Australia has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world.
Australia is one of the few rabies-free countries in the world and the government is determined to keep it that way. That’s why every document requirement, waiting period and quarantine exists to protect that status.
The paperwork is substantial, the timeline is long and the sequence matters. If you do things in the wrong order, you’ll have to start again.
Luckily, this guide covers exactly what you need to move your cat to Australia from the UK and in the order you need it.
What Paperwork is Needed to Move a Cat to Australia?
To move a cat to Australia, you need an ISO-compliant microchip, a current rabies vaccination, a rabies titre test, an Australian import permit and a government-endorsed health certificate.
Most owners also need an identity verification declaration and parasite treatment records.
Missing a step (or completing steps out of order) can mean extended quarantine or starting over entirely.
Cat to Australia Paperwork
Here is each pet travel document explained:
1. ISO-Compliant Microchip
This comes before everything else, including vaccinations. The microchip must be implanted before the most recent rabies vaccination, be ISO compliant and microchips starting with 999 are not acceptable.
Every document that follows this, including the import permit, health certificate and lab reports, must reference the same microchip number.
So, ask your vet to scan it at every appointment to confirm it is reading correctly. One digit wrong across documents and you have a major problem that can hold your move up.
2. Rabies Vaccination Record
Once the microchip has been confirmed, your cat then needs a rabies vaccination administered by a government-approved vet. The vaccination is recommended at least 30 days before the blood draw for the titre test.
It’s crucial you don’t do this step too quickly, as the blood test results may reach the required levels.
The UK falls into Australia’s Group 3 country classification, meaning the full titre test and 180-day waiting period apply, regardless of the UK’s own low rabies risk status.
3. Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test
This RNATT document is the document most people underestimate, but it’s the one that controls the entire pet travel timeline.
Blood is drawn at least 30 days after vaccination and sent to an approved laboratory. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml to pass, and once it passes, the 180-day clock starts. The detail that catches most pet owners out is that the countdown begins on the date the blood sample is received by the laboratory, not when the blood is drawn. If your vet draws blood on Monday and the sample reaches the lab on Friday, those four days are lost. Your cat cannot travel until 180 days after the lab receives the sample.
The above information is likely confusing, so it’s a good idea to hire a reputable pet relocation company to help.
4. Identity Verification Declaration
This document specifies how long your cat will spend in quarantine upon arrival. If blood is drawn before the identity check is submitted to the Competent Authority, your cat will face 30 days of quarantine instead of 10.
In the UK, two separate OV66-authorised Official Veterinarians from separate clinics must complete the identity verification process. This involves scanning the microchip, taking a colour photograph of the microchip number on the scanner and completing the identity declaration template. Each OV sends these requirements directly to DAFF in Australia for assessment.
5. Australian Import Permit
Once the titre test result is approved and identity verification is complete, you apply for an import permit through Australia’s BICON biosecurity import conditions system. The permit must be issued before quarantine space at Mickleham can be booked. Permits are valid for 1 year from the date the blood for the titre test reaches the testing laboratory.
Quarantine spaces are limited, so you must apply for the permit as soon as you are eligible and book your quarantine space straight after. Leaving either until the last minute risks missing your travel window altogether.
6. Parasite Treatment Records
Cats travelling to Australia require both internal and external parasite treatment – and both need to be documented.
Internal parasites: Your cat must be treated twice in the 45 days before export. The two treatments must be at least 14 days apart and the second must be given within five days of the export date. Treatments must cover both nematodes and cestodes. Many commonly prescribed combination products do not cover cestodes despite covering other internal parasites, with missing cestode coverage being the most common compliance failure at the pre-export vet appointment. Check the specific products your vet plans to use before the appointment.
External parasites: Cats must also receive treatment for ticks and fleas with a topical product at least 21 days before travel, with treatment continued until the day of travel. Tick collars won’t be accepted and neither will oral systemic products such as NexGard. Australia requires a topical product that kills fleas and ticks on contact.
7. APHA-Endorsed Health Certificate
The health certificate must be completed within five days of export. All pages must be signed, stamped and dated by the certifying OV66 veterinarian. Original documents must travel with your cat and it’s a good idea to keep copies in your own luggage separately.
8. Fit to Fly Certificate
This is actually an airline requirement rather than an Australian government one, but it is still mandatory. A vet must issue it within ten days of departure, confirming your cat is healthy enough to travel. Normally, this is incorporated into the export health certificate.
A Few Factors to Know Before You Start
More information to know before relocating your cat to Australia:
- Your cat must arrive into Melbourne – Cats must arrive as manifest cargo via Melbourne International Airport only. Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are not options for quarantine purposes.
- Quarantine is not optional – All cats must complete mandatory quarantine at the Mickleham PEQ Facility near Melbourne. With completed identity verification and other criteria, a minimum of 10 days. Without it, it’ll be 30 days.
- Some breeds are banned outright – As of March 2025, Bengal cats are no longer permitted to enter Australia. Savannah cats, Chausie cats and all other domestic and non-domestic feline hybrids remain banned.
- Start earlier than feels necessary – Most specialists recommend allowing eight to ten months from start to travel date. The 180-day wait accounts for six months alone and the clock does not start counting down until the lab receives your sample.
Worth Every Bit of Paperwork
Moving a cat from the UK to Australia is one of the most document-heavy pet relocations in the world. But thousands of cats make this journey every year and arrive safely.
The pet owners who find the process straightforward are those who started early, worked with a pet relocation company from the beginning, and did not try to manage the paperwork alone.
If you are planning a move to Australia and want to make sure your cat gets there with you, speak to a reliable pet relocation company before you do anything else. Because getting the sequence right from day one is the difference between a smooth process and starting over.