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Bringing your cat from France to Australia

Bringing a cat to Australia from a Group 3 country requires a strict sequence: microchip → rabies vaccination → RNATT blood test → 180-day wait, then import permit and quarantine. Everything is planned backwards from the blood test.

⏳ Allow 7–9 months🏠 Quarantine: 10 days min.
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Pitfall #1: the 180-day wait starts on the date the LABORATORY RECEIVES the RNATT blood sample (not the date the blood is drawn). Miscalculate it and your cat becomes ineligible to fly. This is the mistake that ruins relocations.

Calculate your deadlines

Enter your travel date: we work back in time to give you the deadline for each step, personalised for France → Australia.

The 10 steps, in order

  1. 1. Implant an ISO-compliant microchip

    Have an ISO 11784/11785 microchip implanted by a vet. This is the very first step: every later document and test must be linked to this microchip number, otherwise they are invalid.

  2. 2. Rabies vaccination

    Vaccinate the cat against rabies AFTER the microchip is implanted. The vaccination must stay continuously valid until the day of the flight — if it lapses, the cat becomes ineligible.

  3. 3. Identity verification by an official vet (recommended)

    Have an official government vet carry out an identity check BEFORE the RNATT test (at a separate visit). Optional but strongly recommended: it reduces quarantine from 30 to 10 days.

  4. 4. RNATT blood test (rabies antibody titre)

    Have blood drawn for the RNATT test, at least 3 to 4 weeks AFTER the rabies vaccination. The result must show a titre of at least 0.5 IU/mL. The blood draw must take place between 12 months and 180 days before departure.

  5. 5. Mandatory 180-day waiting period

    The cat cannot travel to Australia until at least 180 days after the date the LABORATORY RECEIVED the RNATT sample. This is the longest and most critical delay in the process.

  6. 6. Apply for the import permit (BICON)

    Submit the import permit application through the BICON system, after obtaining a valid RNATT. Processing usually takes 10 to 20 business days. The permit is required BEFORE you can book quarantine.

  7. 7. Parasite treatments (internal and external)

    Administer the required internal and external parasite treatments in the days before the flight. Unlike dogs, cats do NOT need the canine disease panel (Ehrlichia, Leishmania, Brucella). The exact products and windows depend on the country of departure.

  8. 8. Book quarantine at Mickleham

    Book a quarantine place at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility (Melbourne) once the permit is granted. Minimum stay: 10 days (if the identity check was done) or 30 days otherwise. Places are limited.

  9. 9. Endorsed export health certificate

    Have the export health certificate issued and endorsed by the government veterinary authority of the country of departure, within the required window just before the flight.

  10. 10. Flight to Australia and entry into quarantine

    The cat travels in the hold on an approved flight (or via a pet transport company), arrives in Australia and goes straight to the Mickleham PEQ for the booked quarantine period.

Quarantine on arrival

On arrival in Australia, the animal enters quarantine at Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) Facility (Near Melbourne, Victoria) for at least 10 days. Quarantine can only be booked AFTER the import permit is granted. Places are limited — book early.

From another country?

Official sources:

Pawscleared provides preparation guidance based on official sources. Requirements may change; the definitive, binding conditions are those published by the Australian government (DAFF) and your animal's specific BICON permit. Always confirm exact dates with an official vet.