Moving your dog or cat from United Kingdom to Australia
Short answer: start at least 220 days before your flight. Rules last checked against official sources on 2026-10-30.
This page and the planner are generated automatically from official government sources. Planning tool only — not veterinary, legal or professional advice; no human expert reviews your plan. Always confirm with your vet, the official authority and your airline.
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United Kingdom → Australia pet import requirements
| Requirement | Status | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microchip | required | ISO-compliant microchip (numbers starting 999 not accepted), scanned at every vet visit and matching every document exactly. | official |
| Rabies vaccine | required | Approved rabies vaccine given at 84+ days old, valid continuously from the RNATT blood sample through export. | official |
| Rabies titer test (RNATT) | required | RNATT (FAVN or RFFIT) ≥0.5 IU/ml, sample taken 3–4 weeks after vaccination; export no sooner than 180 days after the sample reaches the lab and within 12 months of sampling. RNATT declaration signed by an official government vet. | official |
| Health certificate / endorsement | required | Veterinary health certificate completed by a government-approved vet after the final exam (within 5 days of export) and endorsed, every page, by an official government vet of the competent authority (APHA (the UK competent authority)). Originals only. | official |
| Import permit / pre-notification | required | Import permit via BICON, applied for after the RNATT declaration; most issued in 20–40 business days, up to 123. Valid until the RNATT expires. | official |
| Quarantine | required | Post-entry quarantine at Mickleham (Melbourne): minimum 30 days, or minimum 10 days if an official vet verified identity before the RNATT. Owner pays. | official |
| Approved routes / airports | required | Arrive directly at Melbourne International Airport as manifested cargo in an IATA-approved crate (no domestic transfers). | official |
| Breed restrictions | required | Dogs banned: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, (American) Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canario, and wolf hybrids (e.g. Czechoslovakian/Saarloos wolfdog). Cats banned: non-domestic hybrids incl. Savannah, Safari, Chausie and (since 1 Mar 2026) Bengal. | official |
| Other | required | Dogs: Leptospira Canicola vaccination (final/booster 12 months–14 days before export) or negative test within 45 days; Leishmania test and (if not desexed) Brucella canis test within 45 days; external parasite treatment from 30 days (cats 21 days); two internal parasite treatments within 45 days. | official |
Order of steps
- Microchip your pet (ISO; not starting 999) — at least 220 days before the flight. Must be readable at every visit; every document must show the exact number.
- Rabies vaccination (84+ days old) — at least 215 days before the flight. Approved vaccine; must stay valid from the RNATT sample through export.
- Official identity verification (optional, recommended) — at least 190 days before the flight. Done by APHA (the UK competent authority) before — and at a different visit from — the RNATT blood draw. Cuts quarantine from 30 to 10 days minimum.
- RNATT blood sample (government-approved vet) — between 365 and 185 days before the flight. 3–4 weeks after vaccination. Export only 180+ days after the sample arrives at the lab (allow shipping time) and within 12 months of sampling.
- RNATT declaration from an official government vet — at least 175 days before the flight. Submit the rabies certificate and lab report to APHA (the UK competent authority); numbers must match exactly.
- Apply and pay for the import permit (BICON) — at least 170 days before the flight. Apply as soon as you have the RNATT declaration. Most permits: 20–40 business days; up to 123.
- Book Mickleham quarantine and manifested-cargo flight to Melbourne — at least 60 days before the flight. After the permit is issued. Recommended: at least 2 months ahead.
- Leptospira Canicola vaccination (or negative MAT test within 45 days) — between 365 and 14 days before the flight (dogs). Final/booster dose between 12 months and 14 days before export.
- Leishmania infantum test (IFAT or ELISA) — between 45 and 7 days before the flight (dogs). Within 45 days of export; must be negative. Recommended: leave a week for results.
- Brucella canis test (only if not desexed) — between 45 and 7 days before the flight (dogs). RSAT, TAT or IFAT within 45 days of export; negative.
- Start external parasite (tick/flea) treatment — at least 30 days before the flight (dogs). Dogs: at least 30 days before export (day 0 = first treatment); keep effective until export.
- Start external parasite (tick/flea) treatment — at least 21 days before the flight. Cats: at least 21 days before export; keep effective until export.
- First internal parasite treatment — between 45 and 19 days before the flight. Within 45 days of export and at least 14 days before the second.
- Final exam + second internal parasite treatment — between 5 and 1 days before the flight. Within 5 days before export (same visit allowed).
- Official government vet endorses certificate and lab reports — between 5 and 1 days before the flight. APHA (the UK competent authority); within 5 days before export, after the final exam. Check office hours/holidays.
- Fly to Melbourne as manifested cargo (IATA crate, nothing inside) — at least 0 days before the flight. Biosecurity officers take your pet to Mickleham quarantine.
Items marked “verify” could not be fully confirmed; check the official source and your vet.