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Your pet’s safe trip to or from
Australia starts here

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W e ' r e   D i f f e r e n t

Pets, not packages - expect more

We’re proud to be a U.S.-based international pet shipping company trusted by pet owners around the world.
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Decades of experience

Trust our expert team of coordinators, with the most collective industry experience (and all the 5-star reviews to prove it!).
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Technology

Industry-leading Pet Travel Portal to make things simple & clear. 
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Pet Protection Plan

Coverage for every dog or cat ensuring your peace of mind throughout their journey.
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Stay in touch

The only US-based company to partner with CareTags Travel Sense to provide automated updates throughout your pet’s move via email & text. 
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S t a r w o o d   F a c t o r

What sets us apart

Read stories traveling to and from australia Australia

Testimonials

13 days ago

When we made the decision to relocate to Australia with our cat, Pickles, a friend suggested using Starwood for assistance. The process felt overwhelming, especially given how strict Australia’s pet i...

Annie Dhalluin
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐱 Pickles
Pickles's pet

81 days ago

Amazing service - Couldn't recommend any higher. Made all stages of relocating my dog easy and the team are amazing!

Craig Ferrier
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Hank's Trip to Sydney
Hank's Trip to Sydney's pet

91 days ago

Everything went seamlessly getting our Flip from USA to Australia. Australia has so many requirements and Starwood is very onto it and organised!

Jaime Bradford
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Flip's Trip to Australia
Flip's Trip to Australia's pet

107 days ago

Starwood Pet Travel is a wonderful company with great, caring, and compassionate people! They helped move our lovely dog Willow from the United States to Australia. Molly (our agent) was flexible, sup...

Tracy Llanera
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Willow's Trip to Australia
Willow's Trip to Australia's pet

128 days ago

I just moved to Australia from the US to study for the next two years and I simply couldn't leave my cat behind as she's 11 and I've had her since the day she was born. Starwood was an absolute life s...

Alexa Jones
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐱 Azula's Trip to Australia
Azula's Trip to Australia's pet

131 days ago

I recently had my dog Ranger shipped from New York to Australia. I chose Starwood Pet travel based on the reviews of others. I am so happy I did. They made the process so much easier and made me feel ...

Lawrence Aylward
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Ranger's Trip to Australia
Ranger's Trip to Australia's pet

150 days ago

I moved from New York to Australia. I wanted to bring my two darling cats with me, and looking online showed me that Starwood was a very popular and reliable choice. I was extremely worried because Au...

Alexander Bae
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐱 Guppy's Trip to Sydney
Guppy's Trip to Sydney's pet

162 days ago

The team were nothing but the pinnacle of knowledge and professionalism. We were extremely busy managing our move, and the Starwood team took care of everything including the coordination with our vet...

Andrew Strifler
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Aussie's Trip to Australia
Aussie's Trip to Australia's pet

255 days ago

Navigating the transfer of an animal to Australia is extremely difficult and i'm not sure i could have done it without Sage from Starwood's help. It requires months, many forms and multiple vet visits...

Rani Haet
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐱 Smokey's Trip to Australia
Smokey's Trip to Australia's pet

328 days ago

Our beautiful girl Bronte just completed the marathon trip from Washington DC to Brisbane Australia. The trip went smoothly and would never have been possible without the help of Sage our Pet Co-Ordin...

Franca Savvas
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Bronte's Trip to Brisbane
Bronte's Trip to Brisbane's pet

353 days ago

Starwood was terrific. Communication was clear and accurate. We (and our vet) were led through the process carefully and reliably. We moved two dogs to Australia, and this would have been impossible t...

Jay Garfield
✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 2 Border Collie's to Australia
2 Border Collie's to Australia's pet

391 days ago

I can’t say enough about my wonderful experience with Starwood Pet Travel. From my initial conversations with Ross I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable with another pet travel company. I shipped my 4 cats...

✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 4 Cats to Australia
4 Cats to Australia's pet

391 days ago

Awesome experience and accommodations from start of journey in Arizona to destination in Brisbane! Sage & Molly were outstanding! Highly recommend. Lovin’ Aussie life 🐾

✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Kona to Brisbane
Kona to Brisbane's pet

518 days ago

Excellent service. Highly recommended. We had a lot to plan bringing Chloe from the US to Australia. Molly was supportive, intelligent and respectful.

✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Chloe
Chloe's pet

550 days ago

Made the move from the US to Australia with our two Aussies - I think Australia is one of the more difficult countries to import pets and I could not have imagined pulling it all together without the ...

✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Cooper and Piper
Cooper and Piper's pet

644 days ago

We couldn't have been happier with choosing Starwood for our pet travel coordinator. Moving from NYC to Melbourne was quite the lengthy process, however, Starwood was a fantastic support every step of...

✈️ United StatesAustralia
🐶 Peanut
Peanut's pet

Stories

Guppy's Trip to Sydney

✈️ JFK-SYD

Guppy has always been friendly, curious, and just mischievous enough to keep life entertaining. Leaving New York only meant one thing to him: new territory to explore. The reunion in Sydney was full o...

Read full story →
Guppy's pet

Moving to Australia

Pet shipping 

A Friendly Guide to Pet Transport Down Under 

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Need to bring your pet to Australia? Learn about costs, airline rules, cargo vs cabin travel, and how to safely transport your dog or cat from the US with Starwood Pet Travel.

Shipping a pet to Australia requires careful planning due to the country's strict biosecurity laws designed to protect its unique ecosystem. The process involves multiple steps including microchipping, vaccinations, health testing, obtaining import permits, and arranging appropriate transportation for your furry family member. The entire pet relocation process to Australia can cost between $5,000 to over $10,000 and may take up to six months of preparation time, particularly due to mandatory testing requirements.

All pets entering Australia must complete a mandatory quarantine period at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine facility in Melbourne. Dogs and cats from most countries, including the United States, must stay for a minimum of 10 days, with possible extensions for pets requiring additional health checks. This quarantine requirement cannot be bypassed except for pets arriving from New Zealand.

Working with a professional pet relocation service can simplify this complex process significantly. These specialists handle everything from veterinary preparation to flight arrangements and quarantine coordination, ensuring all Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry requirements are met properly and on schedule. 

For more detailed information on life in Australia with your pet, please refer to our comprehensive Australia Country guide.

Moving from Australia

Importing Pets to the USA from Australia 

Whether you’re flying your pet to the United States after a brief stay or a whole lifetime in another country, there are a number of hoops to jump through. Getting all of the details right can be confusing and time-consuming, and improper planning or documentation could delay your pet’s entry into the country. Let us handle all the details for you!

Check out our US import FAQs.

P r i c i n g

Starting cost for moving your pet to Australia

Pet Transport Cost Estimator

Number of pets Starting cost*
1 $5,295
2 $8,095
3 $12,395
4 $21,295
5 $29,095
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Talk to our experts

Need help or have questions?
Our team is ready to help!

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F A Q

Questions,
answered

Is pet travel safe?

Yes, pet travel is safe with the proper preparation and precautions. Thousands of pets fly every year without issue. You can read more about pet travel safety here.

Should I sedate my pet?

NO. It is not recommended to sedate or tranquilize any pet that is flying on an airplane. This can negatively affect their breathing and respiration when they are up in the air at high altitudes. This can be even more dangerous for pets with pre-existing conditions or snub-nosed (brachycephalic) pets. Starwood will NOT transport any pet that has been sedated or tranquilized. Additionally, if the airline believes that your pet has been sedated, then they can refuse your pet for travel. You can learn more about sedation and air travel in our blog post.

Where do pets travel on the plane?

Starwood only transports pets who are traveling as manifest cargo. This means that they travel on commercial flights underneath the passenger cabin in a space that is temperature controlled, pressurized, and oxygenated. Live animals travel beneath the pilot and the pilot must sign off on a manifest so they are aware of any pets onboard. Your pet’s travel kennel will be held into place by a thin netting that acts like a seatbelt to keep them safe and secure during takeoff and landing. Learn more about where pets travel on a plane.

Will my pet eat or drink?

You should definitely ensure your pet is provided plenty of water prior to and on the day of their big adventure. Our team will also make sure that their water bowls are topped off once we check them in for the flight. Once pets are in the care of the airline after check-in, the airline staff will be sure to top off water as well. However, it is NOT recommended for pets to eat right before takeoff or during the flight. This can cause an upset stomach, which we of course want to avoid. Our team will not provide food for the flight and we do not recommend feeding them less than 4 hours prior to flight departure. If your pet has a layover, they will be provided more water and some food (depending on the length of the layover). Water will also be provided once they have landed as they are clearing through customs. If your pet will be boarding or spending time in quarantine throughout their trip, they will be provided food and water regularly. You can read more about whether you should feed pets who are flying in our blog.

How will my pet go to the bathroom?

If you have a dog that is traveling, our team will provide them with a nice walk and potty break prior to check-in at the airport. Once your pet is checked in, they must remain inside their travel kennel until they arrive at the destination. We do not let cats out of the travel kennel after we pick them up since you know they can be sneaky escape artists. Upon arrival to the destination, dogs will be provided with a walk and potty break before they head home to you. Again, cats will need to remain inside their travel kennels unless there is a safe and secure room to let them out. Litter boxes are not permitted to be inside the travel kennel so please be aware that sometimes your pet may go to the bathroom inside the kennel. As they say, if you gotta go, you gotta go. If your pet has soiled their travel kennel and there is a safe place to let them out of the kennel then we do try our best to clean the kennel when possible prior to delivery. Learn more here.

We partner with the best in the industry:

qantas qatar american-airlines lufthansa air new zeland british airways klm