Australia
Taking your pets to Australia
Australia, is a remarkable and diverse country renowned for its unique wildlife, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. However, when it comes to the transportation of pets to this captivating continent, there are stringent regulations and protocols in place to safeguard its delicate ecosystem and protect its native species.
Australia's approach to shipping pets is rooted in a commitment to biosecurity, ensuring that any introduction of foreign animals poses minimal risk to the environment and public health.
Planning your pets travel to Australia is complicated and time consuming and takes around 8 months from start to finish. This is mainly due to there being a mandatory 180 period from the first blood test until being able to travel, therefore planning well in advance is strongly advised.
General Information, Entry Procedure and Requirements
No pet can travel to Australia that has not been vaccinated against Rabies, therefore this should be the first vaccination requirement which begins the import process.
One month after the Rabies vaccination, or straight away if already vaccinated, you will require a blood sample for a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Test (RNATT). This tests that antibodies have been produced and that the vaccination is working. The date the blood arrives at the Laboratory for testing is the date the mandatory 180 day countdown begins to the first opportunity to ship your pet.
Once this test result comes back, you need a further declaration by another vet to verify the results. Once received, you will then be able to apply for the import permit, book quarantine and reserve flights.
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.
