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Bringing a cat from the United States to Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. A cat from the US needs a titer test, a 180-day wait, an import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival: 10 days at the Mickleham facility if you complete the optional identity check first, 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

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

Requirements — Cat · the United States → 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 check (optional, saves 20 days)A 3-part USDA process with two different accredited vets at two different clinics, completed BEFORE the titer blood draw. It is what qualifies your cat for 10-day instead of 30-day quarantine. Before the titer test
RNATT titer testFAVN or RFFIT, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at least 3–4 weeks after the primary vaccination course, with a USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration. 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 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. 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
Parasite treatmentsExternal parasite treatment started at least 30 days before export and kept continuous; internal parasite treatments in the final window before export (confirm exact product timing in your permit conditions). Final 45 days
Health certificate + USDA endorsementPre-export examination, certificate completed in VEHCS and endorsed by USDA, with the official crate seal number recorded. Book quarantine at Mickleham before you travel. Final days

Your preparation timeline

  1. 1~7–8 months out — Chip check, rabies vaccination, optional identity check
  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 — Disease tests and parasite treatment schedule
  5. 5Final 5 days — Vet examination, health certificate, USDA endorsement, cargo flight to Melbourne
  6. 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 — 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 the permit, US vet and lab fees, USDA 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

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-11

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.