If you’re reading this, chances are you’re beginning to take the move to Australia seriously and are wanting to bring your furry friends along for the ride!
I moved my dog and cat from my home in Australia to the UK in 2021 and then brought them back home to Australia from the UK in 2023, the latter being the hardest process as Australia is the most quarantined country in the world, and therefore comes with additional challenges and hurdles.
The thing I had difficulty finding was the birds eye view of the whole process. There were plenty of complicated documents available, but nothing that really laid the process out in layman’s terms. Queue this blog post!
In this post I will explain the process that I completed with my dog and cat. Please be aware that there are sometimes small changes, but your travel agent will update you of these.
For reference, my dog and cat are both desexed, up to date with annual, lepto and rabies vaccinations and originate from Australia. There may be slight processing differences in other circumstances.
What you will need
- Rabies vaccination and serology 7 months in advance of your intended travel date.
- RNATT Declaration
- Fully vaccinated dog/ cat with evidence (For leptospirosis, rabies and regular annual vaccinations) – Has to be fully in date and maintained. leptospirosis vaccinations are for dogs only.
- An internationally recognised vet.
- Evidence of spaying or neutering ( if the pet is not, they require additional vaccinations).
- Authorised internal and external parasite treatments.
- Australian Quarantine booking (currently only Melbourne available and there can be a waiting list).
- A good pet travel company and agent.
- Flight tickets.
- Approx $7500 AUD per pet.
It may seem overwhelming but I’m going to break it all down! Here we go…
1. The rabies serology and RNATT declaration.
The rabies serology is one of the first things that are to be completed as this has to be processed and certified 7 months in advance. If your pet has already had a rabies serology within the last 2 years, then this can be used.
If your pet has not yet been vaccinated for rabies, this is a must do. You require to wait 4-6 weeks after the vaccination before having the serology completed.
The serology can be done at your vet but requires to be sent to specific labs to be processed, as only certain labs are universally considered. We went through Weybridge. It is best to get into contact with the company of the laboratory that your serology will be processed in. I had to fill out forms and the appropriate address to send the bloods off. The forms need to also be signed by the vet who is taking the bloods for testing.
once the serology is completed, you can provide your pet travel agent with the certification which is processed by the company on your behalf for an RNATT declaration. Your pet travel agent will send this to the Australian government prior to flying over.
Price: Approx $300 AUD per animal.
2. Find a good pet travel transportation company
There are many pet transportation companies where prices and quality of care differ massively. We were recommended Airpets by our previous Australian agent and went with them, which I also personally recommend.
You can start the process by asking for a quote which is based off the animals weight and flight. Alternatively, you can shoot them an email, especially if you have any questions. They are relatively quick and thorough with their replies.
The pet transportation companies often require a deposit prior to beginning the journey with you – ours was 800 pounds for both animals. You can pay the remainder of the fee up to 6 weeks prior to the animals flying out.
Once you have your agent sorted, they will guide you through the process and will send through evidence of vaccinations, certificates and book quarantine on your behalf.
Price: The price varies a lot according to species, weight, time of year, etc. I personally paid approx $2920 AUD per animal.
3. Book quarantine in Australia
As mentioned above, your pet travel agent will organise this for you once you provide the appropriate documentation. They will send you through a link and paper work once it has been received. It is best to get this process done in advance.
The only current quarantine centre available is in Melbourne, meaning there isn’t a lot of space available and can take months to get into. I booked 6 months in advance. Quarantine has to be paid as a whole before it can be confirmed.
Keep in mind that if you’re not planning to move to Melbourne, you may also have to organise internal flights around Australia which will come with an additional fee. No further quarantine is required once your pets have completed quarantine however! Internal flights and transport can be organised at a later date.
The law for the quarantine period had only just changed in early 2023 which involved the quarantine period being moved from 10 days in length to 30 days. There is an exception for pets that have originated from Australia. If you can prove your pets have been Australian born (e.g. with a health certificate they received when leaving the country) the quarantine period remains 10 days in length.
Price: $2200 AUD per pet.
4. Ensure vaccinations are up to date
Dogs and cats require to be up to date with their annual vaccinations, that they should be getting every year regardless of trouble. Dogs should be vaccinated for leptospirosis (lepto). These vaccinations should be kept up to date within 1 year of their previous dose. If the dosages are out by a matter of a few days, then the course will have to commence again. E.g. If your pet was vaccinated on the 1st of March 2022, then they should be re-vaccinated within a few days of of the 1st of March 2023.
If your dog has never been vaccinated for lepto, then you can opt for a serology test for lepto, however, the vaccination is cheaper and easier.
If your dog is not desexed, additional vaccinations will require to be done in addition to a serology. Both of my animals were spayed and neutered so I was able to bypass this process by providing both of their desexing certificates. An additional form will be given to you by your pet travel agent for your vet to fill out. Your vet can do this with desexing certificates.
A full course of vaccinations should be completed within 4-6 weeks of leaving the country. Check with your pet travel agent in case any changes occur.
Price: Annual and leptospirosis vaccinations / vet consultancy should not exceed $390 AUD
5. Book flights
It is possible to coordinate flights so you are on the same flight as your pet however they will be kept in cargo. You will also not be able to see them once landing.
Alternatively, they can go on seperate flights. This may be easier as it gives you more wiggle room for more affordable flights.
There are only selected flights that will carry pets. At times they only come out 6 weeks in advance, but your pet travel agent will be able to talk you through this process, as everyone is different. They also will ensure to line up quarantine dates with flight dates for you.
My pets went through Dubai and had a break where they were let out in a paddock to stretch their legs, eat and drink before continuing to Melbourne.
You will also submit pet profiles with your travel agent which will give details about your pets such as their personalities and preferences for food and bedding. You will also require to buy a crate for your animals according to their measurements. If your pets have used an international approved crate in the past, this can be used.
They are however not allowed to bring any toys on the plane with them, and collars / leashes may be disposed of once they reach Australia. You can provide your pets with an item of your clothing to give them comfort whilst travelling.
Price: This is dependent on weight, time of year and flight company. Approx $2400 AUD per pet.
6. Complete pre – flight parasite treatments
Your dog and/ or cat will require to be treated with both internal and external parasite treatments within a certain time frame of your pets boarding their flight and entering Australia.
This is very time critical – your pet travel agent should provide you with dates and when to have their treatments / vaccinations completed with your vet. They should also provide you with a sheet of internal and external parasite treatments for both dogs and cats that are accepted in Australia. It is also worth mentioning that everyones schedules may look different depending on the treatments you use. Some require 3 treatments, other are longer acting and only require two. Again, this will be provided to you and taken into consideration when your vet schedule is being prepared.
I recommend booking an appointment with your vet and showing them the list of accepted Australian parasite treatments prior to commencing the treatments themselves. This is so the vet can understand your timetable and organise availability dates – only internationally recognised vets can complete this process. Additionally, they can ensure that they have the specific treatments ordered / in stock, as not all vets will keep the appropriate parasite treatments. I bought mine in advance and took the treatments to each appointment.
I had to visit the vets monthly for 3 months for the animals to receive their parasite treatments leading up to their flights. You can use this time to also get your vet to fill in any additional documentation (e.g. desexing certificates), to save money on additional appointments.
As a reference my time table looked like this;
- 10th of January – cat and dog external and internal parasite treatment given by internationally recognised vet at our local clinic. Desexing certificates were also signed.
- 10th of February – cat and dog external and internal parasite treatment given by internationally recognised vet at our local clinic. (Treated with longer acting parasite treatments).
- 1st of March – Animals were taken to airpets where they received their final treatments which was included within their cost. They were also both issued with health certificates by the UK government.
- 3rd of March – Left the UK on their flight.
I cannot stress enough – keep to the organised dates as per you pet travel agent, otherwise you will risk your flights being delayed and additional expenses.
Price: Again, the prices will differ depending on the treatment and your vet price. I paid $150 AUD per pet.
7. Keep up with your pets journey
Your pet travel agent will keep you up to date with times that your pets have left / landed and their progress. They will also reach out ASAP if there have been any issues with your pets journey or health. They are provided with food and water over the duration of their flights.
Like any other commercial flight, their flight can be tracked by using their reference number and you can monitor there whereabouts yourself.
As mentioned before, my pets stopped in Dubai in kennels overnight where they were provided with water and meals and given a space to run around and stretch their legs in. The Dubai team also provided me with updates on how they were both managing, in addition to photos of them in their kennels.
Once they land in Australia, pets are taken from the air port to the quarantine centre by staff and given their own kennels / outdoor play area in addition to 24 hour care. They require health checks to be completed and their documentation analysed on entry. This process can take 24 hours to be submitted. This means that they recommend you to wait for the 24 hour duration to pass before contacting via email or phone. This way the team can given you an in depth and accurate report.
The team will also reach out immediatley if there are any concerns. For example, my cat was constipated and they trialled a number of litters to make him more comfortable and encourage to open his bowels. They also kept me in the loop and offered me various vets that could care for him. Luckily, this resolved on its own. My pets stayed in quarantine for 10 days. If your pets have not originated from Australia / have no evidence of their origin, they require to stay for 30 days.
8. Pick your pets up from quarantine
If you live nearby or are wanting to pick your pets up from the centre in Melbourne yourself, you are required to book a time to do so. Your travel agent will organise this with you. Keep in mind that these time frames are rigid and you are required to turn up 15 minutes early. If you miss this slot, you will have to make another appointment. This is the route I did.
Alternatively, you can have your pets sent to you via car (within reason) or another flight. This will have to be arranged with quarantine services and exterior companies.
Keep in mind that there is a release fee for all animals which is to be paid prior to your pets being taken out of quarantine.
Price: Release fee is $210 AUD per pet.
The total cost estimate per pet: $7750 per pet in my experience
I just want to reiterate that this was from my personal experience with my process being from 2022-March 2023. Throughout this time policies and laws did change, a process in which is ongoing to continually protect Australia. Although this is here to provide an idea of the process, the best information is from your pet travelling company.
Wander Mak 
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