Australia pet relocation checklist

Use this checklist to track every step of your pet’s relocation to Australia. The timeline is long — start as early as possible and work through each stage in order. Missing a step, or completing steps out of sequence, can add months to your preparation.

12+ months before travel

• Contact Airpets and confirm your destination and intended travel date
• Confirm your pet is microchipped to ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit chip)
• If not microchipped, arrange microchipping before any vaccinations
• Book your first vet appointment for rabies vaccination planning

9–12 months before travel

• Administer rabies primary vaccination course (after microchipping)
• Schedule rabies titre test blood draw for exactly 30 days after vaccination
• Send blood sample to APHA-approved laboratory (APHA Weybridge or IDEXX Wetherby)
• Confirm titre test result is ≥0.5 IU/mL — note the date the blood was taken (180-day wait starts here)
• If result fails, arrange booster vaccination and retest 30 days later
• Begin crate training — introduce the travel crate now

6 months before travel

• Apply for Australian import permit via the DAFF online portal
• Book quarantine space at the Mickleham facility — spaces fill months in advance
• Confirm your flight routing with Airpets and book airline cargo space
• Ensure all vaccinations (DHP/FVRCP, kennel cough, boosters) are current or will be within validity at travel

4–6 weeks before travel

• Confirm import permit is approved and specifies correct facility and arrival date
• Purchase IATA-compliant travel crate in correct size for your pet
• Ensure crate is labelled: Live Animal stickers, your contact details, feeding/watering instructions
• Book Official Veterinarian (OV) appointment for health certificate — must be issued within 5 days of departure

10–14 days before travel

• Administer tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus) within the required window — confirm timing with your vet
• Begin pre-export isolation at DAFF-approved premises (10 days)
• OV issues Animal Health Certificate — check every detail against microchip number and import permit
• APHA endorses the health certificate — allow 2–3 working days
• Airpets reviews all documents before travel

Travel day

• No food for 4 hours before check-in; water available until check-in
• Attach water bowl to crate door grill
• Place worn clothing and familiar bedding inside crate
• Arrive at cargo check-in at least 2 hours before scheduled departure
• Confirm all original documents travel with the pet (health certificate, titre test result, import permit)

After arrival

• Pet enters mandatory 10-day quarantine at the Mickleham facility
• Quarantine facility provides welfare updates on request
• After minimum 10-day quarantine, collect pet following DAFF clearance
• Register pet with local council within required timeframe
• Update microchip registration to an Australian database
• Book first health check with local vet