How much does it cost to bring a pet into Australia?

Several thousand dollars all up -- the import permit alone typically runs a few hundred dollars, and the mandatory quarantine stay at Mickleham (minimum 10 days if your pet's identity is pre-verified, otherwise 30) adds roughly $3,000-$4,200 on top of flights, crates and vet work.

How far ahead should I start?

Months, not weeks -- import permit processing alone typically takes 3-6 weeks, and the realistic planning horizon for the whole process is several months out given the vet and documentation requirements involved.

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8+ weeks before moving

Arrange DAFF biosecurity clearance for your pet

Start your pet's biosecurity clearance now -- for most countries this genuinely takes months, not weeks.

DAFF: bringing cats and dogs to Australia

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Relocating a cat or dog to Australia from most countries is a genuinely long process -- plan for months, not weeks, and expect real cost.

How to do it

Check the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's country-specific requirements first. Your pet's import requirements depend heavily on which country it's coming from -- specifically its assessed biosecurity risk group -- so the exact steps and quarantine length vary. Start at DAFF's cats and dogs pages for your specific country's current requirements.
Expect to need: an import permit for most countries, applied for through the BICON system, ISO-compliant microchipping, vaccination and testing on a set timeline, and a vet health certificate.
Budget for quarantine. Most countries require a minimum stay at the Mickleham quarantine facility near Melbourne once your pet lands -- cats need a minimum 30-day stay unless your pet qualifies for a reduced 10-day stay, and any issues found on arrival can extend it further. Check your specific country's category before assuming which applies to you.
Start early. DAFF recommends allowing at least 6 months to complete the whole import process -- between vaccination timelines, permit processing, and quarantine bookings, this is one of the longest lead-time tasks in the whole move.

If you're moving from New Zealand

New Zealand is currently assessed as a low-risk, Group 1 country for cats and dogs, which is a genuine practical advantage over most other origins: no rabies test and no mandatory quarantine stay at Mickleham. The general sequence is: get your pet microchipped if it isn't already, complete whatever vaccination and health requirements currently apply for Group 1 entry, apply for an import permit through BICON, then travel and go through DAFF's arrival checks, which may include a brief health check. Confirm the current requirements and exact order directly with DAFF before relying on this, since import conditions are reviewed regularly.

Common mistakes

Assuming your pet's existing vaccinations meet Australia's specific timeline requirements -- the timing of tests and vaccinations matters, not just having had them
Booking quarantine late -- space at Mickleham is limited and this can become your critical-path bottleneck
Not checking your pet's specific country-of-origin category early enough to still meet vaccination timing windows if something's missing

Related tasks

Book this as early as any task in your whole move -- it has some of the longest, least flexible lead times of anything on this list.

Useful links

Bringing cats and dogs to Australia -- DAFF -- check the exact, current requirements for your pet's specific country of origin.
BICON -- apply for an import permit -- the system your import permit application goes through.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to bring a pet into Australia?: Several thousand dollars all up -- the import permit alone typically runs a few hundred dollars, and the mandatory quarantine stay at Mickleham (minimum 10 days if your pet's identity is pre-verified, otherwise 30) adds roughly $3,000-$4,200 on top of flights, crates and vet work.
How far ahead should I start?: Months, not weeks -- import permit processing alone typically takes 3-6 weeks, and the realistic planning horizon for the whole process is several months out given the vet and documentation requirements involved.