Importing your pets from the United States to Australia
When it comes to moving pets into Australia from the United States, there are many important considerations and steps to follow to ensure they are eligible for entry by the Australian Government.
Use an Accredited Animal Transport Provider
The first mandate in this process is that all imported pets must arrive as manifested cargo and as such, it is recommendation to use an accredited animal transporter such as Jetpets. At Jetpets we understand that Pets are part of the family and the importance of making the process and journey an easy and stress-free as possible.
Pre-travel Vet Appointments
Importing pets to Australia involves multiple veterinary appointments and treatments over the course of several months. Considering this process is very detailed with little room for interpretation, it is strongly recommended to engage a professional such as Jetpets to avoid any potential delays. When moving to Australia from America we can assist in the entire process for you to ensure all the guidance and professional support to ensure a stress-free experience.
Pets moving from the United States to Australia are classified by the Australian Government as a category 3 country. For a more in-depth insight into Category 3 expectations visit the Australian Government’s bringing cats and dogs into Australia page.
Up to date Vaccinations & Microchips
One of the first steps to importing your pet is to ensure they are fit and healthy and vaccinations are all up to date. Pets are also required to have ID verification (ie: Microchip), ensure they are vaccinated for rabies and RNATT blood test and declarations as the first step to applying for an entry permit.
It is important to note that dogs and cats must be immunised with an inactivated rabies vaccine in an approved country when they are at least 84 days old. Three-year rabies vaccines are acceptable, as long as they are given according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The vaccine must be kept continuously up to date from the time of vaccination until export to ensure it is approved by the Government authorities. As part of the process, Pets are required to then wait for 180 days in the United States prior to any travel.
Import permit
The next step involves obtaining an import permit for entry into Australia once all the government approved and ID checks are met. The import permit can only be obtained once the USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration, Rabies Titer Results (FAVN), rabies vaccination certificate and identity verification details are all in order. Our team will ensure that we manage this process for you to ensure we have all the documentation in place prior to arranging the flight.
Once the Import approval is in place, then it is time to book the Quarantine with the Australian Government. These fees will need to be paid in advance and booking in advance is as space can be limited, especially in the summer season. Our Pet Travel Consultants will liaise with you on the availability and costs that are associated with this.
Get in touch today
We trust the information provide above is helpful to understand just some of the complexities and regulations involved with importing your pet from America and the importance of engaging professional assistance form professional pet shippers to assist you in the process. At Jetpets, we have been providing Import and Export services for over 30 years and are here to help with your pet travel move from the US to Australia. Get in touch with our team of consultants at info@jetpets.com.au.
