Home › From the United States › Dog to Australia
Bringing a dog from the United States to Australia
Sources disagree: Whether the titer blood draw may happen on the same day as the second identity-check scan: USDA APHIS says it can; Australia's DAFF says the identity check and the RNATT cannot be completed in the same visit. Follow DAFF (the destination authority): book the blood draw for a separate, later visit.
Until officials align, follow the stricter reading and confirm with the destination authority.
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Residency | Your dog 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, scanned and confirmed before preparation starts and at every vet visit. The number must match on every document. | Before anything else |
| Rabies vaccination | Inactivated or recombinant vaccine at 12 weeks (84 days) of age or older, 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) | A 3-part USDA process: two different accredited vets at two different clinics scan and photograph your dog, then a final USDA identity declaration. It must be completed BEFORE the titer blood draw and is what qualifies your dog for 10-day instead of 30-day quarantine. | 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. Your USDA-accredited vet must also obtain a USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration. 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 dog 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. Most permits take 20–40 business days; DAFF says it can take up to 123. | During the wait |
| Disease tests & parasite treatments (dogs) | Within 45 days of export: Leishmania and Leptospira Canicola tests; Brucella canis test if your dog is not desexed. Canine influenza vaccination (required for US dogs) between 365 and 14 days before export. External parasite treatment started at least 30 days before export and kept continuous; two internal parasite treatments at least 14 days apart, the second within 5 days of export. | Final 45 days |
| Health certificate + USDA endorsement | Examination within 5 days before export (free of ticks, fleas and disease signs), certificate completed in VEHCS and endorsed by USDA, with the official crate seal number recorded. 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 and parasite treatment schedule
- 5Final 5 days — Vet examination, health certificate, USDA endorsement, cargo flight to Melbourne
- 6Arrival — Post-entry quarantine at Mickleham: 10 days with identity check, otherwise 30 days
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, US vet and lab fees, USDA endorsement, and air cargo.
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 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.
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 cat from the United States 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
- USDA APHIS — Pet travel from the US to Australia
- Australia DAFF — Import permits for cats and dogs
- Australia DAFF — Rabies and RNATT
- Australia DAFF — Post-entry quarantine fees
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.