Perth with DanMeet Norman,
our Chief Beach Officer.
Norman is our 7-year-old black Labrador. We brought him across with us from the UK to Perth, so we know exactly how it feels to move a much-loved pet to the other side of the world. Now he's the face of our pet travel help.
From UK walks to Perth sand.
The short version of how a very good boy swapped grey skies for the Indian Ocean.
The paperwork era
Microchip checks, vet visits, a rabies blood test and a lot of waiting. Norman mostly napped through it. We did the worrying.
The big flight
The longest trip of his life. Pets travel as cargo with a specialist, so the hardest bit was saying "see you soon" at the start.
Quarantine
Every cat and dog coming into Australia does a stay at the Mickleham quarantine facility in Melbourne before flying on. UK pets can be eligible for a 10-day minimum.
First Perth beach
Pure joy. Sand everywhere, zoomies, and a new job title: Chief Beach Officer. He hasn't looked back.
Norman's tips for moving pets
- Start early. Way earlier than you think. From the UK there's a 180-day wait after the rabies blood test.
- Use a specialist. Pet relocation companies handle flights, crates and quarantine bookings, and it takes a huge weight off.
- Crate train at home. Get your pet comfy in their travel crate weeks before the flight.
- Line up a pet-friendly rental. Perth landlords love a good pet résumé (Norman's is excellent).
- Find your dog beach. Perth has plenty of dog-friendly beaches. Ask us for Norman's favourites.
The big picture.
Australia has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world. Here's the big picture we followed with Norman, so you can start early.
Start 6+ months ahead
The official advice is to allow at least 6 months. From the UK and Ireland, there's a 180-day wait after your pet's rabies blood test before it can travel, so many families start 7 to 9 months out.
Vet checks, rabies test & ID
The UK and Ireland are "Group 3" countries, so cats and dogs need a microchip, rabies vaccination and a rabies antibody (RNAT) blood test. In the UK, an identity check by an authorised OV66 vet before the blood test is what makes your pet eligible for the shorter quarantine.
Import permit
Apply to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for an import permit. Most are issued in 20 to 40 business days, but it can take longer.
Quarantine in Melbourne
Imported cats and dogs fly into Melbourne and stay at the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility. UK pets prepared under the new ID-check process can be eligible for a minimum of 10 days; otherwise the minimum is 30 days. Pets then fly on to Perth.
General information only, not official advice. Rules differ by country (New Zealand has its own, simpler pathway) and change from time to time. Always check the latest requirements on the official DAFF cats and dogs page (agriculture.gov.au).
How we help
- Introductions to pet relocation specialists such as Dogtainers and Jetpets, who handle the paperwork, flights and quarantine bookings
- Pet-friendly rental searches and a pet résumé for your applications
- Local tips: vets, dog beaches and pet-friendly suburbs
We may earn a referral fee from partners we recommend, and we'll always tell you.
Ask about bringing your petLet's get your pet here too.
Norman approves of all of these.
Planning call
A 45-minute paid call where we map out your pet's timeline, the paperwork and your move, based on what we went through with Norman.
Book a callPet-friendly rental search
We focus your rental shortlist on pet-friendly homes and help you put together a pet résumé for applications.
Add pet searchSpecialist introductions
Introductions to pet relocation specialists such as Dogtainers and Jetpets. We may earn a referral fee, and we'll always tell you.
Ask about your petGBP prices are approximate; we charge in AUD.