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Bringing a cat from Hong Kong to Australia

Yes — Hong Kong is a Group 3 approved country for Australia, but Group 3 is the full protocol: a rabies titer test, a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine at Mickleham — 10 days if an official identity verification is completed before the blood draw, otherwise 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

Requirements — Cat · Hong Kong → Australia
StepWhat to doWhen
ResidencyYour 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
MicrochipISO-compatible microchip, scanned and confirmed before preparation starts and at every vet visit. The number must match on every document. Before anything else
Rabies vaccinationInactivated or recombinant vaccine, kept valid without a lapse from the titer test until export. A lapse restarts the whole sequence. Before the titer test
Identity verification (optional, saves 20 days)An official AFCD veterinarian verifies your cat's identity (microchip scans and photos) BEFORE the titer blood draw. It is what qualifies your cat for 10-day instead of 30-day quarantine — it cannot be added afterwards. Before the titer test
RNATT titer testFAVN or RFFIT at a DAFF-recognised laboratory, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at least 3–4 weeks after the primary vaccination course. The result is valid 12 months. ≥180 days before export
Wait 180 daysExport is only allowed once the blood sample has been at the laboratory for at least 180 days. Your cat lives with you in Hong Kong during this wait — it is not quarantine. 180 days from lab arrival
Import permit (BICON)Apply online in BICON with the RNATT report (plus the identity verification for 10-day quarantine). 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. AFCD runs a dedicated certification service for Australia-bound pets — use it for the export documents. During the wait
Parasite treatmentsExternal parasite treatment started at least 30 days before export and kept continuous; internal parasite treatments in the final window before export, exactly as set out in your permit conditions. Final 45 days
Health certificate + AFCD certificationPre-export examination within 5 days of export, export health certificate completed with AFCD's official certification, and the official crate seal number recorded. Book quarantine at Mickleham before you travel. Final 5 days

Your preparation timeline

  1. 1~7–8 months out — Chip check, rabies vaccination, identity verification with AFCD
  2. 2~6–7 months out — RNATT blood draw — the 180-day clock starts when the sample reaches the lab
  3. 3During the wait — Apply for the BICON import permit; book Mickleham quarantine
  4. 4Final 45 days — Parasite treatment schedule per permit conditions
  5. 5Final 5 days — Vet examination, health certificate with AFCD certification, 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: Skipping the identity verification to 'save time'. It must happen BEFORE the titer blood draw — it cannot be added later — and 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 Hong Kong vet and laboratory fees, any AFCD certification fee, 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 can Hong Kong cats go to Australia but mainland China cats cannot?

Australia lists Hong Kong as a Group 3 approved country; mainland China is not on the approved list at all. The listing — not the distance or the paperwork — is what opens this route.

Can my cat 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

✓ 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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