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Bringing a dog from China to Australia
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Accept there is no direct paperwork fix | No certificate, titer or permit issued for a dog departing China makes it eligible. DAFF's rule is structural: the dog'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 country | Move your dog 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 there | In the approved country: ISO microchip confirmed, rabies vaccination (at 84 days of age or older, kept valid without lapse), optional official identity verification before the blood draw (this is what later qualifies the dog for 10 instead of 30 days of quarantine). | After relocation |
| RNATT titer test + 180-day wait | Rabies 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 dog'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 country | Disease tests and parasite treatments in the final 45 days 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
- 1Month 0 — Dog relocates to an approved country (e.g. Hong Kong); residency clock starts
- 2Months 0–1 — Chip check, rabies vaccination, identity verification, RNATT blood draw — the 180-day lab clock starts
- 3Months 1–6 — Both 180-day clocks run; apply for the BICON permit
- 4Final 45 days — Disease tests and parasite treatment schedule in the approved country
- 5Final 5 days — Vet examination, health certificate, cargo flight to Melbourne
- 6Arrival — Post-entry quarantine at Mickleham: 10 days with identity verification, otherwise 30 days
Costs you can plan for
The dominant cost is time: at least 6 months of living costs for your dog 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.
Questions people ask about this route
Can a pet relocation company get my dog in directly from China?
No. The restriction is in Australia's import conditions, not a paperwork service gap: DAFF does not accept dogs 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.
Does time my dog 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.
Are any dog breeds banned in Australia?
Pure-bred Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier and Presa Canario cannot be imported (mixes of these breeds are not restricted, per DAFF), and wolfdog hybrids are prohibited — these bans apply however the dog reaches Australia.
Related guides
- Bringing a cat from China to Australia
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- Australia DAFF — Cats and dogs frequently asked questions (non-approved country rules)
- Australia DAFF — Glossary: approved and non-approved countries
- Australia DAFF — Import permits for cats and dogs
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.