Pet Travel from the UK to Australia: Cat Import Requirements

Step 1 — Check your cat is eligible (before you spend money)

To import a cat into Australia from the UK (a Group 3 country), your cat must meet the Australian biosecurity rules, including the rabies pathway and residency timing.

Your cat must NOT be:

• under quarantine restrictions

• more than 30 days pregnant

• nursing kittens

Important: Australia does not allow non-domestic hybrid cats:​

• Savannah cats (Serval cat cross)

• Safari cats (Geoffrey cat cross)

• Chausie cats (Jungle cat cross)

• Bengal cats (Asian leopard cat cross)

If your cat may be classed as a hybrid, you should confirm this before starting the process.

Step 2 — Plan the timeline early (minimum 6+ months)

Australia requires a mandatory 180-day residency period in an approved country, counted from the date the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory (not the blood draw date).

This is not quarantine — your cat can live normally at home — but it means most UK exports take 6–8+ months end-to-end once you factor in permits, treatments, and logistics.

Step 3 — Microchip first (must be correct before anything else)

• Your cat must have a working ISO-compliant microchip (typically 10 or 15 digits).

• Microchips starting with 999 are not accepted.

• The vet must scan and record the microchip at every visit, especially before blood sampling.

Critical: Australia does not accept “corrected” lab reports if microchip numbers/dates are wrong — mistakes can invalidate the import.

Step 4 — Optional: OV66 identity checks to reduce quarantine (10 days vs 30 days)

Cats typically serve a minimum 30-day post-entry quarantine stay in Australia. If you want your cat to be eligible for the minimum 10-day option instead, you need to follow the OV66 identity verification protocol (the UK pathway that supports reduced quarantine eligibility).

This involves:

• Two separate ID checks

• Completed by two different OV66-authorised Official Veterinarians

• The two OVs must be from separate veterinary practices/clinics

• Both ID checks must be completed before the RNATT blood test is taken

This is a specialist process that we can provide as part of our Australia export service.

If you’d like to understand exactly how OV66 works (and whether it’s worth doing for your timeline), you can read more here.

Step 5 — Rabies vaccination (mandatory)

Your cat must be:

• vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine

• vaccinated when at least 84 days old

• kept continuously “in date” from RNATT → export

Timing tip:

• If this is your cat’s first rabies vaccination, Australia recommends waiting 3–4 weeks before doing the RNATT blood sample (better chance of a compliant titre).

Step 6 — Rabies Blood Test (RNATT)

After rabies vaccination, your cat will need a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) to confirm adequate immunity.

Key timing rules:

• If it’s the first rabies vaccination, blood is typically taken 3–4 weeks later

• The RNATT sample must be taken between 180 days and 12 months before export

• Your cat cannot travel to Australia until at least 180 days have passed from when the sample arrives at the lab

• Result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml (FAVN or RFFIT)

OV66 compliance requirement (for reduced quarantine):If you are following the OV66 protocol to qualify for the reduced 10-day quarantine option, the RNATT blood sample must be collected by an OV66-authorised vet. We usually organise this to be done at the same appointment as the second OV66 identity check, to keep the process efficient and fully compliant.

The vet must scan the microchip and ensure the number is recorded exactly on the blood tube and laboratory paperwork — errors here can invalidate the test and delay travel.

Step 7 — RNATT Declaration (Official Government Certificate)

Once the RNATT result is back, an RNATT declaration must be completed using the official template and confirming the rabies vaccination + RNATT details match Australia’s import rules.

What’s required:

• RNATT lab report

• Rabies vaccination certificate

• Matching microchip number, blood sampling date and test result across all documents

• RNATT declaration completed, signed and stamped by an authorised Official Veterinarian (OV)

OV66 protocol requirement (for reduced quarantine): For the OV66 pathway, the RNATT declaration must be completed by an OV66-authorised vet who is different from the OV who collected the blood sample. In practice, we usually arrange this to be done by the first OV66 vet who performed your initial ID check, so your chain of certification remains compliant.

Step 8 — Apply for the Australia import permit (BICON)

Apply as soon as you have the RNATT declaration.

You must upload:

• RNATT lab report (from the testing laboratory)

• RNATT declaration (endorsed / completed correctly)

Processing time is commonly 20–40 business days, but can take longer in some cases.

Permit validity is generally aligned to RNATT validity (typically 12 months from blood sampling).

Start your permit application here. 

Step 9 — Book quarantine (then book flights)

Your cat will quarantine at Mickleham (Melbourne):

• minimum 30 days, unless eligible for minimum 10 days

Book quarantine as soon as your permit is issued. Space isn’t guaranteed.

Then book flights with these rules:

• Arrival must be Melbourne International Airport (no domestic transfers)

• Cats must travel as manifested cargo (not cabin)

• Use an IATA-approved crate

• Don’t put toys/meds/items in the crate (may be destroyed as biosecurity waste)

Stops en route:

• Transit (stays on plane) can occur in any country

• Transhipping (changing aircraft) is only allowed in an approved country, and your cat must remain on the international side under supervision — owners must confirm rules with the transit country’s competent authority.

If your pet is arriving with a private aircraft, click this link to find out your specific requirements.

Step 10 — Request the Export Health Certificate (EHC 2432)

You should apply for your Export Health Certificate (EHC 2432) via the EHC Online system when you’re approaching the final 45-day pre-export window.

Why this timing works best:

• most required treatments and the final health check sit inside this period

• requesting too early risks validity windows expiring

• requesting too late risks endorsement delays and missed travel dates

We normally guide clients on the ideal timing so everything stays aligned and compliant.

Step 11 — Non-rabies treatments and routine vaccines (final preparation phase)

These must be done by a government approved vet in an approved country.

Recommended routine vaccinations (optional but strongly advised):

• feline panleukopenia / feline enteritis

• rhinotracheitis

• calicivirus

These aren’t mandatory for import, but they help protect your cat during travel and quarantine.

External parasites (ticks/fleas):

• start at least 21 days before export

• use an approved product that kills ticks/fleas on contact

• must remain effective until export (repeat per manufacturer)

• vet must check for ticks/fleas at each visit; if found, treatment may need restarting

Internal parasites (worms):

• two treatments within 45 days of export

• at least 14 days apart

• second treatment within 5 days of export

• (time saver) second worming can be done at the same visit as the final vet check​

Step 12 — Final vet check + export health certificate (within 5 days of export)

Within 5 days before export, your vet must:

• examine your cat for external parasites and signs of infectious/contagious disease

• complete the export health certificate paperwork required for export

Bring to the appointment:

• valid import permit

• RNATT report + RNATT declaration

• any other supporting documents required for your permit

Step 13 — Travel day + arrival in Australia

Your cat must arrive before the permit expires.

On arrival:

• Australia collects your cat and transports them to Mickleham

• you typically receive an arrival email update within 24 hours

• if documents or health checks don’t match the permit conditions, additional quarantine/testing (or worse outcomes) can follow

Ready to Start Your Cat’s Australia Travel Paperwork?

If you’re planning to travel from the UK to Australia with your cat, we can help make the process clear, organised, and stress-free.

Complete our enquiry form and we’ll review your pet’s details, travel dates, vaccination history, and certification requirements so we can guide you through the next steps.

Ready to get started? Click below to begin your Australia pet travel enquiry.

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