Pet Import & Relocation Guides
Moving internationally with a dog or cat is one of the most paperwork-intensive parts of any relocation — and one of the most time-sensitive. This section covers everything from the universal requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate) to the destination-specific rules that can add months to your timeline: blood-titer tests, mandatory quarantine facilities, breed restrictions, and airline cargo approvals. Whether you're relocating to Australia's strict seven-month regime or Mexico's comparatively simple process, we cover the official requirements, lead times, and authority contacts you need.
Last verified: 2026-06-01. Pet-import regulations change with rabies-risk reclassifications and bilateral agreements — always confirm with the destination country's official veterinary authority before booking travel.
Looking for a quick side-by-side comparison?
Our reference table lists microchip requirements, rabies rules, import permits, quarantine windows, and official authority links for 25+ destinations in a single scannable matrix.
View the Pet Relocation by Country reference table →Per-country deep dives in progress
The cards below are destination overviews linking into the full reference table. Standalone per-country guides — covering step-by-step timelines, approved labs, airline options, and specialist relocator contacts — are being published progressively.
7-month preparation; mandatory quarantine in Melbourne
Titer test + 10-day quarantine; origin-dependent rules
180-day titer waiting period; one of Asia's strictest regimes
Category A–D country tiers; home or facility quarantine
Rabies titer for Group II origins; up to 120-day quarantine
BAPHIQ permit; titer required; 7–21 day quarantine standard
Animal Health Certificate; tapeworm treatment; no in-cabin entry
EU Pet Passport or AHC; tapeworm rules for IE/FI/MT/NO
CDC rabies rules by country of origin; USDA APHIS health cert
DVS import permit; 7–180 day quarantine by origin
Rabies cert >30 days <12 months; AQIA inspection on arrival
MOCCAE permit; 2-pet-per-resident limit; breed restrictions
Vet Services import licence; rabies + titer ≥30 days ≤1 year
DAFF permit; deworming protocol; entry via OR Tambo
DLD import licence; no quarantine for compliant pets
Rabies cert ≥30 days; no microchip required federally
Health cert within 10 days; no advance permit needed since 2019
CVI health certificate; rabies ≥30 days <1 year; microchip required
Import permit; max 2 pets/family/year; no microchip at federal level
Vet health cert; rabies ≥30 days; max 2 pets per traveller
Universal requirements checklist
- ISO microchip (15-digit, 134.2 kHz). Required by almost every destination. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination for the vaccination to count — an earlier vaccine administered without a chip on record will not be recognised.
- Rabies vaccination. Nearly universal. Many countries require the vaccine to have been given ≥30 days before travel and to remain valid at time of entry. Some require it within the past 12 months.
- Rabies antibody titer test. Required for the strictest-tier destinations (Australia, NZ, Japan, Singapore Cat C/D, Hong Kong Group II, Taiwan). Result must show ≥0.5 IU/mL from an approved lab; a 180-day waiting period after the test applies in some cases. This single requirement drives the 6–8 month preparation timeline.
- Official veterinary health certificate.Issued by an accredited vet, endorsed by your country's national authority (USDA APHIS for US, official vet for EU/UK AHC). Typically required within 10 days of travel.
- Destination import permit.Many countries require advance application — weeks to months before the animal's arrival. Australia, NZ, Singapore, and Japan do not allow arrivals without a pre-approved permit.
- Airline approval. Separate from country documentation. Brachycephalic breeds (pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats) face seasonal and airline-specific bans due to heat-stroke risk. Cargo routes and kennelling dimensions vary by carrier.
- Breed restrictions. Pitbull-type dogs face outright bans in the UK, Germany, France, UAE, Singapore, and New Zealand. Verify before committing to a destination.
See also: Vehicle import by country · Driving licence exchange · Apostille by country.