanese Tosa
• Perro de Presa Canario (Presa Canario)

Prohibited wolf hybrids:

• Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
• Saarloos Wolfdog
• Italian Wolfdog
• Kunming Wolfdog
• Any other wolf hybrid

Prohibited cat breeds and types:

• Savannah: a domestic cat (Felis catus) crossed with a serval (Felis serval) is prohibited.
• Safari: not permitted.
• Chausie: import and ownership prohibited.
• Bengal: import of this hybrid breed is prohibited, including under strengthened import restrictions.

Before making any booking, it is essential to check the eligibility of the species, country of origin and your pet’s profile in BICON, Australia’s official biosecurity import conditions system. Our pet transport company can help you identify the rules that apply to your case before you commit to the formalities and transport costs.

Bringing Pets to Australia

Key Requirements

For a dog or cat coming from France, the process includes in particular:

• Microchip identification. Tattoos are not accepted in Australia
• Rabies vaccination
• A rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT)
• An import permit, together with the relevant Veterinary Certificate for Cats (Appendix A) or Veterinary Certificate for Dogs (Appendix A)
• Veterinary checks and treatments
• Quarantine booking
• Issuance of an international pet health certificate

France is currently classified as a Group 3 approved country. For these animals, the rabies vaccination must remain valid and the RNATT must show a compliant result. The animal cannot be exported before the regulatory 180-day period linked to the RNATT has elapsed.

Commercial travel is arranged as cargo rather than in the cabin, using a travel crate that complies with International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards.

For dogs and cats from Group 2 or Group 3 countries, arrival must be arranged directly at Melbourne International Airport before transfer to the Mickleham quarantine facility. Stopovers and transits are also subject to specific conditions, so the itinerary must be validated before the transport is purchased or booked.

Requirements may change. Before departure, you should therefore check your permit, the applicable BICON conditions and the current DAFF instructions for your pet.

Our team supports you throughout the journey. Contact us if you have questions or would like help organising animal transport to Australia.

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Required Documents

Depending on the species, country of origin and conditions stated on the permit, the travel documents to prepare for bringing a pet to Australia include:

• A valid Australian import permit obtained through BICON.
• The official veterinary health certificate corresponding to the exporting country and species.
• Proof of electronic identification and, where completed, the official identity verification declaration.
• The rabies vaccination certificate and laboratory report for the rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT), together with the required declarations.
• For dogs, laboratory results and certificates for any tests, vaccinations or treatments required by the permit.
• Proof of internal and external parasite treatments and the veterinary examination before departure.
• Confirmation of the quarantine booking and the air transport or freight information required for the file.
• The European pet passport or vaccination record showing a current rabies vaccination.

Veterinary Protocol

The veterinary protocol should be planned backwards from the departure date and followed precisely. It begins with microchip scanning at each key stage, followed by identity verification when this is used to reduce the quarantine period. Rabies vaccination, the RNATT, the regulatory waiting period, the import permit application and the final health preparations then follow.

In the weeks before the flight, a licensed vet will need to carry out the tests, recommended vaccinations and treatments required by the permit. Parasite treatments must be completed within specific time frames, while the final clinical examination and endorsement of the health certificate take place in the last days before departure.

For entry into Australia, dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations, including against:

• Rabies
• Ehrlichiosis
• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Leptospirosis
• Brucellosis
• Leishmaniasis

The last three must also be tested within the 45 days before departure for Australia.

Cats must be vaccinated against:

• Rabies
• Feline enteritis
• Feline rhinotracheitis
• Calicivirus

The international pet travel veterinary protocol also includes treatment against external parasites started within the required pre-departure period, as well as two treatments against internal parasites in the 45 days before export. These must be at least 14 days apart, with the second treatment administered within 5 days before the flight. A final clinical examination and endorsement of the health certificate complete the file.

Quarantine Conditions and Duration in Australia

How to Book It and When?

Quarantine is booked with Australia’s Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) service through the official booking system, after the import permit has been issued. Because places are linked to authorised arrival dates, we advise you to coordinate the quarantine booking, transport date and cargo flight before finalising the itinerary. We can include this step in your schedule and follow up with the relevant partners.

How Long Does It Last?

Upon arrival in Australia, dogs and cats must complete post-entry quarantine at the Mickleham facility in the state of Victoria. For an animal coming from a Group 3 country such as France, the minimum period is generally 30 days.

It may be reduced to a minimum of 10 days when the animal meets the requirements for official identity verification before the RNATT, or in certain cases involving the return of an animal originally from Australia. The applicable period is stated on the import permit.

What Are the Quarantine Conditions?

The government Post Entry Quarantine facility is located at Mickleham, near Melbourne. Upon arrival at the Melbourne International Airport, the animal is transferred to the facility, where its health status and documentation are checked. Once quarantine has been completed and the animal is cleared for release, we can, depending on the chosen package, organise the onward journey to your home or destination city, such as Sydney, Perth or another part of Australia.

Useful Contacts to Transport Your Pet to and from Australia

The DAFF website can help you establish your pet’s travel timeline and determine the appropriate flight date for your dog, cat or other eligible pet.

The required procedures are listed there. If you wish, we can handle all or part of them on your behalf.

DAFF website: official Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

Melbourne quarantine facility:

• 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham VIC 3064 — enter from Polaris Road
• Tel: 1800 900 090 or +61 3 8318 6700
• Fax: +61 3 9391 0860

Relocate Your Pet to Australia with Air Transport Animal

Pet relocation to a highly regulated country like Australia involves much more than booking a flight. Air Transport Animal works with you to build a realistic travel schedule, checks the applicable requirements, guides you through the documentation and veterinary protocol, verifies IATA travel crate compliance and coordinates freight with the selected airline or cargo partner.

Depending on the package selected, our support can start at your home and include a pet taxi, departure customs formalities, document inspection, check-in assistance, international transport and organisation of the onward journey after quarantine. This allows us to offer pet transport services tailored to your needs, whether you are looking for a more budget-friendly option or more comprehensive support.

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