Lead time needed
65-104 weeks
Quarantine
10 days
Route complexity
Very High
Airlines
4 carriers on this route
Start my quote
Home/Routes/Rwanda to Australia
RW
AU

Pet Transport from Rwanda to Australia: Two-Stage Relocation Guide

If you are relocating a pet from Rwanda to Australia, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. This is one of the more demanding routes, so allow around 65-104 weeks and treat the timeline as fixed. Plan for 10 days of quarantine on arrival. Use …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Rwanda to Australia typically takes around 65-104 weeks. Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The Rwanda to Australia 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
As early as possible - this starts the clock
Implant ISO microchip and begin rabies vaccination schedule in Rwanda. First vaccination minimum age 12 weeks.

Responsible: Vet in Rwanda

2
1-12 months after first vaccination
Second rabies vaccination (30-365 days after first). Then blood drawn for RNATT titre test at a DAFF-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet in Rwanda and DAFF-approved laboratory

3
As soon as possible after titre test draw
Relocate pet to approved transit country (UK recommended for Group 2; Germany or France for Group 3). Pet must physically reside in that country.

Responsible: Owner and transport agent

4
Up to 180 days in transit country (Group 3) or shorter for Group 2
Complete residency period in transit country. Group 2 (UK): no minimum wait after titre test beyond blood draw timing. Group 3 (Germany, France, Spain): 180 days from titre test blood draw date.

Responsible: Owner - pet must reside continuously in the approved country

5
4-6 weeks before travel to Australia
Apply for DAFF import permit via BICON. Fee AUD 420. Must be obtained before booking the flight to Australia.

Responsible: Owner or agent (bicon.agriculture.gov.au)

6
Within required days of travel to Australia (see BICON permit conditions)
Obtain DAFF-approved health certificate from a government vet in the transit country. Issued within the required number of days before travel.

Responsible: Government vet in transit country

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Australia

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

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before or on the same day …
Rabies vaccination
Two rabies vaccinations required. First vaccination minimum age 12 weeks. Second …
Rabies titre test
RNATT (Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test) required. Minimum result 0.5 …
Quarantine
Mandatory 10-day quarantine at Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility, …
Import permit
DAFF import permit required. Apply via BICON (bicon.agriculture.gov.au). Fee: …
Health certificate
DAFF-approved health certificate issued by a government vet in the country of …
Export permit
Rwanda RAB endorsement required on health certificate. RAB is the competent …
Costs

What this route typically costs

First leg: Rwanda to transit country (airline cargo): EUR 800-2,000 …
Transit country accommodation, vet fees, and ongoing care for up to 6 …
DAFF import permit: AUD 420
RNATT titre test at DAFF-approved laboratory: EUR 120-200
Second leg: transit country to Melbourne (airline cargo): AUD …
Mickleham quarantine facility fees (10 days, owner-paid): AUD …

Critical points

Rwanda is not an approved country for direct import to Australia. Any attempt to send a pet directly from Rwanda to Australia will result in refusal and return at the owner's expense.

The transit country residency period must be genuine. DAFF verifies documentation from the transit country. The pet must physically reside there, not simply transit through.

All pets entering Australia must fly into Melbourne (MEL) for quarantine at Mickleham. No other entry point is permitted for imported pets.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

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

Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines operates KGL (Kigali) to BRU (Brussels). Cargo and live animal …
Cargo Only
RwandAir
RwandAir connects Kigali to various European destinations including Brussels. Useful for …
Cargo Only
Ethiopian Airlines via ADD
Ethiopian Airlines connects KGL via Addis Ababa (ADD) to European and other hubs. Wide …
Cargo Only
Qantas Freight (transit country to Australia)
For the second leg from the approved transit country to Australia. Qantas Freight accepts …
Cargo Only

The rules for bringing a pet into Australia

Australia takes biosecurity seriously, and the requirements reflect that. The paperwork is exacting, so accuracy matters as much as timing.

How to keep this move on track

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.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Rwanda is not an approved country for Australian pet import. Pets from Rwanda must first relocate to an approved country (such as the UK, Germany, or France) and complete the required residency period there before being eligible to travel to Australia.
The UK (Group 2) is generally the most efficient. It eliminates the 180-day post-titre-test wait required for Group 3 countries. Germany and France (Group 3) are practical alternatives with strong cargo connections from Kigali but require the full 180-day wait from the titre test blood draw date.
The total timeline from starting preparations in Rwanda to arriving in Australia is typically 15 to 24 months. The Group 3 pathway (via Germany or France) takes longer due to the 180-day wait. The Group 2 pathway (via UK) can be completed closer to 15 months if preparations begin promptly.
Yes. All pets entering Australia undergo 10 days of mandatory quarantine at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility in Melbourne, Victoria. This applies regardless of which transit country was used. The cost is paid by the owner.
RAB (Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, rab.gov.rw) is the Rwandan authority that endorses official animal health certificates for export. The RAB-endorsed certificate is required for the first leg from Rwanda to the transit country, not for entry to Australia directly.
Airline guides
  • Brussels Airlines
  • RwandAir
  • Ethiopian Airlines via ADD
  • Qantas Freight (transit country to Australia)
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Australia.

Get my free quote
RW AURwanda to Australia
International pet transport route
Lead time65-104 weeks
Quarantine10 days
ComplexityVery High
Airlines4
ServiceDoor to door
Get a free quote for this route

Get a free pet transport quote

Tell us your route and pet details. We will send you a step-by-step plan and tailored quote.

Request a Quote
Chat with us