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Taking a pet out of Australia
There is no single rulebook for leaving Australia — the destination country sets the requirements, so the papers, tests and waiting periods depend on where you are going. Below are the 8 routes from Australia we have verified so far, covering New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Every route page is checked against two official sources — the destination government's import rules and the export guidance for leaving Australia — and carries its own "last verified" date. How early you need to start depends on the route; see how far in advance to prepare, and how we check every rule.
Dogs leaving Australia
Dog: Australia → the United States
Yes — and this is one of the easiest long-haul moves there is. Australia is on the CDC's dog-rabies-free / low-risk list, so the United States requires no rabies vaccination, no rabies blood test and no CDC health certificate. The only CDC document is the free online CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must be at least 6 months old, have a readable microchip and appear healthy on arrival, and can enter at any US port. Australia's own DAFF export process (Notice of Intention, export permit and health certificate) still applies on the way out.
Moderate rulesDog: Australia → the United Kingdom
Yes. Australia is a 'listed' country for Great Britain, so your dog travels on a Great Britain pet health certificate — no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the rules are met. The sequence that matters: microchip first, then a rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, then a wait of at least 21 full days after the primary course. Dogs also need a vet tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival, and must fly an approved route as manifest cargo. Fail the checks and your dog can be quarantined for up to 4 months at your expense.
Moderate rulesDog: Australia → New Zealand
Yes — under the trans-Tasman arrangement, Australia is New Zealand's only Category 1 origin country, and that buys real privileges: no import permit, no quarantine, and a compliant dog is cleared by MPI inspectors on arrival. It does not buy a paperwork-free trip. Your dog's final month is a sequenced programme of parasite treatments and blood tests (Babesia gibsoni, heartworm, and Brucella canis for entire dogs), ending with a vet inspection in the last 2 days and DAFF-endorsed Model Veterinary Certificates A and B. MPI needs at least 5 working days' notice of arrival, and air arrivals are Auckland or Christchurch only.
Moderate rulesDog: Australia → Singapore
Yes. Australia is a Schedule I (rabies-free) country for Singapore's AVS, so your dog needs no rabies vaccination, no rabies blood test and faces no quarantine if fully compliant and healthy on arrival. The work is administrative: the dog must have lived continuously in a Schedule I country for at least 6 months (or since birth), be licensed in Singapore's PALS system before the import licence is issued via GoBusiness (S$50, valid 90 days), and travel on a veterinary certificate signed and DAFF-endorsed within 7 days of export, with core vaccinations current and parasite treatments done 2 to 7 days before the flight. Singapore also requires the crate to be sealed for the journey, arranged through DAFF.
Cats leaving Australia
Cat: Australia → the United States
Yes — at the US federal level there is almost nothing to do. The CDC imposes no entry requirements on pet cats, and USDA APHIS has no federal requirements either: no vaccination, no health certificate, no form. Your cat must simply appear healthy on arrival. What still applies is Australia's DAFF export process on departure, your airline's own document rules, and any rules set by your destination state — Hawaii and Guam run their own quarantine programmes.
Moderate rulesCat: Australia → the United Kingdom
Yes. Australia is a 'listed' country for Great Britain, so your cat travels on a Great Britain pet health certificate — no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the rules are met. Microchip first, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, then at least 21 full days after the primary course before travel. Cats from Australia carry one extra, Australia-only requirement: a certificate from the Australian Department of Agriculture confirming the cat has not been exposed to the Hendra virus in the 60 days before departure. Pets fly approved routes as manifest cargo.
Simple rulesCat: Australia → New Zealand
Yes — the trans-Tasman Category 1 arrangement makes this the simplest version of the New Zealand move. Australia is the only Category 1 origin country: no import permit, no quarantine, no blood tests and no rabies steps for cats, and a compliant cat is cleared by MPI on arrival. What remains is a parasite treatment sequence in the final month, a final vet inspection within 2 days of travel, DAFF-endorsed Model Veterinary Certificates A and B, and at least 5 working days' notice to MPI. Air arrivals are Auckland or Christchurch only.
Moderate rulesCat: Australia → Singapore
Yes. Australia is a Schedule I (rabies-free) country for Singapore's AVS, so your cat needs no rabies vaccination, no rabies blood test and faces no quarantine if fully compliant and healthy on arrival. The conditions mirror the dog route: continuous residency in a Schedule I country for at least 6 months (or since birth), a Singapore cat licence via PALS before the import licence (S$50 via GoBusiness, valid 90 days), core vaccinations current, parasite treatments 2 to 7 days before export, and a veterinary certificate signed and DAFF-endorsed within 7 days of export. Singapore requires the crate to be sealed for the journey, arranged through DAFF.