Australia Pet Quarantine at Mickleham: What to Expect

All dogs and cats entering Australia complete mandatory post-entry quarantine at the government facility in Mickleham, Victoria, near Melbourne. Whether your pet stays 10 days or 30 days is determined by one decision made months before departure: whether the identity check was completed correctly before the RNATT blood draw. This guide explains how quarantine works, what determines the length of stay, what it costs, and how to prepare your pet for the experience.

The Mickleham Facility

Australia operates a single government Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility for cats and dogs at Mickleham, Victoria, approximately 30 km from Melbourne International Airport. All pets subject to post-entry quarantine must complete their stay here. There are no alternative quarantine options and no other ports of entry for pets requiring quarantine.

Location: 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham VIC 3064

Phone: 1800 900 090 (within Australia) / +61 3 8318 6700 (international)

Email: [email protected]

Operated by: Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)

Confirm current release hours, booking procedures, and contact details directly with DAFF before finalizing your travel dates, as operational details are subject to change.

10 Days or 30 Days: What Determines Your Pet's Quarantine Length

This is the most consequential decision in the entire Australia import process, and it is made months before your pet ever boards a flight.

Pets arriving from the US mainland (Group 3) are subject to one of two quarantine periods:

10 days applies when the VEHCS identity check was completed correctly before the RNATT blood draw. This requires two USDA-accredited veterinarians at two different clinics to each scan your pet's microchip and submit endorsed identity declarations through VEHCS before any blood is drawn for the RNATT.

30 days applies when the identity check was not completed, was submitted incorrectly, or when the documentation does not satisfy DAFF on arrival.

The identity check is optional in the sense that Australia does not refuse entry without it. But skipping it, or getting the sequence wrong, means your pet serves 30 days instead of 10. For most families the cost and timeline difference make the identity check non-negotiable.

Critical scheduling warning: DAFF explicitly rejects cases where the Part 2 microchip scan and the RNATT blood draw are recorded on the same date. Book these as two separate appointments on two different days. Submitting identical dates is one of the most common triggers for the 30-day quarantine outcome, and it cannot be corrected after the fact.

For a full explanation of the VEHCS identity check process and its sequencing, see the Australia pet import requirements page.

Getting Your Pet to Mickleham

Your pet will not be collected by you at Melbourne International Airport. DAFF staff transfer all pets subject to quarantine directly from the airport to the Mickleham facility. You cannot intercept this transfer or arrange your own transportation to the facility.

Pets must arrive at Melbourne International Airport only. Australia does not permit domestic transfers. A pet cannot fly into Sydney, Brisbane, or any other Australian city and connect to Melbourne.

DAFF specifies accepted arrival windows at Mickleham. Flights outside these windows attract out-of-hours collection fees:

• Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday: 05:00 to 14:30
• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 05:00 to 21:00

Plan your flight routing around these windows. Out-of-hours fees are charged in addition to standard quarantine fees and apply when the pet arrives outside the accepted times above. Confirm current out-of-hours charges directly with DAFF when booking.

DAFF will notify you or your agent of your pet's safe arrival within 24 hours.

Booking Quarantine Space

The import permit and the quarantine booking are two separate steps. Receiving an approved import permit does not reserve quarantine space.

Once your permit is issued, submit a quarantine booking request through the Post Entry Biosecurity System (PEBS). DAFF will confirm the next steps, including timeframes and payment of known fees, once the booking is received. Do not book flights until both the import permit and the quarantine space are confirmed. Your import permit specifies the quarantine period that will apply, and the flight date must align with the confirmed booking.

Quarantine space at Mickleham fills up. Booking early after the permit is issued is strongly recommended, particularly for moves during peak relocation periods.

Quarantine Costs

Quarantine fees are charged by the Australian government and are separate from all other import and transport costs.

The minimum standard fee for a 10-day stay is $1,877 AUD, broken down as follows:

Additional fees apply for extended stays (the per-day rate continues beyond 10 days for pets serving 30-day quarantine), extra veterinary care during the stay, and any out-of-hours arrival surcharges. Government fees are reviewed periodically. Confirm the current fee schedule directly with DAFF at agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs/quarantine-facilities-and-fees/fees before finalizing travel dates.

The import permit assessment fee is charged separately through the BICON system at the time of application. Confirm the current permit fee on the DAFF permit page when applying.

What Your Pet's Stay Looks Like

The Mickleham facility is purpose-built for post-entry quarantine. Each pet is housed individually so staff can monitor food and water intake and respond to any changes during the stay. Dogs are walked and exercised daily. Cats are housed in indoor suites. A dedicated handler is typically assigned to each pet or family of pets.

No visits are permitted during the quarantine stay. This is the part most families find hardest. DAFF will contact you or your agent if there is a concern about your pet's health or adjustment during the stay. In most cases, no news during quarantine is good news.

DAFF provides standard dry food ("Advance AU") once daily. If your pet requires a special diet or has a medical condition requiring ongoing medication, flag this formally during the import permit application process under the "special needs" section, not after arrival. Some medication arrangements require coordination with an Australian veterinarian and cannot be set up on short notice.

Do not place toys, blankets, or personal items of any value in the travel crate. Australia confiscates and destroys any unauthorized items found in or attached to the crate on arrival as biosecurity waste. There is no reimbursement. The facility provides bedding appropriate to the pet's age and breed.

"I have had a great experience working with the team at Mickleham over the years. If they have any concern about how a pet is settling in, they are quick to flag it. For many families, the hard part is the waiting. Usually, if you are not hearing anything unusual, your pet is doing just fine."
-- Nina Faber, Senior International Relocation Coordinator

After Quarantine: Release and Onward Transport

DAFF releases pets from Mickleham during standard release hours. Confirm current release times directly with the facility when booking. Pets can be collected by the owner or by an appointed agent at the facility.

If your final destination is not Melbourne, onward transport needs to be arranged in advance. Domestic connecting flights, local ground transport, or home delivery can be coordinated, but not at the last minute. Build post-quarantine logistics into your planning before the pet travels.

Common Mistakes That Affect Quarantine Length or Cost

• Part 2 identity scan and RNATT blood draw on the same date. DAFF rejects this and 30-day quarantine results.
• Identity check not completed before the RNATT blood draw. The 30-day default applies.
• Quarantine not booked before flight dates are confirmed. Quarantine space fills and dates may not align.
• Items of value placed in the crate. These are confiscated on arrival with no reimbursement.
• Flight arrival outside accepted Mickleham intake windows. Out-of-hours fees apply.
• Special dietary or medication needs not flagged on the import permit. These cannot be arranged after arrival.

Ready to Start Planning?

Australia's quarantine process has more steps and tighter timing than most families expect. If you want help mapping out your pet's timeline, securing quarantine space, and making sure nothing is missed, get in touch with our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is quarantine in Australia for pets from the US?
10 days if the VEHCS identity check was completed correctly before the RNATT blood draw. 30 days if the identity check was not completed or was submitted incorrectly. All quarantine is served at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility in Victoria, near Melbourne.

Can I visit my pet during quarantine at Mickleham?
No. Visits are not permitted during the quarantine stay. DAFF will contact you or your agent if there is a concern about your pet's welfare. You will be notified of your pet's safe arrival within 24 hours.

How much does quarantine in Australia cost?
The minimum standard fee for a 10-day stay is $1,877 AUD: a $269 reservation fee, a $1,078 importation charge, and $530 for 10 days of accommodation at $53 per day. Additional fees apply for extended stays, out-of-hours arrivals, and any veterinary care during the stay. Confirm current fees directly with DAFF before finalizing travel dates.

Can I collect my pet at Melbourne Airport and take them to Mickleham myself?
No. DAFF staff transfer all pets requiring quarantine directly from Melbourne Airport to Mickleham. Owner collection at the airport is not possible for pets subject to post-entry quarantine.

Is there only one quarantine facility in Australia for pets?
Yes. The Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility in Victoria is the only government facility for cats and dogs entering Australia. All pets must arrive into Melbourne International Airport. Domestic transfers from other Australian airports are not permitted.

What happens if I put a toy or blanket in my pet's crate?
Australia confiscates and destroys any unauthorized items found in or attached to the travel crate as biosecurity waste on arrival. There is no reimbursement. The Mickleham facility provides bedding. Do not place anything of personal or monetary value in the crate.

What determines whether my pet serves 10 days or 30 days at Mickleham?
Whether the VEHCS identity check was completed correctly before the RNATT blood draw. Two USDA-accredited veterinarians at two different clinics must each scan your pet's microchip and submit endorsed identity declarations through VEHCS before any blood is drawn. If this was not done, or if DAFF identifies a documentation issue, the 30-day period applies.

Does the import permit include a quarantine booking?
No. The import permit and the quarantine booking are separate steps. An approved permit does not reserve quarantine space. Book through the Post Entry Biosecurity System (PEBS) after the permit is issued.