Lead time needed
10-16 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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Pet Transport from Australia to Russia

Relocating a pet from Australia to Russia follows a clear path once you understand what Russia asks for. This route takes some organising, and roughly 10-16 weeks of preparation is about right. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely. A rabies …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to Russia typically takes around 10-16 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
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Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The Australia to Russia 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
Start of planning.
Confirm the ISO microchip is implanted before any vaccination.

Responsible: Australian vet.

2
At least 20 days before travel; must not be older than 12 months on arrival.
Administer or confirm the rabies vaccination, plus the full dog or cat vaccine set Russia requires.

Responsible: Australian vet.

3
Early, before the OV appointment is booked.
Confirm the current Rosselkhoznadzor-format export certificate directly, since Russia rarely publishes an Australia-specific template.

Responsible: Owner or IPATA-registered agent.

4
6-8 weeks out, and again close to departure given how recently the routes reopened.
Check the live status of Gulf airspace and the Dubai-Moscow connecting flights.

Responsible: Owner or agent.

5
Close to the confirmed travel date.
Obtain the endorsed Australian export health certificate.

Responsible: DAFF-authorised veterinarian.

6
Once both legs' schedules and cargo cut-off times line up.
Travel via Dubai with a coordinated two-leg cargo booking.

Responsible: Owner, agent and both airlines' cargo teams.

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Russia

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

Microchip
ISO microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required at least 20 days before travel, and no older than 12 months from the …
Rabies titre test
Not required. Russia does not ask for a rabies antibody titre test from any …
Quarantine
None for a compliant pet arriving with 2 or fewer animals. Rosselkhoznadzor …
Import permit
Not required for up to 2 pets travelling for personal, non-commercial reasons. A …
Health certificate
Australian export health certificate presented on arrival, checked by a …
Export permit
No general export permit is required from Australia for a personal, …
Costs

What this route typically costs

Australian export health certificate and veterinary endorsement: AUD …
IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 200-450.
Live-animal cargo fees for two legs, Australia-Dubai then …
IPATA-registered agent fee to coordinate the transfer and confirm the …
Overall Australia-to-Russia pet shipping sits toward the upper end of …

Critical points

There is no history of a direct Australia-Russia passenger or cargo flight, and the current state of Gulf and Russian airspace makes one even less likely soon. Every booking runs through a connecting hub, currently Dubai.

The Dubai routing only became reliable again after the 19 June 2026 ceasefire ended the Iran-Israel-US conflict that had grounded Gulf carriers since late February 2026. Confirm both legs are still operating normally close to your travel date rather than assuming the June 2026 recovery holds indefinitely.

Russia's own paperwork is genuinely light by comparison. Do not let the flight logistics distract from getting the 20-day vaccination window and the export certificate endorsement right.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

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

Emirates
Handles the first leg. Emirates flies Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to Dubai, with Perth due …
Cargo Only
Qantas
Sells Dubai connections under codeshare rather than flying the sector itself, and is …
Cargo Only
FlyDubai
Operates the Dubai-Moscow (Vnukovo) leg, increased to two flights a day between 26 June …
Cargo Only

The rules for bringing a pet into Russia

Russia has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.

How to keep this move on track

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Russia does not require a rabies antibody titre test from any country of origin. You do need a rabies vaccination at least 20 days old and no more than 12 months old, plus the standard core vaccines for dogs or cats, and a matching Australian-issued export certificate.
No. There has never been a direct Australia-Russia passenger or cargo service. The workable routing in mid-2026 goes via Dubai: Emirates or a Qantas codeshare out of Australia, then a separate booking on FlyDubai, Emirates or Aeroflot into Moscow.
Up to 2 dogs or cats travelling for personal, non-commercial reasons need no Rosselkhoznadzor import permit and no quarantine if the paperwork is complete. Bringing more than 2 animals requires a Rosselkhoznadzor permit arranged in advance.
It has been reliable since the 19 June 2026 ceasefire ended the Iran-Israel-US conflict that had grounded much of the Gulf’s cargo capacity since late February 2026. Aeroflot, FlyDubai and Emirates have all resumed or increased Moscow-Dubai frequency since. Reconfirm both legs close to your travel date rather than relying on a schedule checked months in advance.
Airline guides
  • Emirates
  • Qantas
  • FlyDubai
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AU RUAustralia to Russia
International pet transport route
Lead time10-16 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityHigh
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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