Lead time needed
5-9 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Low
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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AU
MD

Pet Transport from Australia to Moldova

Shipping a dog or cat from Australia to Moldova rewards owners who start planning early. Around 5-9 weeks should do it, as this is an easier route to plan. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order. This route does not call for a …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to Moldova typically takes around 5-9 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Step by step

The Australia to Moldova import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
Before any rabies vaccination
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785), if not already fitted

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

2
At least 30 days before travel; the 3-year Australian vaccine is accepted by Moldova
Rabies vaccination given, or a current booster confirmed

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

3
Close to the confirmed travel date
Health certificate completed

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

4
4-6 weeks before travel
Book Turkish Airlines from Melbourne or Sydney to Chisinau via Istanbul, or Emirates/Qatar Airways via a Gulf and European hub

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

5
On landing
Arrival inspection at Chisinau International Airport; documents and microchip checked

Responsible: ANSA veterinary officials

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Moldova

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination is …
Rabies vaccination
Required, given at least 30 days before entry. Moldova recognises the standard …
Rabies titre test
Not required for a pet arriving from Australia. Australia sits in Annex II, Part …
Quarantine
No quarantine for pets arriving with complete, compliant documentation.
Import permit
No standalone import permit for a personal pet travelling with its owner. …
Health certificate
The Australian-issued veterinary export certificate, examined by an ANSA …
Export permit
No general export permit for a privately owned dog or cat leaving Australia. …
Costs

What this route typically costs

Vet fees for vaccinations and the health certificate in Australia: AUD …
IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 120-400
Cargo or cabin fare, Melbourne or Sydney to Chisinau via Istanbul: AUD …
Pet relocation agent fee: AUD 350-800
Typical all-in total for a mid-size dog: AUD 3,320-6,900. This is a …

Critical points

Australia's place on the EU's Annex II Part 2 list is a specific, named classification, not a general assumption that a rabies-free country automatically gets the same treatment as the UK. It was confirmed directly for this page rather than carried over from the UK-to-Moldova route.

Turkish Airlines' Melbourne and Sydney to Istanbul services are relatively new: Melbourne since 2024, Sydney moving to daily only from January 2026. Confirm current live-animal cargo capacity before booking, since a young route can have thinner cargo space than an established one.

Moldova's titre-test exemption is set at EU level and reviewed periodically. Confirm the current position with ANSA or the receiving vet close to travel rather than assuming this page's information holds indefinitely.

Non-commercial pet movements into Moldova are capped at five animals per owner. A larger household move needs the commercial import route instead, which carries different documentation requirements.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Turkish Airlines
Flies Melbourne (since 2024) and Sydney (daily from January 2026) to Istanbul on its own …
Cabin and Cargo
Emirates
Daily service from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane to Dubai, connecting onward via a …
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Twice-daily service from Melbourne and Sydney, once daily from Adelaide, Brisbane and …
Cargo Only

Meeting Moldova's entry requirements

The requirements for Moldova are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.

Advice worth following

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Australia sits on the EU’s Annex II Part 2 list of countries exempt from the rabies titre test, the same list that includes the UK, and Moldova, aligning its rules with the EU framework as an accession candidate, extends that exemption to Australian-origin pets. Only the standard microchip, rabies vaccination and export certificate apply.
No, but Turkish Airlines now flies its own aircraft from Melbourne and Sydney to Istanbul, then connects on to Chisinau on the same carrier, a two-leg journey that wasn’t available before Turkish’s 2024-2026 Australian expansion.
Yes. Moldova recognises the 3-year rabies vaccination, so a currently valid Australian vaccine doesn’t need repeating or replacing purely for this move.
Non-commercial pet movements are capped at five animals per owner. A larger number requires the commercial import process instead, with its own separate documentation requirements.
Because Moldova’s titre-test exemption follows from a specific EU list, Annex II Part 2, not a general rule about rabies-free countries. Australia’s own place on that list was confirmed directly for this route rather than carried over automatically from the UK-to-Moldova page.
Airline guides
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Emirates
  • Qatar Airways
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Moldova.

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AU MDAustralia to Moldova
International pet transport route
Lead time5-9 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityLow
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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