Choosing a pet transport agent

Importing a pet involves vets, labs, a government veterinary service, DAFF, an airline and a quarantine facility, all working to tight deadlines. A good pet transport agent coordinates them. DAFF’s advice is clear: the process is complex, takes at least 6 months, and using an experienced agent is recommended.

What an agent can do

• explain the conditions for your country and help you apply for the permit;
• book vet appointments in the right order and check paperwork;
• supply or source an IATA-approved crate of the right size;
• book cargo space on suitable flights to Melbourne, including transit or transhipment arrangements;
• handle check-in at the freight terminal;
• liaise with DAFF and, if needed, arrange onward domestic transport after quarantine.

What an agent can’t do

An agent can’t shorten the 180-day wait, guarantee a permit or override any condition. DAFF says you remain responsible for meeting permit conditions and paying all costs.

How to find one

DAFF suggests searching online for terms like “pet transport agent Australia” and checking the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), whose members include pet shippers worldwide. You may need two agents: one in the exporting country and one in Australia, often working as partners.

Questions to ask

1. How many pets have you moved to Australia from my country in the last year?
2. Which steps do you handle, and which are my responsibility?
3. Is your quote itemised, and what is excluded (DAFF fees, vet fees, endorsement fees, crate, onward travel)?
4. Which airlines and routes do you use, and do any involve transhipment?
5. How do you handle delays or flight cancellations?
6. Who is my contact in Australia, and how do you communicate during quarantine?
7. What happens if paperwork is found to be wrong?

Red flags

• Promises that your pet can skip steps, the 180-day wait or quarantine.
• Pressure to pay large deposits before discussing your pet’s situation.
• No clear written terms or quote.
• Advice that conflicts with DAFF’s guides or your permit.

Doing it yourself

DAFF allows you to make your own travel arrangements. You must use an IATA-approved crate and book your pet as manifested cargo on a flight arriving directly in Melbourne, at the airline’s discretion. If you go it alone, read IATA’s pet travel guidance and your airline’s live animal rules carefully.

Our position

We don’t recommend individual agents, and nobody pays us to be listed here. If that ever changes, we will label it clearly, as described in our editorial policy.

Questions to ask before you sign

Ask every agent you shortlist the same questions so you can compare answers like for like:

• Are you an IPATA member, and how many Australia imports did you handle last year? Australia is one of the strictest destinations in the world, so experience with DAFF paperwork matters more than general pet shipping experience.
• What exactly is in the quote? A complete quote should list the crate, flight, airport handling, export vet visits, government endorsement of the health certificate, and customs and DAFF clearance on arrival. Ask whether the Mickleham quarantine fees are included or billed to you separately by DAFF.
• Who books the vet appointments and the rabies test? Some agents manage the whole timeline; others only handle the flight and leave the vet work to you.
• What happens if a test fails or a flight is cancelled? Ask how rebooking and extra quarantine nights are charged.
• How will you keep me updated? You want one named contact and a clear way to reach them in the week of the flight.

Red flags

Be wary of any "agent" who cannot give a business address, asks for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer to a personal account, or promises to skip quarantine or the rabies wait. No agent can shorten DAFF's mandatory waiting periods. The ACCC's Scamwatch service warns that fake pet transport companies are a common scam, often asking for repeated extra "fees" for crates, insurance or permits. If you are unsure, check the business with IPATA and search its name alongside the word "scam".

Doing it yourself versus using an agent

You can manage the import yourself. You apply for the import permit through DAFF's BICON system, work with your vet on every test, book the flight as manifested cargo, and arrange the government endorsement of the health certificate. It costs less, but you carry all the risk of a missed step. A sensible middle path is to handle the vet timeline yourself, using our planner, and pay an agent or the airline's cargo team for the flight and arrival clearance only.

Keep copies of everything

Whoever manages the process, keep your own copy of every certificate, lab report, permit and booking. Make sure the microchip number is identical on every document. A single wrong digit is one of the most common reasons for delays at the border.