Australia
Taking your pets to Australia
With some of the strictest entry requirements worldwide, taking your pet to Australia requires careful planning to ensure that your pet meets all the entry criteria.
We have been transporting pets of all species (cats, dogs, birds, horses) to Australia for over 25 years and have a deep understanding of the complexities and procedures, providing you with the assurance that your pet will travel as comfortably and safely as possible.
We will guide you through the process step by step, navigating all the logistical requirements from document preparation, blood work schedules, import permits, application for space at the quarantine facility and preparation of the Export Health Certificate before departure.
We work with a number of airlines that provide multiple departure airports across the UK, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Birmingham.
General Information, Entry Procedure and Requirements
To begin the export process from the UK, your pet must be vaccinated against Rabies, followed around a month later by a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Test (RNATT), which must be completed at least 180days before your pet departs for Australia.
During this time, your pet will need an import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture before being able to request space at the government-run facility in Melbourne, which is currently 30 days (unless your pet is returning, which is reduced to 10 days).
Once your pet has been accepted for a space in quarantine, we can book your pet’s flights, which are generally two days prior to the arrival date. With this date known, we can then work backwards to meet the timetable of blood tests and parasite treatments to comply with the conditions of the export health certificate, which is then signed off within 5 days of departure.
Pre Flight Tests
Once an estimated departure date is set, you can then work backwards to meet the required blood tests and treatments which must be undertaken at specific stages prior to departure, with a slightly different process for Dogs and Cats.
Dogs
Starting around 60 days before the flight, various tests and vaccinations must be undertaken within specific timescales before the flight. These include testing for Leptospira, Leishmania and Brucella Canis, as well as two courses of internal and external parasite treatments. Finally, the Export Health Certificate (EHC) is completed within 5 days of export.
Cats
Starting around 45 days before the flight you will need to undergo treatment for internal and external parasites (no blood tests required) before the Export Health Certificate (EHC) is completed within 5 days before the flight.
Entry into Australia and Quarantine
All pets must enter Australia via Melbourne Airport (MEL), regardless of whether your new home will be in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or anywhere else in the country.
They will spend their quarantine period, currently 30-days (unless the Dog/ Cat is returning to Australia where it is reduced to 10-days) in the Government run post-entry quarantine facility at Mickleham, close to Melbourne airport.
After their 30-day period in the Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility is finished, an appointment is made for you to collect your pet. If you are not able to collect the animal yourself, we can arrange, through one of our partner pet transport agents in Melbourne, the collection and onward ground or air transport to your new home.
Need any Help?
We're sure you have lots of questions about organising travel for your pet. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have something specific you would like to ask, or make get a quote by using our quick online quote form.
