Dog guide

US → Australia: dog step order

Use this as a planning map. Confirm every detail on the official Australian guidance before you book.

1. Microchip

Make sure your dog has a readable chip and you have the number written down. Timing problems often start when vaccines happen before identity is clean.
2. Rabies vaccination

Get the vaccine on a timeline your export vet understands. Keep the certificate.
3. Rabies blood test

The lab result is often what sets the waiting period. Ask which lab and paperwork your path needs.
4. Waiting period

If a wait applies, leaving early can waste months. Treat this as a hard gate, not a soft suggestion.
5. Permission and quarantine booking

Australia-side approval and facility space can take longer than people expect. Start this conversation early.
6. Crate, airline, final checks

Confirm crate size and airline acceptance. Final vet paperwork can expire quickly, so schedule the last weeks carefully.
7. Arrival handoff

Know where the dog goes on arrival, who can collect after quarantine, and which fees are due.

Breed rules, airline embargos, and government steps change. This page is a sequence guide, not approval to travel.

Common dog travel gear

Research hard crates; confirm with airline before buying.

For staging days around flights.

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