Pets travelling to or from Australia must be booked through a pet travel specialist. They’ll ensure compliance with origin, transit point and destination quarantine requirements, vet checks, licences or permits. As well as coordinate the correct crate and assist with required documentation for your pet to travel safely. Pets arriving into Australia must travel on a direct flight into Melbourne (unless travelling from New Zealand or Norfolk Island) due to Australian quarantine requirements.
International pet travel
Pets travelling from Australia must be booked through a pet travel specialist. For pet travel into Australia, conditions apply.
Things to consider
Certain ports have temporary restrictions and local regulations for pet and animal travel.
-
Effective 4 September 2024, there is a temporary embargo on the uplift of pets and animals between Australia and Incheon due to the current flight timings of Qantas services into South Korea. We will update our website when the embargo has been lifted.
-
- Effective 1 August 2024, a new policy is in place for dogs being transported to the US. For further information, visit the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
- JFK: Effective 15 May to 15 September 2025, there is a temporary embargo on the uplift of pets and animals to and from New York. We will update our website when the embargo has been lifted.
- DFW: Effective 15 May to 15 September 2025, there is a temporary embargo on the uplift of pets and animals to and from Dallas Fort Worth. We will update our website when the embargo has been lifted.
- Effective 1 August 2024, a new policy is in place for dogs being transported to the US. For further information, visit the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Time periods are an estimate only and may be subject to change.
Your pet needs to be fit, healthy and able to cope with being confined for an extended period of time. For this reason, we recommend talking to your vet and having an assessment carried out before booking any travel arrangements. You'll need a vet certificate stating your pet is healthy enough to fly if they are older than 12 years.
We cannot accept your pet for international travel if:
- Your puppy or kitten is less than 12 weeks old
- If your pet appears sedated, unwell, injured, heavily pregnant or aggressive
Qantas Freight does not uplift active racing greyhounds. However, retired racing greyhounds can be uplifted on selected routes and must be booked through approved pet travel specialists due to the strict conditions associated with their travel.
Other breeds of dogs cannot be imported into Australia as they’re classified as ‘dangerous animals’ under Australian federal legislation, including:
- Pit Bull and American Pit Bull Terriers
- Dogo Argentino
- Japanese Tosa
- Brazilian Fila and Mastiff
- Presa Canario
American Staffordshire Terriers (full or cross breed) must be transported in a CR-82 reinforced cage or an airline approved guard dog cage before flying. Dogs travelling with military or correctional facilities officers are considered working dogs and therefore must also travel in an airline approved guard dog cage.
Check with your pet travel specialist for more information on the relevant conditions and documentation you’ll need before your pet's travel.
| Booking | For international pet movements, please contact a pet travel specialist or email us. |
| Acceptance | Up to three (3) hours before departure. |
| Collection | From four (4) hours after arrival. |
Time periods are an estimate only and may be subject to change.