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Pet Relocation from Dubai (UAE) to Australia

At least six months of vet work and paperwork, then a direct flight to Melbourne. We plan every step in order.

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Australia has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world, and the route from the UAE takes real planning: at least six months of vet work and paperwork before your dog or cat can fly. The good news is that the UAE is an approved country for Australia, so your pet can fly straight from Dubai to Melbourne once every step is done in the right order. canisfelis plans that order with you, from the first blood test in Dubai to the day your pet leaves quarantine.

Requirements at a glance

Requirement What Australia needs
UAE statusa Group 3 country (rabies present but well controlled), so pets can be imported directly from the UAE.
MicrochipISO-compliant (usually 10 or 15 digits; chips starting with 999 are not accepted), scanned at every vet visit.
Rabies vaccinationgiven at 84+ days old and valid continuously from the titre test until the flight.
Rabies titre test (RNATT)FAVN or RFFIT at an approved lab, result of 0.5 IU/ml or more, plus an RNATT declaration from the UAE government vet.
180-day waityour pet cannot fly until at least 180 days after the blood sample arrives at the lab. No exceptions. It is a residency period, not quarantine, so your pet stays home with you.
Import permitapplied for online in BICON after the RNATT. Most are issued in 20–40 business days; some take up to 123.
Health tests and treatmentsdogs need Leishmania, Brucella canis (if not desexed) and Leptospira (test or vaccination). Cats and dogs both need internal and external parasite treatments.
EntryMelbourne International Airport only, as manifested cargo in an IATA-approved crate.
Quarantineat least 30 days at Mickleham, or at least 10 days if a government vet verified your pet's identity before the titre blood draw.
UAE exita MOCCAE veterinary health certificate for export.

Timeline: counting back from the flight

  1. 8+ months before (step one)

    Check the microchip and update the rabies vaccination. Before any blood is drawn, ask the UAE government vet for the official identity verification. It is optional, but it cuts quarantine from at least 30 days to at least 10. It can't be done at the same visit as the titre test, and it can't be added later.

  2. About 7–8 months before

    The rabies titre (RNATT) blood draw, 3–4 weeks after a first rabies vaccine (often sooner for pets with regular boosters). The 180-day clock starts on the date the lab receives the sample. The RNATT is valid for 12 months, and the import permit expires with it.

  3. About 6–7 months before

    Get the RNATT declaration endorsed by the official government vet, then apply and pay for the Australian import permit in BICON.

  4. Once the permit is issued

    Book your pet's place at Mickleham and the manifested-cargo flight to Melbourne.

  5. Within 45 days of the flight (dogs)

    Leishmania and Brucella canis tests (Brucella only if not desexed), and a Leptospira canicola test unless your dog is vaccinated (the booster must fall between 12 months and 14 days before export). The first internal parasite treatment also goes in this window, for cats and dogs.

  6. 30 days (dogs) / 21 days (cats) before

    Start the external parasite (flea and tick) treatment, and keep it current until the flight.

  7. Within 5 days of the flight

    Second internal parasite treatment, a final clinical exam, and the Australian health certificate endorsed by the government vet, with original "wet ink" stamps on every page. The MOCCAE export health certificate is also issued now. It takes 1 working day and is valid for 30 days.

How pets fly to Australia

Australia does not allow pets in the cabin. Your dog or cat must travel as manifested cargo in an IATA-approved crate and land directly at Melbourne International Airport. No domestic transfers, so even if you're moving to Sydney or Perth, your pet arrives in Melbourne. Transits are allowed if the pet stays on the plane. Changing aircraft is only allowed in an approved country, under official supervision. Nothing can go in the crate: toys and other items are destroyed as biosecurity waste. On arrival, a biosecurity officer collects your pet and takes them straight to quarantine.

Quarantine at Mickleham

Every cat and dog from the UAE completes post-entry quarantine at the government facility in Mickleham, Melbourne, the only one in Australia. The minimum stay is 30 days, or 10 days with the pre-titre identity verification. Pets get an individual climate-controlled enclosure, and the department sends email updates on their health. You pay all quarantine costs before release. DAFF also warns about heat stress from December to February, when temperatures can pass 40°C, so arrival timing matters for flat-faced breeds and thick coats.

Official DAFF fees (AUD, per animal, as published):

Item AUD
Import permit, first pet (lodgement + assessment)626
Import permit, each extra pet in the same consignment299
Quarantine reservation charge282
Quarantine importation charge1,132
Inspection fee (per 30 min)84
Document assessment (per 30 min)84
Accommodation: 10 days / 30 days560 / 1,680
Release appointment (airline terminal fee, minimum)170

Added up, the published minimum government charges for one pet come to about AUD 2,938 for a 10-day stay or AUD 4,058 for a 30-day stay. Extra treatments, vet care, a longer stay or out-of-hours collection cost more, and DAFF reviews its fees every year.

What does it cost in total?

Total cost depends on your pet's size and crate, the flight, vet and lab fees, and how many pets travel. We haven't found a credible official figure for the full journey, so we don't publish one. Total: quote on request. Ask us on WhatsApp for a free, itemised quote.

Banned breeds

Dogs: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier, and Perro de Presa Canario. Wolf hybrids are also banned: Czechoslovakian, Saarloos, Italian (Lupo Italiano) and Kunming wolfdogs. Cats: domestic-wild hybrids such as Savannah, Safari and Chausie are banned, and Bengal cats have been banned since 1 March 2026. Mixed-breed dogs are accepted if they meet all other conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Can my pet fly from Dubai straight to Australia?

Yes. The UAE is a Group 3 approved country, so there's no need for a stopover country. Pets must land in Melbourne.

Why does it take 6–8 months?

The 180-day wait after the titre test can't be shortened. Add the vaccination, lab results and permit processing, and many UAE families report 6–8 months or more from the start.

Does my pet have to stay in quarantine for six months?

No. The 180 days are spent at home in the UAE. Quarantine in Australia is at least 10 or 30 days.

How do we get the 10-day quarantine instead of 30?

A UAE government vet must verify your pet's identity before the titre blood draw. Miss that step, and the 30-day minimum applies.

Can I visit my pet at Mickleham?

The facility sends email updates on your pet's health and wellbeing. Ask us about current visiting arrangements when you book.

My cat or dog gets stressed. Will they be okay?

DAFF advises thinking carefully about very old or sick pets. For healthy pets, a well-fitted crate, sensible flight times and a familiar routine before departure help a lot. We talk this through with you at the start.

What happens if one document is wrong?

DAFF rejects corrected lab reports and mismatched microchip numbers. A mistake can mean a longer quarantine or a restarted 180-day wait, so every document is checked before it's submitted.

Can my pet fly on my passenger ticket?

No. Pets must travel as manifested cargo, not in the cabin or as excess baggage.

Ready to start?

The sooner the titre test is done, the sooner your pet can join you in Australia. Message canisfelis on WhatsApp +971 50 1900 804 for a free quote and a timeline built around your move date.

Get a free quote on WhatsApp Send an enquiry

Other routes to and from Dubai

Dubai to United KingdomDubai to Europe (EU)Dubai to CanadaMoving to Dubai (UAE)

Sources

Official

Owner experiences (background for FAQs, not for facts or figures)