Ten days or thirty
The minimum stay is 10 days, but not everyone gets it. To qualify, the animal's identity must have been verified by a competent authority in the exporting country: an official government vet checks the microchip number against the documents before the RNAT blood sample is taken. If that step was skipped, quarantine runs at least 30 days.
The difference in money is about 1,060 AUD; the difference for the animal is three weeks instead of ten days in an unfamiliar place. It cannot be fixed retroactively: once blood has been drawn without identity verification, the short quarantine is gone for good.
"Minimum" means exactly that. The stay is extended if an error turns up in the paperwork, if the animal falls ill, or if on-site tests return an unexpected result.
Arrival day
The animal lands at Melbourne International Airport as cargo — regardless of whether you were on the same flight. The owner is not allowed access. A biosecurity officer takes charge of the crate, checks the seals and documents, and drives the animal to Mickleham.
Within 24 hours of arrival, an email goes to the address listed on the permit: the animal has arrived, it has been settled in, here is its pen number. The quarantine clock starts from that email.
What happens inside
Mickleham is a government complex purpose-built for animal quarantine. Cats and dogs are housed in separate buildings. Each animal lives in an individual pen with a covered area and a run; feeding and cleaning follow a schedule, and staff check on every animal daily.
Owner visits are not permitted — it is a quarantine, not a hotel. On request, staff can send a photo or a short update on your pet's condition. You cannot pass in toys, bedding or food: the crate must arrive empty, with no liners or objects inside.
If veterinary care is needed during quarantine, it is provided — and billed to the owner separately.
What it costs
The fees are set by the government and identical for everyone; figures as of 21 April 2026: booking fee — 269 AUD, entry fee — 1,078 AUD, board — 53 AUD per day, i.e. 530 for ten days or 1,590 for thirty. Release outside business hours — 170 AUD on weekdays and 180 on weekends and public holidays.
The full amount must be paid before release: until the bill is settled, the animal does not leave quarantine. A place can only be booked after the import permit has been granted — not before.
Release
On the final day the owner collects the animal in person from Mickleham or arranges onward delivery within Australia. If the destination is another state, a domestic flight is the usual choice: that is one more transport leg, and it too needs to be planned ahead, since the quarantine release date is known to the day.
We stay in touch with the facility throughout and give you warning if anything goes off plan — but the release itself is handled by the owner or their authorised representative in Australia.