Bringing Your Pet to Brisbane, Step by Step
Relocating a pet to Brisbane means meeting Australia’s strict biosecurity rules, which are among the toughest in the world. The process includes:
- A rabies antibody blood test followed by a mandatory 180-day wait
- An import permit
- Arrival in Melbourne for at least 10 days of government quarantine before your pet can travel on to Brisbane
Starwood Pet Travel handles every step of this process for you. We coordinate with vets, the USDA, airlines, and Australia’s Department of Agriculture to make sure your dog or cat arrives safely and on schedule.
Whether you’re moving to Brisbane for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Queensland, our team manages the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Airports Serving Brisbane
Recommended
MEL
the only airport where cats and dogs can enter Australia
- Distance from city center850 miles (1,370 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityYes, serving the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility
- Direct flights from US hubsYes, from West Coast hubs
- Best forEvery international pet arrival into Australia
BNE
Queensland’s main airport
- Distance from city center8 miles (13 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityYes, for domestic pet arrivals
- Direct flights from US hubsYes, but pets can’t use them to enter Australia
- Best forYour pet’s domestic flight home after quarantine
i
Why airport choice matters
Australia requires every imported cat and dog to arrive directly at Melbourne International Airport as manifest cargo. Domestic transfers aren’t permitted, so your pet can’t land in Brisbane, Sydney, or anywhere else and connect onward to Melbourne. After landing, your pet goes straight to the government’s post-entry quarantine facility at Mickleham. Once released, it travels to Brisbane by domestic flight or by road. Starwood plans the full journey, from your US departure to quarantine release and delivery to your door in Brisbane.
Traveling to Brisbane with Pets
What Are the Requirements to Bring My Pet to Brisbane?
The United States is a Group 3 country under Australia’s import rules, so your pet needs a long sequence of steps completed in order:
- An ISO-compliant microchip
- Valid rabies vaccination
- A rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT)
- A 180-day wait after the RNATT
- An import permit
- A pre-booked quarantine stay
- Parasite treatments
- USDA-endorsed health certificate
For full country-level requirements, see our Australia Pet Relocation Guide.
It starts with a microchip and a rabies vaccination, which your pet must keep valid throughout the process. Next comes the RNATT blood test. Your pet can’t be exported to Australia for at least 180 days after the blood sample arrives at the laboratory, and there are no exceptions. This is a residency period in the US, not a quarantine period.
There’s also an optional step that makes a big difference. If an official government veterinarian verifies your pet’s identity before the RNATT blood is drawn, your pet’s quarantine in Australia can be cut from 30 days to 10 days. For pets leaving the US, this check involves the USDA. It has to be done before the blood test, so it needs to be planned from the very start.
After the RNATT, you apply for an import permit and book your pet’s quarantine stay at Mickleham. In the final weeks, a government-approved vet completes the remaining preparations:
- Treatments for internal and external parasites, for both dogs and cats
- A test for Leishmania infantum, for dogs
- A test for Brucella canis, for dogs that aren’t desexed
- A test for Leptospira canicola, for dogs that aren’t vaccinated against it
The vet then completes a pre-export exam and the health certificates, and the USDA endorses them.
Australia also bans certain dog breeds. Under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, these breeds can’t be imported:
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Japanese Tosa
- American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull Terrier
- Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario
Once you arrive, Brisbane City Council requires every dog living in Brisbane to be registered within 14 days of moving to the city. If you plan to keep three or more dogs, you’ll also need a council permit.
Missing a step or getting the order wrong can delay your move by months. This is exactly why timing and sequencing matter, and it’s where working with a pet relocation specialist makes the most difference.
Which Airport Should I Fly My Pet Into, and What Happens on Arrival?
Australia has one post-entry quarantine facility for imported cats and dogs, at Mickleham, near Melbourne Airport. Every imported cat and dog must arrive directly at Melbourne International Airport as manifest cargo, in an IATA-approved crate, and can’t travel in the cabin.
From the airport, your pet goes to Mickleham for at least 10 days if its identity was verified before the RNATT, or at least 30 days if it wasn’t. You pay all quarantine costs, and your account must be paid in full before your pet is released.
After release, Starwood arranges your pet’s domestic flight from Melbourne to Brisbane, or ground transport, and delivers your pet to your new home.
What Airlines Fly Pets to Brisbane, and How Should I Choose a Route?
Nonstop flights to Melbourne operate from US West Coast hubs, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. For most Australia moves, Starwood routes pets through Los Angeles (LAX) or Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).
Your pet’s flight must land in Melbourne, and any stops on the way have their own rules. DAFF sets specific conditions for transit points, so Starwood checks every routing against them before booking.
The right route also depends on your departure city, travel dates, your pet’s breed and size, and seasonal temperature restrictions. Flights to Australia are among the longest in the world. Summer heat at US departure airports can also trigger airline embargoes, and snub-nosed breeds face extra limits. Starwood compares the options and books the safest routing available for your pet.
How Long Does the Process Take, and What Does It Cost?
Plan for at least seven to eight months from start to finish. The mandatory 180-day wait after the RNATT blood sample reaches the lab can’t be shortened. Before that, you need time for the microchip, the rabies vaccination, and, if you choose it, the ID verification that can reduce quarantine to 10 days. After it, you need time for the import permit, the quarantine booking, final vet preparations, and at least 10 days at Mickleham. The domestic leg to Brisbane follows release.
Cost depends on your pet’s size, departure city, quarantine length, and routing. Use our cost calculator to get an estimate.
Why Choose Starwood for Pet Travel to Brisbane?
Starwood Pet Travel is an IATA-certified international pet relocation company and part of IVC Evidensia. Moving a pet to Australia comes with specific challenges:
- A 180-day wait that can’t be shortened
- Strict test and treatment timing
- Melbourne-only arrival
- Quarantine booking at Mickleham
- A domestic leg home to Brisbane
Our team handles all of it, from coordinating vet appointments, USDA paperwork to import permits, quarantine booking, and delivery to your door in Brisbane.
Whether you’re moving to Brisbane for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Queensland, we manage the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Ready to start your pet’s journey to Brisbane? Request a free quote.
W e ' r e D i f f e r e n t
Pets, not packages - expect more
We’re proud to be the highest rated and most trusted international pet shipping company in the United States.
Decades of experience
Trust our expert team of coordinators, with the most collective industry experience (and all the 5-star reviews to prove it!).
Learn more →
Pet Protection Plan
Coverage for every dog or cat ensuring your peace of mind throughout their journey.
Learn more →
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.
Learn more →
We partner with the best in the industry:
