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Bringing a cat from China to Australia

No — not directly. China is a non-approved country for Australia: cats cannot be imported from China at all, on any paperwork. The only lawful route is to relocate your cat to an approved country first (Hong Kong, which Australia classes as Group 3, is the usual choice), have it live there continuously for at least 180 days immediately before export, and then complete Australia's full Group 3 protocol from that country — every vaccination and test must be done in the approved country; anything done in China does not count.
No direct route
Entry from China
China is a non-approved country
180 days
Residency first
Continuous, in an approved country
0
China-side tests that count
Vaccinations/tests must be redone in the approved country
10 or 30 days
Quarantine at the end
Mickleham, after an eligible Group 3 export

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · China → Australia
StepWhat to doWhen
Accept there is no direct paperwork fixNo certificate, titer or permit issued for a cat departing China makes it eligible. DAFF's rule is structural: the cat's country of export must be an approved country, and China is not on the Group 1, 2 or 3 lists. Before anything else
Relocate to an approved countryMove your cat to an approved country and keep it there continuously for at least 180 days immediately before the Australian export. Hong Kong (Group 3) is the closest option for most owners in China; the United States, UK, Canada and most of the EU are also Group 3. Residency evidence matters — keep boarding, vet and address records. ≥180 days before export
Restart the whole protocol thereIn the approved country: ISO microchip confirmed, rabies vaccination kept valid without lapse, optional official identity verification before the blood draw (this is what later qualifies the cat for 10 instead of 30 days of quarantine). After relocation
RNATT titer test + 180-day waitRabies antibody test at a DAFF-recognised laboratory, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher. Export is only possible once the sample has been at the laboratory for at least 180 days — this wait runs inside the approved country and overlaps with the residency period if you sequence it early. ≥180 days before export
Import permit (BICON)Apply online in BICON from the approved country of export, declaring the cat's full history including its time in China — DAFF assesses these cases individually. Fee: AUD $626 for the first animal, $299 for each additional. Most permits take 20–40 business days; DAFF says it can take up to 123. During the wait
Final preparation in the approved countryParasite treatments in the final window as set by your permit conditions, pre-export examination and health certificate within 5 days of export, then manifested cargo to Melbourne and quarantine at Mickleham: 10 days with the identity verification, otherwise 30 days. Final 45 days

Your preparation timeline

  1. 1Month 0 — Cat relocates to an approved country (e.g. Hong Kong); residency clock starts
  2. 2Months 0–1 — Chip check, rabies vaccination, identity verification, RNATT blood draw — the 180-day lab clock starts
  3. 3Months 1–6 — Both 180-day clocks run; apply for the BICON permit
  4. 4Final 45 days — Parasite treatment schedule in the approved country
  5. 5Final 5 days — Vet examination, health certificate, cargo flight to Melbourne
  6. 6Arrival — Post-entry quarantine at Mickleham: 10 days with identity verification, otherwise 30 days
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Doing the expensive steps in China first. A rabies titer, vaccination series or certificate completed in China counts for nothing on this route — DAFF requires all testing and vaccination to take place in the approved country. Money spent 'preparing' in China before the move is wasted; the clocks only start after relocation.

Costs you can plan for

The dominant cost is time: at least 6 months of living costs for your cat in an approved country, on top of the standard Group 3 Australian charges (AUD, per animal): import permit $626 for the first animal ($299 each additional); Mickleham quarantine — reservation $282, importation charge $1,132, accommodation $56/day ($560 for 10 days or $1,680 for 30 days), plus inspection and document assessment at $84 per 30 minutes and an airline terminal fee from $170. Add two international moves' worth of vet fees and air cargo.

✈️ 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

Can a pet relocation company get my cat in directly from China?

No. The restriction is in Australia's import conditions, not a paperwork service gap: DAFF does not accept cats exported from non-approved countries. Any agent's route will be the same approved-country relocation described here.

Why is Hong Kong different from mainland China for Australia?

Australia assesses territories separately: Hong Kong is listed as a Group 3 approved country, mainland China is not listed at all. That single listing difference is the whole reason the Hong Kong stopover works.

Are any cat breeds banned in Australia?

Hybrid cats cannot be imported — DAFF lists Savannah, Safari, Chausie and Bengal cats as ineligible. Ordinary domestic breeds are fine, whichever route they take.

Does time my cat spent in an approved country years ago count?

No. The 180 days of residency must be continuous and immediately before export, and the vaccination and testing sequence must be completed in the approved country within its own validity windows.

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.

Want a professional to run this route for you?

Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.