Australia is the most expensive and most tightly regulated destination we handle. A dog or cat moving from the United States realistically lands between $5,500 and $12,000 all in, and the timeline runs to months rather than weeks.
Most of the difference from an easier destination is not the flight. It is the import permit, the mandatory quarantine at Mickleham, and the rabies titer test that has to be done far enough ahead to clear a waiting period. Here is where the money actually goes.
Airlines price live animals on chargeable weight, which is whichever is greater: the actual weight, or a volume figure worked out from the crate. For pets the crate almost always wins, which is why a slim 60 lb dog in a large crate costs more to fly than a stocky 70 lb dog in the same one.
The divisor is published by Air Canada Cargo at 166 cubic inches per pound. The rates below come from the American Airlines Cargo public tariff, the tariff these estimates are calculated against. Other carriers price each booking individually. Current version checked July 2026.
| Crate size | Approx. dimensions | Chargeable weight | Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (cat or toy dog) (size 100) | 21 x 16 x 15 in | 14 kg | $720 |
| Medium (size 200) | 28 x 20.5 x 21.5 in | 34 kg | $1,122 |
| Large (size 400) | 36 x 25 x 27 in | 66 kg | $2,178 |
| Giant (size 700) | 48 x 32 x 35 in | 147 kg | $4,851 |
These freight figures are our own calculation from the published rate and the published divisor. American publishes a minimum and a 1 kg rate for Australia but no volume break rates, so for a large or giant crate the figures above are an upper bound and the real quote is usually lower. Treat them as a ceiling, not a price.
| Cost | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| DAFF import permit, first pet | AUD $603 | Australian government |
| DAFF import permit, each additional pet | AUD $288 | Australian government |
| Quarantine reservation | AUD $269 per animal | Australian government |
| Quarantine importation charge | AUD $1,078 per animal | Australian government |
| Quarantine accommodation, minimum 10 days | AUD $530 (at $53 per day) | Australian government |
| Minimum quarantine total | AUD $1,877 per animal | Australian government |
| Inspection and document assessment | AUD $80 per 30 minutes, per animal | Australian government |
| Airline terminal service fee on release | AUD $170 to $350 | Recovered by the facility |
| Out of hours collection | AUD $170 weekday, $180 weekend or public holiday | Australian government |
| USDA export endorsement (titer required, so 1 to 2 tests) | $160 per certificate | USDA APHIS |
| Rabies titer test, lab fee only | $79 to $90 | Laboratory |
| IATA crate | $65 to $378 depending on size | Retailer |
| Airline live animal processing | $150 per air waybill | Airline |
The AUD $1,877 quarantine figure is our arithmetic from three separate charges DAFF publishes, not a total DAFF states itself. It is a floor: inspection time, any extra parasite treatment, grooming, private vet attendance or an extended stay all add to it, and DAFF does not cap those.
Note the endorsement band. Because Australia requires a rabies titer test, the USDA fee moves from the $101 no-test band into the $160 band. That is the test count driving it, not the destination.
You cannot visit your pet during quarantine. DAFF does not permit it, on the grounds that the stay is short.
Two costs are real and we deliberately do not put a number on them, because no honest source exists for either.
Your vet sets their own fees. The examination, the health certificate paperwork, and the blood draw for a titer test where one is needed are all priced by your clinic, and they vary widely between practices and cities. Ask your own vet for a quote. Labs price only the test itself; the draw and the paperwork are always the clinic’s charge.
Ground transport at either end is quoted per route, since it depends on distance and access. If we are handling your move, that is part of the plan we send you.
Our coordination fee is included in the totals we quote you directly and appears itemised on your invoice.
The titer test drives the calendar more than the budget. There is a waiting period after a passing result before your pet can travel, and it is measured in months. Book the test far too early rather than slightly too late. Our titer test guide covers the sequence.
Quarantine length is not fixed at 10 days. Gaps in identity verification or paperwork can extend it to 30 days, at $53 per day, which is the most common avoidable cost on this route.
Everything routes through Melbourne, because Mickleham is the only facility. If your final destination is Perth or Brisbane, there is a domestic leg after release.
Exchange rate. Most of this bill is in Australian dollars, so the USD total moves with the rate.
Figures verified July 2026. Government fees change, sometimes without much notice, so each one below links to the authority that publishes it. If you are reading this well after July 2026, check the source before relying on the number.
One caution specific to Australia. DAFF proposed an increase to companion animal charges from 1 July 2026 and has not yet published updated rates, so the figures above are what DAFF currently shows on its own pages. Check the DAFF links before you budget, and see our Australian quarantine guide for the full process.
Terms used here are defined in our pet relocation glossary.
Send us the route, the breed and roughly when you want to travel. Request a quote and we will reply with an itemised plan, a timeline and clear next steps, usually within two business hours.
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