Relocating to Australia with pets involves more than just booking a flight—it requires navigating strict import regulations, quarantine requirements, health certifications, and timelines that can feel overwhelming. That’s where Pets in Transit comes in. We specialize in helping families move their dogs, cats, and other pets to Australia with care and precision. From managing veterinary paperwork to coordinating international flights and quarantine arrangements, we handle every detail so you don’t have to. With years of experience and a deep understanding of Australian import rules, we make the process smooth, safe, and stress-free for both you and your pets.
Once you approve your proposal, we’ll connect with your veterinarian to review your pet’s medical history. We’ll ensure everything aligns with Australia’s strict import requirements and flag anything that needs updating right away.
Our team takes care of every step, including scheduling vet appointments, securing the required health certificates, and handling DAFF endorsements. We manage the paperwork, so you can relax knowing nothing will be overlooked.
Once documentation is complete, we’ll book your pet’s flight with a trusted airline that has strong safety standards and meets Australia’s import standards. We choose the quickest, most efficient route to get your pet to you comfortably and on time.
You’ll receive a clear, detailed itinerary outlining every step of your pet’s journey, including flight info, check-in times, quarantine details, and pick-up or delivery instructions. We provide everything you need to stay informed and feel confident about the process.
We offer flexible and secure pick-up options tailored to your schedule—whether it’s from your front door, your veterinarian’s office, or another convenient location. Our experienced pet handlers ensure your pet is safely transported to the airport and properly checked in for their journey.
You’ll never have to wonder where your pet is at in their journey. Our team provides real-time updates as your pet progresses through each stage, including check-in, boarding, flight departure, and arrival. With access to our travel portal, you’ll stay informed every step of the way for peace of mind.
Once your pet lands in Australia, we take care of the rest. From clearing customs to coordinating the required quarantine stay and arranging final delivery, we manage every detail with care and precision—making your pet’s arrival as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Relocating your pet to Australia means following strict and time-sensitive import processes—but with the right guidance, it can be done smoothly and successfully. Australia requires advance planning, exact veterinary protocols, and mandatory quarantine for most pets arriving from countries like the U.S. At Pets in Transit, we help you meet every requirement with confidence and care. Here’s what to expect:
All pets entering Australia must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip before any vaccinations or blood tests are performed. The microchip must be readable by standard scanners and clearly listed on all veterinary records and health certificates. If your pet needs a microchip or a compatible scanner, we can help arrange this step with your veterinarian.
Australia requires strict rabies protocols, even for pets from rabies-controlled countries like the U.S. Your pet must receive a valid rabies vaccination before the rabies titer test (RNATT) is performed. The titer test must be done at least 180 days (but no more than 24 months) before entry into Australia.
We help coordinate the vaccination and blood draw timing and ensure the titer test is sent to an approved lab. Once results are confirmed, we track the countdown for your pet’s eligibility to enter Australia.
An import permit from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is required for all pets entering Australia. We’ll complete the permit application on your behalf, submit all necessary documents, and monitor its approval to ensure there are no delays.
Before your pet departs, they must undergo a final health exam and receive parasite treatments (for both internal and external parasites) within a specific window of time. These treatments and exams must be documented on the official Australian veterinary health certificate, which must be endorsed by the USDA (or equivalent authority in your departure country). We handle scheduling, documentation, and USDA endorsement to keep everything on track.
Most pets entering Australia are required to complete a 10-day quarantine. Quarantine space is limited and must be booked well in advance. We coordinate the reservation, confirm your pet’s arrival date, and ensure all quarantine conditions are met ahead of time to avoid delays or denials.
Pets traveling to Australia must fly as manifest cargo on approved airline routes. We work directly with trusted pet-friendly airlines to choose the safest route and ensure all airline documentation is correct. Your pet must travel in an IATA-compliant crate that meets Australian import and airline safety standards. For large dogs or unique breeds, we can design and build custom crates to ensure your pet’s comfort and compliance.
Australia prohibits the import of certain breeds. If you’re unsure whether your dog is eligible to enter, we can help you review DAFF’s regulations and determine whether exemptions or alternatives are available.
We also take into account special travel needs for snub-nosed breeds or pets with health sensitivities—helping you plan the safest possible route and flight schedule based on temperature, transit times, and airline policies.
EXCELLENT Based on 18 reviews Vignesh Rajagopal2024-11-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Loved working with Ted for my move from the US to Germany with my dog. Great, professional, prompt, knowledgeable. And very patient with all my questions! Thank you so much!!! Ross Schneider2024-10-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted was a lifesaver. After not hearing back from several agencies in a timely manner, I was made aware of Pets in Transit. After contacting them, Ted reached out in less than an hour to discuss my situation. I was leaving for Germany in less than 10 days and still had no one lined up to ship my dog. In less than a day, Ted had a plan for us to get him there the same day and time as me. After I had agreed to their services, I started to hear back from some of the other agencies I contacted, and their prices were, in some cases, thousands more than what I paid Ted. From handling the paperwork, to answering all of my questions, Ted was a rockstar, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without his help. Ted really brought a lot of relief to me during one of the most stressful times of my life, and for that, I will be forever grateful. I highly recommend them and their services. Dave Miller2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We traveled from Minnesota to Germany with our three Corgis this summer. We had flown with the older dog before the pandemic and had experience with shipping a dog in Cargo, but this was another level of complexity post-pandemic when MSP airport had just restarted processing animals a few weeks before we flew. Last time, we booked transport ourselves with the airline, but we needed an experienced company to ship three dogs this time and were very fortunate to find Ted Castro and Pets in Transit. Ted helped us at each step of the process, gave us clear information, and responded to calls or texts at all hours. He is also very flexible with backup plans when things change - like too hot to fly and last minute complications with our own transit plans in Europe. Ted rebooked our pups out of Chicago direct to Frankfurt and sent his courier to pick up them and our three kennels. That allowed us to fly out as planned then collect the dogs when they arrived the day after we got to Germany. Ted’s vet took over final certifications for the dogs. Dottie, Malley and Toffee all arrived in good health and good spirits despite their 6 hour van ride and 8 hour flight! Moving three dogs was not cheap, but Pets in Transit’s costs were very fair (lower than other big pet movers) and the personal touch and peace of mind was worth every penny! We wholeheartedly recommend you work with Ted when your pet needs to fly! angelo kollias2024-10-01Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Phenomenal service. He cares about animals a lot. He transported my two dogs and he did an outstanding job. He always answered my questions without any hesitation. He made sure my French Bulldogs got the safest flight since it’s a breed with breathing issues and flight restrictions. His prices are also real real good. Best services and prices around. Jetta Chung2024-04-16Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently had the pleasure of working with Ted from Pets in Transit for an international move of our beloved 12lb Shiba Inu puppy, Daisy, from Chicago to Dubai. From the onset, Ted was professional and attentive to the specific needs of our Daisy's travel. He demonstrated knowledge and experience with international pet travel regulations, which made us feel confident and relieved knowing Daisy was in capable hands. Ted kept us updated throughout her journey, which greatly eased our anxiety about her well-being during such a long trip. I am so grateful to Ted and the entire team at Pets in Transit for their exceptional service. If you are looking for a reliable and compassionate pet relocation service, I highly recommend Pets in Transit. Thank you, Ted, for making Daisy's move smooth and stress-free! Dillon McCann2024-01-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted and his team went above and beyond to help my family in our move! Pets in Transit helped us move our 120lb lab/mastiff mix overseas from Chicago and gave us the peace of mind we needed during the hectic process, without any issues. My dog was picked up from our home, boarded for 2 days to help alleviate stress on us (Ted provided us with pictures each day so we knew how our dog was doing), we were able to purchase a GIANT kennel at a much cheaper rate than anywhere else, and he was brought to a USDA facility to make sure everything was good to go for us. Fast forward to 7 months later; I had a vet appointment for my dog and I somehow misplaced my USDA documents from the move. Ted responded in no time with copies that he had kept on file! Thank you and your team so much for the help Ted. 10/10 Rolando Santos2023-12-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted was very helpful in clearing my two cats when they were transported from the UAE to Chicago. He was very prompt in answering questions and even went ahead of time to the airport to ensure that he completed the clearance process asap. He kept me updated all throughout the process by sending me pictures of the cats and messaging me as soon as there was an update. When he brought my cats to their vet, he and his team cleaned up my cats and gave them food. When the cats arrived at our house, they smell so pleasant it's as if they came from grooming. Pets in Transit is amazing! Tatiana Balaguera vanegas2023-10-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. El señor Ted es una excelente persona, siempre estuvo en contacto con nosotros, muy pendiente de Max y de combi! Súper recomendado Shalini Sivaram2023-06-15Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Exceptional service! Ted and his team provided us a great service, receiving our pet kitty Bella from Chicago and bringing to our home all safe and comfy. They have updated us with the photos of kitty's night stay too. Highly recommended by us and our kitty Bella Marie McDonough2023-05-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Will be using Ted AGAIN to move my pet. Professional, promt, and friendly. He is able to navigate rules regs and takes WONDERFUL care of our pet. Thank you
Let us handle all of the details and effortlessly manage your pet’s relocation from start to finish!
Your quote request has been successfully submitted. Our team at Pets In Transit will review your information and get back to you shortly with a detailed quote tailored to your needs.
Thank you for trusting Pets In Transit — we look forward to assisting you!