Planning Ahead for Pet Travel to Australia

Name: Sophie
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: English Staffy
From: Australia
To: America

Hi,

I'm looking at relocating to America and was wanting to take my dog. I have read that she will need a rabies shot at least a month before we go, but I wanted to know if there was any kind of quarantine in the US.

Also, if I was to stay there for a couple of years, when we come back to Australia, will she have to go through quarantine upon return?

Thanks,

Sophie
 

Hi Sophie,

Great questions. First, importing pets to the United States is pretty straightforward. You need an international health certificate and an updated rabies vaccine, and there is no quarantine if you follow those basic rules.

Australia is more strict when it comes to pets. They did recently shorten the time pets must spend in quarantine upon arrival from the United States (beginning in February 2014 it will be 10 days instead of 30), but you still need to follow a list of specific requirements in order to transition smoothly. You can find more information about this update here.

Honestly, as things have been in flux lately, we'd recommend taking a look at the requirements as they stand now (here's a link to the official DAFF site also) but then when it's closer to your actual move date you'll certainly need to research the current rules. Pet travel can be tricky and rules can quickly change, so it's wise to allow plenty of time to plan. It sounds like you're off to a great start on that front already.

Hopefully this has been helpful. If you'd like to speak to a pet relocation consultant about your options, feel free to give our office a call at your convenience or fill out our free quote form.

Thanks for the questions, and good luck with everything!