If you’re bringing a cat or dog into Australia, quarantine is one of the most important parts of the import process to get right. Australia has strict biosecurity laws in place to protect our people, animals, agriculture, environment, and native flora and fauna from diseases and pests that may be present overseas, so most cats and dogs entering the country must complete a mandatory quarantine stay on arrival.
The main exceptions are pets arriving directly from New Zealand and eligible assistance dogs, both of which may be exempt from quarantine on arrival into Australia.
Whether you’re relocating home after time overseas, including returning ADF families, or bringing a new pet into the country, here’s what you need to know about how the cat and dog quarantine process works in Australia.
Key Takeaways
- Most cats and dogs entering Australia must complete mandatory quarantine at the Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility in Mickleham, Victoria. The main exceptions are pets arriving directly from New Zealand and eligible assistance dogs.
- Pets are allocated either a 10-day or 30-day minimum stay, depending on their country of origin and supporting documentation. This period is non-negotiable.
- An Australian Import Permit must be granted before a PEQ reservation can be booked, and your pet’s international flight must be booked around the confirmed PEQ reservation date, not the other way around.
- Flights into Melbourne must land within PEQ’s accepted arrival windows. Flights scheduled between 9:00pm and 5:00am AEST are not accepted.
- PEQ must be listed as the consignee for your pet’s arrival, and the airline must receive an Okay to Forward (OK2FWD) from PEQ before your pet can be uplifted.
- Departure Pets can assist with the Australian side of the import process, including import permits, PEQ reservations, quarantine release collection, and onward domestic travel, but does not arrange the international flight itself.
What Is Quarantine and Where Does It Happen?
Quarantine is a mandatory, government-managed isolation period for animals entering Australia from overseas. For cats and dogs, this takes place at Australia’s government-operated Post Entry Quarantine Facility, commonly referred to as PEQ.
There is only one PEQ facility in Australia, located at 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham VIC 3064, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. This is where eligible cats and dogs are cared for while they complete their required cat or dog quarantine period.
You can watch a tour of the PEQ facility here to see what the facility looks like before your pet arrives.
How Long Will My Pet Stay in Quarantine in Australia?
Pets are allocated into one of two quarantine stay categories:
- A 10-day minimum stay in quarantine in Australia, or
- A 30-day minimum stay in quarantine in Australia
The quarantine period your pet is given depends on several factors, including their country of origin and the supporting documentation provided during the Australian import permit application process.
This minimum stay period is non-negotiable. Your pet must complete the quarantine period assigned by the Australian Government before they can be released.
What Needs to Happen Before Australian Quarantine Can Be Booked?
Before a PEQ reservation can be made, your pet must first be approved for import into Australia. This approval is granted through an Australian Import Permit, an official document issued by the Australian Government confirming your pet has been approved to enter Australia, provided all import conditions are met.
Import permits are only valid for a specific period and are linked to your pet’s supporting veterinary and export documentation. Your pet must arrive in Australia before the import permit expires. If the permit expires before your pet arrives, a new import permit will need to be applied for and granted before travel can proceed.
If your overseas pet transport agent needs assistance with the Australian side of the import process, Departure Pets can help with obtaining the Import Permit and arranging the PEQ reservation. You can also find further detail directly from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
How Do I Book My Pet’s Quarantine Reservation?
Once your pet’s import permit has been granted, a quarantine reservation can be requested with PEQ. When booking quarantine for your dog or cat, you must request a specific arrival date into Australia, and your pet’s international flight will then need to align with the date PEQ confirms they can accommodate your pet.
This means your pet’s international flight is dependent on PEQ availability. Flights should not be finalised until the quarantine reservation has been confirmed. Once PEQ confirms the quarantine booking, your pet’s international flight into Melbourne can be booked.
What Are the Flight Arrival Windows Into Melbourne, Australia?
Pets entering quarantine in Australia must arrive into Melbourne within PEQ’s accepted animal arrival windows. The Post Entry Quarantine Facility currently accepts animal arrivals during specific timeframes, and flights scheduled to land between 9:00pm and 5:00am AEST are not accepted.
Arrival windows can vary depending on the day of the week, and out-of-hours fees may apply for some arrival times, weekends, or public holidays. Because of this, it’s essential that your pet’s international flight is selected carefully to ensure it meets PEQ’s arrival requirements.
Why Must PEQ Be Listed as the Consignee?
When your pet’s international flight is booked, PEQ must be nominated as the consignee, meaning they are listed as the receiving party for your pet on arrival into Australia.
As your pet’s travel date approaches, the airline will contact PEQ to request what is known in the industry as an Okay to Forward, often written as OK2FWD. This is a request from the airline to confirm that the listed consignee is aware they have been nominated to receive the pet on arrival, and confirms they will accept and receive the pet when they arrive.
In simple terms, it’s the green light from PEQ confirming the airline can proceed with sending your pet to Australia. OK to Forward requests must be made by the airline directly to PEQ. Once PEQ confirms the request, your pet can be uplifted for travel, provided all other airline and import requirements have been met.
What Happens When My Pet Lands in Australia?
When your pet arrives at Melbourne Airport, PEQ will collect them directly from the airport and transport them to the Post Entry Quarantine Facility in Mickleham. This begins your pet’s quarantine stay.
PEQ will provide care for your pet during their quarantine period, including suitable accommodation, feeding, bedding, and exercise within the facility’s biosecurity-controlled environment. Owners cannot visit pets during their quarantine stay, as the facility must maintain strict biosecurity controls while your pet completes their isolation period.
What Happens Before Release?
Before your pet can be released from quarantine, PEQ will complete the necessary checks and inspections to confirm your pet meets Australia’s import conditions and does not pose a biosecurity risk.
If your pet clears these checks, you will be advised to book their release appointment for the eligible release date. Your pet must be collected on their release date. If you are unable to personally collect your pet, you must arrange an authorised person or pet transport company to collect them on your behalf.
Who Can Collect My Pet From Quarantine?
When booking your pet’s release appointment, you will need to nominate an authorised person to collect your pet. This may be:
- Yourself
- A trusted family member or friend, or
- A pet transport company, such as Departure Pets
If you require agent assistance, it’s important to contact the agent before booking the release appointment. This allows the agent to confirm they are available and able to attend PEQ on your pet’s release date. You will also need to provide PEQ with the correct authorised agent details at the time of booking the release appointment.
Any outstanding PEQ charges must be paid directly to PEQ before the release appointment can be finalised.
Can Departure Pets Help With My Pet’s Import Into Australia?
Yes. Departure Pets can assist with collecting pets from PEQ on their release date, subject to availability and serviceability. We can also assist with domestic onward pet travel after quarantine, including airport transfers, domestic flights, comfort stops, boarding, travel crate requirements, and home delivery where available. This is especially helpful if your pet needs to travel from Melbourne to another Australian city after quarantine, and you can request a domestic pet travel quote here.
Can Departure Pets Help Before My Pet Arrives in Australia?
Yes. If your overseas pet transport agent requires assistance with the Australian side of the import process, Departure Pets may be able to help with:
- Obtaining the Australian import permit
- Booking the PEQ reservation
- Quarantine release collection
- Domestic onward travel after quarantine, and
- Delivery or boarding after release
Departure Pets can assist with the Australian side of your pet’s import, including Import Permit applications, PEQ reservation bookings, quarantine release collections, and domestic onward transport. However, Departure Pets does not arrange or book the international flight from your pet’s country of origin to Australia.
This component is typically managed by your chosen international pet transport agent, who is also responsible for coordinating the export process in the origin country, including the veterinary preparations, export documentation, and health certification required to satisfy Australia’s import conditions and support the Import Permit application.
If your pet’s onward journey involves an airline-approved travel crate, our guides on how to measure your dog for an airline pet crate and travelling crates are a helpful place to start.
Key Things to Remember
- Cat and dog quarantine is mandatory for most pets entering Australia.
- Your pet must have a valid Australian import permit before quarantine can be booked.
- Your pet’s international flight must match the confirmed PEQ reservation date.
- PEQ must be listed as the consignee for your pet’s arrival into Australia.
- The airline must request OK to Forward approval from PEQ before your pet travels.
- Your pet will be collected from Melbourne Airport by PEQ and transported directly to the Mickleham facility.
- Your pet must complete their assigned cat or dog quarantine period before release.
- Your pet cannot stay beyond their eligible release date, so collection or onward travel must be arranged in advance.
Need Help With Your Pet’s Australian Arrival?
Importing a pet into Australia can feel overwhelming, especially when coordinating import permits, dog quarantine bookings, arrival windows, release appointments, and onward domestic travel. Departure Pets can assist with the Australian side of your pet’s journey, including PEQ release collection and domestic transport after quarantine.
If your pet is arriving into Australia and you need assistance after quarantine, our team can help coordinate the next steps so your pet’s arrival is as smooth and stress-free as possible. You can also read what our customers are saying about working with our team, or request a domestic quote for your pet’s onward journey.
If you’re relocating as part of an ADF posting, our ADF and defence member pet transport page also has information specific to defence families. Learn more about cat and dog quarantine in Australia.
Cat & Dog Quarantine in Australia FAQs
- Which pets are exempt from quarantine when entering Australia?
The main exceptions are pets arriving directly from New Zealand and eligible assistance dogs. Assistance dog exemptions are rare and shouldn’t be relied on as a general option. Most cats and dogs entering Australia from other countries must complete a mandatory quarantine stay in Australia. - Where is the Post Entry Dog Quarantine Facility located?
PEQ is located at 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham VIC 3064, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. It’s the only PEQ facility in Australia, and all eligible cats and dogs entering the country complete their quarantine stay there. - How long will my cat or dog need to stay in quarantine in Australia?
Pets are allocated either a 10-day or 30-day minimum stay, depending on their country of origin and the supporting documentation provided during the import permit application. This period is set by the Australian Government and is non-negotiable. - Can I book my pet’s quarantine before their import permit is approved?
No. Your pet must first be approved for import into Australia through an Australian Import Permit before a PEQ reservation can be made. Once the permit is granted, you can request a quarantine reservation and align your pet’s international flight with the confirmed PEQ date. - Can I visit my pet while they’re in quarantine?
No. Owners cannot visit pets during their quarantine stay, as PEQ must maintain strict biosecurity controls while your cat or dog completes their isolation period. - Who can collect my cat or dog from quarantine on their release date?
You can nominate yourself, a trusted family member or friend, or a pet transport company such as Departure Pets. If you’d like an agent to collect your pet, it’s important to confirm their availability before booking the release appointment, as their details need to be provided to PEQ at that time. - Does Departure Pets book the international flight into Australia?
No. Departure Pets can assist with the Australian side of your pet’s import, including the import permit application, PEQ reservation, quarantine release collection, and domestic onward travel. The international flight itself, along with the export process in the country of origin, is typically managed by your chosen international pet transport agent.
Written by Shaun, Managing Director and co-founder of Departure Pets – with lifelong experience in animal care and formal qualifications in animal handling and behaviour.
Last Updated: 6th July 2026
Airline policies, government regulations and industry requirements can change over time. This article reflects information current as of the date above. For the latest requirements specific to your pet’s journey, please contact your Departure Pets consultant.