Rabies vaccination and the RNATT

Rabies is the main reason Australia’s rules for Group 3 countries are so strict. Australia is rabies-free, and the RNATT, with the waiting period that follows, is designed to keep it that way. This guide explains the rules DAFF sets and the practical traps.

What DAFF requires

DAFF lists four rabies-related conditions for Group 3 pets:

1. continuous residence in an approved country for at least 180 days before export;
2. a current rabies vaccination;
3. a valid RNATT;
4. an RNATT declaration from the competent authority in the country of export.

The vaccination

The vaccine must be approved for use in your country, given by a government-approved vet when your pet was at least 84 days old, and valid continuously from the RNATT to export. Three-year vaccines are fine if given as the manufacturer directs. The most common and expensive mistake is letting the vaccination lapse. If it does, your pet must be revaccinated, a new RNATT taken and the 180-day wait restarted.

The blood test

An approved vet scans the microchip and takes the sample. The chip number must be written accurately on the tube and the lab form. The test must be a FAVN (fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation) or RFFIT (rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test), done at a laboratory recognised by the government of the exporting country. The lab can be in another approved country.

• Pass: 0.5 IU/ml or more.
• Fail: below 0.5 IU/ml. Revaccinate and retest.

Timing

• Wait 3 to 4 weeks after a first rabies vaccination before taking the sample. Pets with regular vaccinations may be able to go sooner; ask your vet.
• The sample must be taken between 12 months and 180 days before export.
• Export can be no earlier than 180 days after the sample arrives at the lab.

The lab report

DAFF says the report must be in English, on the lab’s letterhead, and show the microchip number, sampling date and location, the test type, the result and the signature of the person issuing it. E-signatures and QR codes are accepted, but reports with corrected microchip numbers, dates or results are not.

The RNATT declaration

You request this from the competent authority. An official government vet, who is not the vet that prepared your pet, completes, signs and stamps it, using the country-specific template agreed with Australia. The chip number, result and sampling date must match the lab report exactly. DAFF warns that even a one-digit difference can cause delays. The declaration must name the testing lab, not just the lab that forwarded the sample.

Keeping the RNATT valid

The import permit is valid only while the RNATT is valid. If your move is delayed and the RNATT is close to expiring, DAFF says you can retest, as long as the new sample reaches the lab within 12 months of the original, and then apply to vary the permit in BICON. This avoids restarting the 180-day wait. If the RNATT has already expired, you must retest and wait another 180 days.

Common traps

• Taking the sample before the identity check.
• Leaving the 3- or 4-week gap after a first vaccination too short.
• A typo in the microchip number on the tube, form or report.
• Using a lab not recognised by the exporting country.
• Letting the vaccination lapse while waiting.
• Booking flights before the 180 days have passed.

Next steps

With the RNATT declaration in hand, apply for the import permit. Then use our timeline planner to schedule the final treatments.

Choosing an approved laboratory

The blood sample must be tested at a laboratory approved by DAFF. DAFF publishes the list of approved laboratories, and your vet must send the sample directly. Ask your vet to confirm the lab is on the current DAFF list before the blood is drawn. A result from a lab that is not approved will not be accepted, and you will have to start again.

Getting the paperwork right

The lab report must show your pet's microchip number exactly as it appears on every other document. Check the report as soon as you receive it. If a digit is wrong, contact the lab and your vet immediately to arrange a corrected report. Keep the original and several copies.

If the result is too low

If the result is below the required level, your pet has not responded well enough to the vaccine. Talk to your vet about a booster vaccination and a repeat test. The waiting period runs from the date of the successful test sample, so a failed result usually adds months to your timeline. This is one reason to test early.

Keeping vaccination current

Your pet's rabies vaccination must remain valid throughout the process. If the vaccine lapses before the booster is given, a new test may be needed. Diary the booster date with your vet and keep the vaccination certificate with the RNATT report.

Planning tip

Use our timeline planner to work backwards from your preferred export date. Doing the test early gives you a buffer if anything goes wrong.