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Bringing a cat from Germany to Australia
Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Germany is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a cat needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.
7–8 months
Start preparing
DAFF's own floor is 'at least 6 months'
180 days
Titer wait
From the sample reaching the lab
10 or 30 days
Quarantine
Mickleham, Melbourne — identity check decides
5 days
Health cert window
Exam within 5 days before export
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Residency | Your cat must have lived continuously in approved countries (or Australia) for the 180 days before export, or since birth, and must not be under quarantine restriction. | 180 days before export |
| Microchip | ISO-compatible microchip, implanted before any pre-export preparation begins, scanned and confirmed at every vet visit. The number must match on every document — and note that DAFF does not accept an EU pet passport as proof of identity for the quarantine reduction. | Before anything else |
| Rabies vaccination | Inactivated or recombinant vaccine at 12 weeks (84 days) of age or older — the same minimum age as under the EU pet-travel rules — kept valid without a lapse from the titer test until export. A lapse restarts the whole sequence. | Before the titer test |
| Identity check (optional, saves 20 days) | Only an official government veterinarian can complete it, and DAFF sends it directly from the competent authority. It must be completed BEFORE the RNATT blood draw and cannot be done in the same visit as the blood draw. It is what qualifies your cat for 10-day instead of 30-day quarantine. In Germany the check and the later endorsements run through an official veterinarian of the competent authority — a pet passport, vaccination card or microchip certificate is not accepted as identity evidence. | Before the titer test |
| RNATT titer test | FAVN or RFFIT, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at a recognised laboratory, at least 3–4 weeks after the primary vaccination course. You also need the country-specific RNATT declaration, completed, signed and stamped by an official government veterinarian. The result is valid 12 months. | ≥180 days before export |
| Wait 180 days | Export is only allowed once the blood sample has been at the laboratory for at least 180 days. Your cat lives with you during this wait — it is not quarantine. | 180 days from lab arrival |
| Import permit (BICON) | Apply online in BICON with the RNATT report and endorsed declaration (plus the identity declaration for 10-day quarantine). Fee: AUD $626 for the first animal, $299 for each additional, non-refundable. Most permits take 20–40 business days; DAFF says it can take up to 123. A Group 3 permit stays valid until the RNATT expires. | During the wait |
| Parasite treatments (cats) | External parasite treatment with a product that kills fleas and ticks on contact starts at least 21 days before export and stays continuous until export — products that only work after the parasite bites (including isoxazoline products such as Bravecto or NexGard types) and tick collars are not accepted by DAFF, and the product must be registered in Germany for cats. Two internal parasite treatments (effective against nematodes and cestodes) at least 14 days apart within 45 days before export, the second within 5 days. Cats need none of the dog disease tests — no Leishmania, Brucella or Leptospira panel. | Final 45 days |
| Health certificate + official endorsement | Examination within 5 days before export — your cat must be free of ticks, fleas and signs of infectious or contagious disease, and healthy and fit to travel and undergo quarantine. The veterinary health certificate is completed by a government-approved veterinarian and endorsed (signed and stamped) by an official government veterinarian of the competent authority. Your cat travels as manifested cargo to Melbourne. Book quarantine at Mickleham before you travel. | Final 5 days |
Your preparation timeline
- 1~7–8 months out — Chip check, rabies vaccination, optional identity check
- 2~6–7 months out — RNATT blood draw — the 180-day clock starts when the sample reaches the lab
- 3During the wait — Apply for the BICON import permit; book Mickleham quarantine
- 4Final 45 days — Disease tests (dogs) and parasite treatment schedule
- 5Final 5 days — Vet examination, health certificate, official endorsement, cargo flight to Melbourne
- 6Arrival — Post-entry quarantine at Mickleham: 10 days with identity check, otherwise 30 days
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Skipping the identity check to 'save time'. It must happen BEFORE the titer blood draw — it cannot be added later, it cannot share a visit with the blood draw, and an EU pet passport does not count as a substitute. It is the difference between 10 and 30 days of quarantine, plus three extra weeks of facility fees at AUD $56 a day.
Costs you can plan for
Official Australian charges (AUD, per animal): import permit $626 for the first animal ($299 each additional). Quarantine at Mickleham: 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. A 10-day stay therefore starts around AUD $1,974 in facility charges alone, before the permit, local veterinary and laboratory fees in Germany, official endorsement, 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
Why is there a 180-day wait if quarantine is only 10 days?
The 180 days is a pre-export observation period in an approved country after the titer test — your pet lives at home. Quarantine at Mickleham (10 or 30 days) is separate and happens after arrival.
Can my pet fly into Sydney or Brisbane?
No. Pets on this route travel as manifested cargo to Melbourne, where the Mickleham quarantine facility is located.
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.
How long does the permit take?
DAFF says most permits are issued in 20–40 business days, but processing can take up to 123 business days. The application can be lodged during the 180-day wait, so apply as soon as your RNATT documents exist.
Related guides
- Bringing a dog from Germany 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 — Step-by-step guides and country groups (Group 3)
- Australia DAFF — Rabies vaccination and RNATT
- Australia DAFF — Import permits for cats and dogs (BICON)
- Australia DAFF — Post-entry quarantine fees (Mickleham)
- Germany BMEL — Travelling with pets: dogs, cats and ferrets
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.