Importing Cats to Australia [2023 Fees, Requirements & Processes]

Importing cats to Australia can be a complicated process.

Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment places great emphasis on protecting their natural flora and fauna. Thus, they have strict conditions that must be met in order to successfully import your cat to Australia. The requirements vary widely, mostly depending which country you are traveling from. However, this is only true if your cat adheres to their strict rules.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of importing cats to Australia, and breakdown the strict and complicated entry requirements.

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What is an Australia Pet Passport for cats?

Australia does not have an official ‘Pet Passport’, however it is a term used to describe the documents that are required to take a pet to Australia. Cats will require a microchip at minimum, however it is likely that they will also need vaccinations, rabies titer test, parasite treatment and an import permit to travel to Australia. All vet documents must be issued by an accredited veterinarian and recorded alongside your cat’s individual microchip number. Essentially, a pet passport demonstrates that your cat is fit and healthy to travel.

The documents required to travel with cats depends on which country you are travelling from, and which country you are travelling to. Each country has different rules and requirements to export and import cats. We will discuss the requirements to import cats to Australia in detail below.

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What is the process of importing cats to Australia?

The process of importing cats to Australia is as follows:

1. Research – the process and requirements depend mostly on where you are traveling from. Therefore, ensure you are aware of the specific requirements for importing your cat to Australia. It’s also important to check that your cat is allowed to be imported to Australia, as they have very strict rules, prohibiting some cat breeds from visiting. See listed of banned cat breeds below.
2. Visit the vet – most cats will require a microchip, vaccinations, parasite treatments and a rabies blood test. However, the requirements vary depending on where you are traveling from and where your cat has been in the last 6 months. We will go into more detail in the requirements section below.
3. Apply for import permit (if necessary) – to import a pet to Australia, you may need an import permit depending on where you are traveling from. You need to apply for this before traveling to Australia as it will be required to pass customs. For more information, check the import permit section below.
4. Organise Australia pet quarantine (if necessary) – unless you are traveling from New Zealand, your cat will need to stay in Australia pet quarantine. You should apply for this as soon as you have your import permit granted. For more information see the Australia pet quarantine section below.

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What cat breeds are not allowed into Australia?

In accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the following hybrid cats are not eligible for import to Australia:

If you are bringing other pet species, such as dogs, rabbits, birds or horses to Australia, check Importing Pets to Australia [PET PASSPORT GUIDE].

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What are the requirements to import cats to Australia?

The requirements to import cats to Australia depend on your cat’s age and where you are traveling from. The requirements can include any of the following:

1. Pet microchipping
2. Rabies vaccination
3. Internal and external parasite treatments
4. Additional vaccinations
5. Rabies blood test (Rabies Titer Test)
6. Import permit and health certificate

PET MICROCHIPPING

All cats imported to Australia must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 pet microchip that is a 15 digit and non-encrypted.

A microchip is a small chip the size of a grain of rice that is embedded just under your cat’s skin in between its shoulder blades. Each microchip holds a unique number which can be detected by a microchip scanner and is attached to your contact details. 

This should be the first step you take. If your cat requires a rabies vaccination (traveling from group 2 or 3 countries), your cat’s microchip must be implanted before its vaccination is administered, otherwise the vaccination will not count. We will discuss the rabies vaccination in detail in the next section.

RABIES VACCINATION

Cats residing in and entering from Group 1 and Group 2 Countries do not require a rabies vaccination. However, it is a requirement for cats entering Australia from all other countries.

Cats must be more than 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.

Be sure to obtain certification of the period of validity for the particular vaccinations that you obtain, as some are good for three years, others for only one. The vaccination must be valid at the time of entering Australia. Australia accepts both the 1 year vaccination and the 3 year rabies vaccination.

Some cats may also require a rabies blood test, also known as a rabies titer test. Refer to the ‘requirement 4 – rabies blood test’ section below.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARASITE TREATMENT

RABIES BLOOD TEST (RABIES TITER TEST)

The rabies blood test ensures their rabies vaccine has provided your pet with adequate levels of the rabies antibody. This will prevent the potential risk of bringing rabies to Australia.

A licensed vet will need to take your cat’s blood at least three to four weeks after receiving their rabies vaccination. Their blood sample must then be sent to an approved lab for testing. Their blood results must show at least 0.5 IU/ml of the rabies antibody to pass.

Once you have your positive results back, your cat can enter Australia no sooner than 180 days after date that the lab receives the blood sample. Your cat’s rabies titer test certificate is valid for 730 days after the date shown.

IMPORT PERMIT & HEALTH CERTIFICATE

Once you have submitted your application, The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment will assess it and may decide to grant an import permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary to safely import your cat.

It is important to note that applying for an import permit does not automatically result in an import permit being issued. The department will inform you why your import permit was not granted.

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How long does it take to import cats to Australia?

Will my pet need to stay in Australian quarantine?

Cats traveling from New Zealand will not be subjected to quarantine. However, all cats traveling from outside of New Zealand will be subject to a 10 day quarantine period upon arrival. 

Don’t worry, quarantine isn’t as scary as it sounds. Cats will have great caretakers and special food/medication accommodations if your cat needs it.

Sadly, due to repeated forest fire damage, there is just one quarantine center – The Mickleham Center in Victoria. Therefore, upon arrival, departmental staff will collect your cat and transport them directly to the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility.

As there is just one center, we advise that you make reservations for your cat as soon as you receive your pet’s import permit.

When entering Australia from another country through New Zealand, cat must be quarantined in New Zealand, then remain on the island for 90 days after quarantine prior to entering Australia.

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How much will it cost to import cats to Australia?

Importing a cat to Australia can be a rather expensive process, potentially costing around $5,000 (AUD) per cat. The total cost broken down into the following fees:

• Vet fees – microchipping, vaccinations and treatments varies on your vet practice fees and home country (average $425 AUD)
• Airline fees for shipping a pet – varies widely depending on size and weight of your cat, and airline
• Import permit fees – costs around $480 (AUD) for one pet and $240 (AUD) for additional cat (see breakdown below)
• Quarantine fees – costs at least $2,200 (AUD) (see breakdown below)
• Government endorsements – varies depending on home country
• Travel gear – costs between $40 – $150 (AUD)

The most expensive part of importing your cat to Australia, is quarantine. The minimum stay in quarantine is 10 days, however you should prepare for a 30 day stay. The fees for quarantine are broken down into the following:

• $33 (AUD) entry per cat
• A daily rate of $27 (AUD) per cat
• $30 (AUD) document clearance per cat
• $30 (AUD) per 15 minutes of veterinary examination per cat
• $1,200 (AUD) post-entry quarantine (PEQ) charge

The typical 30 days in Australian quarantine for one cat will probably cost you at least $2,200 (AUD). Add this to the permit costs and you’re looking at a total of around $3,000 (AUD).

IMPORT PERMIT FEES

Online lodgement of import permit application

Service	Lodgement	Assessment	Total (AUD)
First cat or dog in a consignment	$120.00	$360.00	$480.00
For each additional animal thereafter in the same consignment	$120.00	$120.00	$240.00

Full details of fees and charges can be found in the department’s charging guidelines.​​

AUSTRALIA PET QUARANTINE FEES

Service	Notes	AUD$
Initial Booking Fee (Listed as PEQ initial husbandry fee – Cat on invoice)	Fee is counted towards first nights stay (Daily rate AUD $29)	$29
Inspection fee (Listed as PEQ Inspection, in office, 30 mins on invoice)	Fee per 30 minutes. This fee is charged per animal	$60
Document assessment (Listed as PEQ Doc Assessment, in office, 30 mins on invoice)	Fee per 30 minutes. This fee is charged per animal	$60
Quarantine accommodation (Listed as PEQ daily husbandry fee – Cat on invoice)	9 days stay x daily rate AUD $29	$261
Importation charge (Listed as PEQ Importation charge – Cat on invoice)	Levy	$1200
Release appointment (Listed as ‘Recovery of Airline Handling charge’ on invoice)	Terminal Service Fees (charged per airway bill number) This fee is charged by the airline and is paid by the department on your behalf upon collection of your animal from the airport.	$110-$200
Accommodation of an additional cat in the consignment*	Daily rate for subsequent dog or cat	$29
Overstay accommodation of cat	Daily rate	$29
Any additional costs Out of hours collection fee per cat (Listed as OOH Out of office non cont  – weekday or weekend – PEQ on invoice)	Weekdays Weekends & public holidays	$130 $140
Any additional costs For example: Non-compliance fees or grooming appointments	Fee per 30 minutes. This fee is charged per animal	$60
Any additional veterinary care	Additional veterinary medical care provided by a private veterinarian upon request

 

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Tips for traveling with cats

Traveling with cats can be stressful, for you and your cat. To ensure that your journey is as stress-free as possible, follow these guidelines:

1. Get your cat used to it’s carrier – buy your cats carrier in advance and let it get used to spending time in there. Pop a blanket in there and let your cat get comfortable in it at home, before your journey.
2. Exhaust your cat 48 hours before your journey – have some extra play time with your cat so that he will be tired for your journey. That way he will be more sleepy and relaxed on the journey.
3. Limit access to food 12-24 hours before your journey – for the obvious reason, your cat will be less likely to need to poop.
4. Familiarise yourself with the airports/stations – for a smoother, quicker journey, check exactly where you need to go to check your pet in. You can also check if the airport/station has a dedicated pet area to let your pet exercise.

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Guidelines for Cat Carriers

If you are flying to Australia with a cat, it is important that you use a cat carrier that is approved by your airline. Different airlines have different cat carrier policies, which often vary between aircrafts and routes. Check that your cat’s carrier is approved for your chosen airline, aircraft and route. 

The rules and regulations have been set out by International Air Transport Association (IATA) ensure that cats are comfortable when travelling. Thus, inside their travel carriers, cats must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down in a natural position in their kennel (without touching any side or the top of the container).

The rules for pet carriers also vary depending on whether your cat will be flying in the cabin or cargo area of the plane.

If you are travelling in the cabin with your cat, then you will need to ensure that it fits under the seat in front of you. This is why only small cats weighing under 7-8kg are permitted in the cabin.

Furthermore, airlines often require that your cat must behave appropriately in public. Thus, he mustn’t hiss or growl at other passengers or staff. If your cat does not behave in an appropriate manner, some airlines may transfer him to the cargo hold at an additional cost, or refuse to transport him all together. Some airlines require a consent form to ensure your cat is flight-ready.

Whether your cat is traveling in the cabin or cargo area of the plane, you should attach any required documentation to the carrier. This includes, your import permit and veterinarian certificates. Furthermore, it’s also helpful to attach any special instructions, for example those on feeding and medication if your cat requires any.

For a list of airlines that allow cats to fly in the cabin with their owners, check 13 Airlines That Allow Flying With a Cat In-Cabin [Prices & Policies].

BUDGET	CAT CARRIER	PRICE
LOW	AmazonBasics Pet Carrier Medium	CHECK HERE
MEDIUM	PetsFit Pet Carrier With Expandable Side	CHECK HERE
HIGH	Mr. Peanut’s Double Expandable, Soft-Sided Pet Carrier	CHECK HERE

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Can I take my kitten to Australia?

If you are traveling from the Keeling Islands, New Zealand or Norfolk Island, yes, as long as he or she is over 8 weeks of age. However, unfortunately, cats must be at least 9 months of age to be permitted to enter Australia from any other country. This is due to the strict time requirements on microchipping, rabies vaccinations and rabies blood tests. The import requirements include microchipping and rabies vaccination no sooner than 3 months of age. Kittens must wait a minimum of 30 days after rabies vaccination prior to having their titer test. Results can take 30 days to get back, and on top of that you will need to wait 180 days before traveling to Australia.

Can I import my cat to Australia with an EU Pet Passport?

You can import a cat to Australia with an EU Pet Passport, however there are additional conditions to be met. You will need to apply for an Import Permit and organise your cat to stay in quarantine on arrival. Your cat may also need additional vaccines and treatments. Please refer to the requirements section above.

Can I take a pregnant cat to Australia?

As long as your cat is less than 30 days pregnant and is will not be suckling young at the time of travel, you can import it to Australia.

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Bottom Line

So, importing a cat to Australia can be a complicated process. It is particularly complicated if you are traveling from a country other than New Zealand.

If you haven’t been put off, just be sure to familiarise yourself with the conditions you need to meet to bring your cat to Australia. You can check here.

Allow yourself plenty of time to prepare for your trip, even up to 1 year in more complicated cases!

Hope you have found this helpful. Happy travels!