How do you bring a pet to Australia in 2026?

DAFF publishes country group guides and step-by-step checklists. Your dog or cat must usually come from an approved country or territory. Many owners need a biosecurity import permit through the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON). Permit conditions list the exact vaccinations, blood tests, treatments, identity documents, and timing windows for your group. Group 3 pathways commonly include a rabies antibody titre test with waiting periods. Some breeds are prohibited. Not every origin country is approved; some owners must relocate the animal to an approved country for months before export.

Book post-entry quarantine early. Companion cats and dogs generally spend at least 10 days at the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility in Victoria. You pay quarantine and assessment fees, and the animal is released only after the account is cleared. Experienced pet shippers help, but they do not replace reading your own permit.

DAFF recommends allowing at least six months for health checks, paperwork, and bookings. Align the pet timeline with your visa pathway so you are not flying while the animal is still mid-test. Arrange someone to collect the pet in Melbourne after quarantine if you live in Perth, Brisbane, or Adelaide. Update your Australian address once settled so follow-up notices reach you: Update your address.

Recheck DAFF pages in the weeks before travel. Forum advice ages badly when country groups or lab rules change.