Moving pets to Perth — the honest guide.
Bringing a dog or cat to Australia isn't hard, but the timeline is unforgiving. Miss a window and your pet flies weeks later. Here's what to plan for, in the order it happens.
The 180-day rabies waiting period is fixed. Start early or start late.
All-in cost including relocator, permit, quarantine and flights.
10 days minimum in Melbourne — no exceptions, no Perth facility.
The relocation timeline
Rough sequence for a UK, EU, US, NZ or SA pet arriving in Perth. Country of origin determines the exact treatments — your relocator will confirm.
- 16+ months outBook a specialist pet relocator
A specialist relocator coordinates the vet, DAFF paperwork, flights and Mickleham quarantine end-to-end. Doing it yourself is possible but the paperwork window is unforgiving — LRS can refer you to a tried and tested pet transport partner (our clients get a preferential rate).
- 26 months outMicrochip check + rabies vaccination
Chip must be ISO 11784/11785. Rabies vaccine is the trigger for the 180-day countdown to Australia.
- 36 months outRNATT rabies titre blood test
Must show ≥0.5 IU/ml. The clock to Australia starts the day the blood is drawn — this is the single most important date in the whole process.
- 460 days outApply for the DAFF import permit
Application fee around A$550. Permit is valid for 12 months from issue.
- 560–90 days outBook Mickleham quarantine
Australia has one Post-Entry Quarantine facility — Mickleham, north of Melbourne. Minimum 10-day stay. Slots book out; secure yours early.
- 645 days outSource an IATA-compliant travel crate
Airlines refuse under-sized crates at check-in. Your relocator will size to IATA CR82 based on your pet's measurements.
- 75–14 days outPre-export vet treatments
Strict tapeworm and parasite timing windows. A government-accredited vet signs off the export health certificate roughly 5 days before flight.
- 8ArrivalFly into MEL, transfer to Mickleham
Even Perth-bound pets clear quarantine in Melbourne, then take a domestic flight to PER once released. Your relocator handles the transfer.
- 9First 30 days in PerthCouncil dog registration
Compulsory within 30 days at your permanent address. Roughly A$20–A$100/yr depending on desexing status.
Ballpark costs (AUD)
Real quotes vary by origin country, pet size and airline availability. Use these as a budgeting starting point.
- Pet relocator (dog, UK→PER)A$5,500 – A$8,500
- Pet relocator (cat, UK→PER)A$4,000 – A$6,000
- DAFF import permitA$550 + variations
- Rabies titre (RNATT) blood testA$150 – A$300
- Mickleham quarantine (10 days)A$2,000 – A$2,500
- IATA travel crateA$200 – A$600
- WA council registration (yearly)A$20 – A$100
Pet-friendly Perth
The rental market in Perth is tight and many agents still list "no pets". These suburbs have generous blocks, easy off-leash access and — anecdotally — landlords more open to pet references.
Off-leash beach access + big blocks.
Coastal, family-friendly, walkable to dog beaches.
Large family blocks, quiet cul-de-sacs, close to reserves.
Riverside walks and dog parks minutes from the CBD.
Hills acreage — the pick if you want space to roam.
Newer estates with generous yards on smaller budgets.
We'll project-manage your pet move too.
We hold your timeline, book the crate measure with a partner vet, brief your relocator, and prep a pet reference pack that gets past "no pets" rental listings.