The Cost of Bringing Your Dog to Australia: Quarantine, Vet Fees and More

Thinking of bringing your dog to Australia?

The cost of bringing your dog to Australia with you can easily become the determining factor in deciding whether or not to include your furry best friend on your adventure down under. The high cost in combination with the quarantine requirements and long, drawn out process became my reasoning behind choosing to not bring Sheila to Australia with me during my season of teaching pilates in Melbourne this March 2023. This blog outlines the fees breakdown, the process, and other questions I came across during my extensive research before making this tough decision.

Blog Guide

• Fees
  • Vet Fees Breakdown
  • Airline Fees for Shipping a Dog in Cargo
  • Australian Pet Import Permit Fees
  • Quarantine Fees
  • Pet Travel Gear Fees

• Planning Ahead
  • What is the process of bringing a dog to Australia?
  • One-way ticket to Melbourne: Safest Airline for Pets
  • Quarantine In Melbourne, Australia : Everything You Need to Know

• FAQ’s
  • How can I save money when bringing my dog to Australia?
  • How long will it take to bring a dog to Australia?
  • Are there any banned dog breeds in Australia?
  • Can service animals fly in cabin to Australia?
  • Should I use a pet transport company to bring my dog to Australia?

• Conclusion: Cost of Bringing Your Dog to Australia

Cost of Bringing Your Dog to Australia: Fees

Total expenditures prior to departure average around $4,000 USD, or $5,600 AUD. The following breaks down different categories you should expect to expense if you choose to bring your dog to Australia

Vet Fees Breakdown

The vet costs prior to entering Australia were a daunting reason why I chose against bringing my dog to Australia.

1. Microchip: approximately $50 (USD)/ $72 (AUD)
2. Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) Cost- approximately $300 (USD)/$425 (AUD).
3. Required Vaccines: (Rabies, Canine Influenza and leptospira interrogans serovar): approximately $260 (USD)/ $370 (AUD)
4. Other Recommended Vaccines (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine): approximately $280 (USD)/ $408 (AUD)
5. Internal and External Parasite Treatment: approximately $125 (USD)/ $182 (AUD)
6. Required tests and examinations prior to departure: approximately $150 (USD)/ $218 (AUD)

While the average total cost of everything listed above averages to be close to $1000 (USD), it’s important to keep in mind that most American pet owners have already microchipped their pets, and given them some of the required and recommended vaccines listed.

To further investigate the process of bringing your dog with you to Australia, first ensure that you book time with an accredited vet by searching through the APHIS portal for American pet owners.

Next, print off the in depth list of pet owner requirements issued by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry to consult your vet on vaccines and treatments missing from your pet’s care plan.

Airline Fees for Shipping a Dog in Cargo

The airline cost to bring your pet on the plane with you varies. For small dogs, the cost is about $100 USD.

Import Permit Fees

The costs of a pet import fee is about $329 (USD)/$480 (AUD) for per pet.

Quarantine Fees

Unfortunately, quarantine is a required part of bringing your pet to Australia with you. The minimum quarantine period of 10 days costs around $1,500 (USD)$2,200 (AUD) per dog. I detail more information on my communication with the Micklem Quarantine facility below.

Pet Travel Gear Fees

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry requires your pet to arrive in Melbourne in a government regulations specified container. The cost varies depending on the size of your dog. You should expect to spend an average of $40-$150 AUD or $25-100 USD.

Planning Ahead: What is the process of bringing a dog into Australia?

What added more chaos to the pre-vet checklist were the very specific timelines required by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry prior to departure.

For example, your dog must under go an RNATT test blood draw a minimum of 180 days before departure. If you read the fine print, 180 day countdown begins after the lab has confirmed a successful result (AKA your dog has tested negative for rabies).

Other timeline details include very specific timelines for administering external and internal parasite treatments, clinical exams, and more.

One-way ticket to Melbourne: Safest Airline for Pets

After hours of research, I found Quantus airlines to be the #1 recommended airline for traveling with your pet to Australia internationally. Unfortunately, unless your dog is a service animal trained by an internationally accredited program, legally, you cannot get around the regulations in place to travel with your dog in cargo in route to Australia. This fact, in combination with the huge cumulative cost, is largely why I chose against bringing my dog to Australia during my working holiday visa season.

I would choose Quantus airlines if I decided to bring my dog to Australia because:

• They put all dogs and other pets in a noise and temperature regulated portion of the cargo to ensure a safe and more pleasant experience for your dog.
• They are most American Pet Relocator’s Top Choice and report safe, streamline journeys for pets with and without their owners.
• They offer a direct flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL).

Quarantine In Melbourne, Australia – Everything You Need to Know

Outside of the obvious hesitations you might have about leaving your pet in a foreign country’s quarantine facility, a huge reason why I chose to not bring my dog to Australia is because pets are transported from the airport to Mickleham’s Quarantine Facility by biosecurity officers. Meaning, from the day you drop off your dog for your flight to the end of your pet’s time in the facility, you will not see your pet.

What does pet quarantine involve and can I avoid it?

Pet Quarantine is a mandatory requirement for all animals entering Australia. No animals can avoid the quarantine process, not even service animals. Pet quarantines commence at Mickleham Quarantine Facility in Melbourne, after your pet lands in Australia and end a minimum of 10 days later.

If the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry finds something worth investigation, your pet’s time at the Mickleham could be longer.

Do they feed and walk your dog during quarantine?

While at this facility, your pet will undergo a series of exams and tests to ensure that she/ he has met all of the tedious requirements to protect the native ecosystem in Australia.

Your pet will be fed, and walked and kept in a kennel to sleep, and rest in between feedings, pee breaks, and exams.

Can I send any personal toys, food or items for my pet during quarantine?

Unfortunately not. Any personal items, food, or toys found in your pets crate will be destroyed upon entry at Mickleham.

Cost of Bringing Your Dog to Australia: FAQ’s

How can I save money when bringing my dog to Australia?

Plan ahead! I recommend bringing your dog to Australia if you are planning to stay for a period of greater than half a year. Anything less than that is not worth the cost or the stress.

How long will it take to bring a dog to Australia?

From the time the lab has approved a negative RNATT to the day you board your plane, legally it must take a minimum of 180 days to bring your dog to Australia. That is about half a year! I recommend giving yourself more time to plan for the unexpected.

Are there any banned dog breeds in Australia?

Yes, like in most countries, there is a list of banned breeds for Australia. The following pure and hybrid breeds will not be accepted into Australia.

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• Pitbull
• Presa Canario
• Czechoslovakian Vlcak
• Saarloos Wolfhound
• Italian Wolfdog
• Kunming dog”

Can service animals fly in- cabin to Australia?

Yes! Service animals can fly in cabin to Australia. However, the restrictions of pets who qualify as international service animals are strict. This is an option that Sheila and I looked into in depth prior to make the choice to leave her at home as well.

We learned that pets must undergo a minimum of 6 months of service animal training from an internationally accredited trainer in Assistance Dogs International, and pass a test in order to fly internationally in cabin to Australia. The cost of this can range but is close to about $10,000 in total.

Service animals might be able to fly in cabin but they are still subject to the minimum 10 day quarantine upon arrival to Melbourne.

Should I use a pet transport company to bring my dog to Australia?

If you are permanently moving to Australia or visiting for an extended period of time (greater than 6 months), it might not be a terrible idea to hire a pet relocation company to help you dot all of your i’s and cross all of your t’s. Bear in mind that relocation companies for one way support to Australia cost anywhere from $8-11k USD.

Pet relocation companies reduce stress by arranging transportation for your pet with the airline, and the quarantine facility, and ensuring your accredited stateside vet meets all of the tedious requirements discussed above.

It’s a highly recommended option if you have the means, and will be in Australia for an extended period of time.

Conclusion: The Cost of Bringing Your Dog To Australia

In conclusion, the cost of bringing my dog, Sheila, to Australia in combination with the stress I knew we would both endure for a relatively short trip led to my decision to leave her with a trusted friend at home in Texas.

If I had plans to move to Australia for longer than a season of about 3 months, I certainly would have gone through the motions and paid everything necessary to bring her along.