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Bringing a cat from Australia to 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.
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Federal requirements
CDC and USDA set no entry requirements for pet cats
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Quarantine days
No federal quarantine — Hawaii and Guam run their own programmes
State
Rules that decide
Your destination state's rules — check them before you fly
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Export permit
Australia's DAFF export permit and health certificate are still required on departure

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · Australia → the United States
StepWhat to doWhen
Check state rulesConfirm your destination state's requirements for cats; if the cat is headed to Hawaii or Guam, research their quarantine programmes first Before you book
DAFF-registered vetGive the destination requirements to a DAFF-registered vet in writing and arrange the pre-export health examination 10+ working days out
DAFF Notice of IntentionLodge the Notice of Intention with the DAFF regional office for your departure airport 10+ working days out
Export permit and health certificateIssued by the DAFF veterinary officer once the documents are in order; the cat must leave Australia within 72 hours of the permit being issued Final days
Airline documentsMost airlines require a recent veterinary health certificate for cats even though the US government does not — get one and carry it Travel day

Your preparation timeline

  1. 14+ weeks out — Check destination state rules (and Hawaii/Guam programmes if relevant); book the flight and confirm the airline's cat policy.
  2. 210+ working days out — Lodge the DAFF Notice of Intention; book the registered vet and DAFF appointments.
  3. 3Final 72 hours — DAFF issues the export permit and health certificate — fly within that window.
  4. 4Arrival — Your cat may be inspected at the port and must appear healthy; state rules apply from there.
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Reading 'no federal requirements' as 'no paperwork at all'. Australia still requires the DAFF export process before departure, your airline will normally insist on a recent veterinary health certificate, and your destination state may have rules of its own. The expensive version of this mistake is Hawaii or Guam: their quarantine programmes apply to cats as well as dogs, need vaccinations and blood tests started months ahead, and apply even if you route through the US mainland.

Costs you can plan for

There is no CDC or USDA fee for a pet cat. DAFF export fees apply on the Australian side (Notice of Intention assessment, certification time and the export permit — see DAFF/Micor for current amounts). Your main costs are the vet visit and air transport. If your cat is going to Hawaii, budget for that state's programme fees separately.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Does my cat need a rabies vaccination or health certificate for the US?

Not at federal level: the CDC requires nothing for pet cats and USDA APHIS has no federal cat requirements. Your airline will usually require a health certificate anyway, and some states have their own rules, so carry a recent vet certificate regardless.

Can my cat fly to Hawaii from Australia?

Yes, but Hawaii runs its own rabies programme — even for animals arriving from the US mainland — with vaccination, blood-test and waiting-period steps that must begin months before travel. Treat a Hawaii move as a separate, longer project, not an add-on to the mainland rules.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-12

Official sources for this page

We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.

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