Pet Circle

    Last Updated: 06/05/2025

    Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)

    Reading Time: 11 minutes - short read

    Australia is celebrated worldwide as a nation of pet lovers, yet we find ourselves trailing behind other countries when it comes to being able to travel freely with our furry friends.

    While some progress has been made, with Victoria allowing certain pets on transport, we can't stop there.

    At Pet Circle, we believe in bettering the lives of pets and their pet parents and it's about time that pets are allowed on transport across the country to create a more inclusive Australia.

    We are campaigning for transport operators and ministers to create uniform regulations across all states and territories to allow pets on buses, trains, trams/light rail, and domestic planes and need your support!

    Did you know?

    According to a recent survey conducted by Pet Circle1:

    88% of Australians are not opposed to allowing pets on public transport

    Close to 4 in 5 (79%) Australians are comfortable with pets on public transport, including 46% who would like guidelines in place

    Nearly 3 out of every 102 Australians who own pets face challenges accessing veterinary care without access to public transportation

    What are the current regulations for pets on transport in each state and territory?

    State/Territory Current Regulations

    VIC

    Victoria offers best practice regulations for pets on public transport in Australia.

    Guide dogs, hearing dogs, guide or hearing dogs in training and Assistance Animals identified by an Assistance Animal Pass or interstate assistance animal accreditation can travel for free on all public transport services.

    If your animal isn't a guide dog, hearing dog or guide or hearing dog in training, and doesn't have an Assistance Animal Pass or interstate assistance animal accreditation, it may still be able to travel with you on public transport.

    Small animals can travel with you on trains, trams and buses in a suitable animal container.

    Dogs can travel with you on trains, as long as they're on a lead and wearing a muzzle. If you bring your dog on a train you must:

    • Clean up any mess your dog makes
    • Make sure your dog doesn't sit on seats, or block aisles and doors
    • Keep your dog under your control at all times
    • Avoid travelling on weekdays between 7am and 9am or 4pm and 6pm.

    Animals other than those in a suitable animal container, or dogs on a leash and wearing a muzzle, are not allowed on trains. Only animals in a suitable animal container are allowed on trams and buses.

    Find out more about the regulations on the Public Transport Victoria website.

    NSW

    Assistance animals with a valid form of accepted accreditation are allowed on all public transport in NSW.

    Pet animals may be allowed to travel on buses, ferries, light rail and in a taxi if it is confined in a box, basket or other container as required by the Passenger Transport (General) Regulation 2017. However, permission is still required by staff or the driver.

    In accordance with industry recognition, therapy animals, facility animals and emotional support animals are considered to be companion animals. These animals do not have public access rights and can only travel using the arrangements provided for travelling with pets.

    When boarding public transport with a pet or other animal, please be aware that:

    • The animal must be restrained in a suitable box, basket or other container at all times while on board.
    • The driver or crew may refuse to allow the animal if the service is reaching capacity.
    • Animals that are not clean, appear vicious or likely to annoy, threaten or inconvenience other customers will not be allowed.
    • Animals are not allowed on seats and must not obstruct passageways.
    • You should keep your animal away from other travelling animals to ensure the safety and comfort of other customers and pets.
    • On ferries, animals should not travel in the enclosed ferry cabin areas, unless the vessel does not have an outdoor area or it is unavailable.

    Find out more about the regulations on the Transport NSW website.

    ACT

    Persons who use an assistance animal have rights of access to all public places that people are normally allowed access to, including public transport. For more information see assistance animals (PDF 500.4 KB).

    Assistance animals should be under effective control, wear an identifiable coat (if available) and should not disrupt the safety or comfort of other passengers.

    The following animals are allowed to travel on buses and light rail vehicles within the Transport Canberra network:

    • A guide-dog or other animal assisting a person with disability,
    • An animal being trained to assist a person with disability,
    • Animals (including pets) that are confined in a box, basket or other appropriate pet container are permitted on light rail vehicles and are permitted on a bus with the driver's permission.

    Find out more about the regulations on the Transport Canberra website.

    QLD

    You will need an approved Assistance Animal Pass if you wish to travel with a pet on our buses, trains, trams and ferries.

    However, you don't need an Assistance Animal Pass if you are travelling with a pet dog on Brisbane River ferries and CityCats between:

    • 8.30am - 3.30pm and 7pm - 6am weekdays, and all weekend.

    Before you take your dog on a ferry please review our requirements (111KB, PDF), and ensure that:

    • your dog is on a lead and wearing a muzzle, or in an enclosed carrier
    • your dog is under your control and remains outside the ferry cabin
    • you carry waste bags and clean up after your dog.

    Due to capacity constraints, or other operational reasons, ferry staff may ask you and your dog to wait for another service.

    Find out more about the regulations on the Translink website and Queensland Rail website and Brisbane City Council for CityCats and Ferries.

    SA

    You can take accredited assistance animals travelling with a person living with disability on board.

    You cannot take other animals on board.

    Find out more about the regulations on the Adelaide Metro website.

    WA

    If you have an assistance dog trained by the following organisations you are able to travel on any Transperth service:

    • Assistance Dogs Australia
    • Lions Hearing Dogs
    • Seeing Eye Dogs Australia
    • VisAbility
    • Guide Dogs Australia and affiliated bodies

    No other animals are allowed on any of our services or facilities.

    Find out more about the regulations on the Transperth website.

    NT

    Hearing, guide or assistance dogs are only allowed on buses. All other animals are prohibited. Find out more about the regulations on the Northern Territory Government website.

    Yes, dogs travel free of charge on the Mandorah ferry service. It is a condition of travel that dogs are muzzled or in a cage. Find out more about the regulations on Sealink website.

    TAS

    To access Metro buses and premises, an assistance animal must fall under one of the following categories, with the passenger carrying the appropriate type of valid accreditation for their assistance animal:

    • Assistance animals carrying an Assistance Animals Permit (AAP) issued by Metro Tasmania
    • Assistance animals carrying an accreditation from recognised organisations such as Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs etc
    • Assistance animals carrying interstate accreditation

    Find out more about regulations on the Metro website.

    Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, some birds, chickens and ducks may travel on Spirit of Tasmania. For more information on entry requirements, please visit the Biosecurity Tasmania website.



    Domestic Flights

    In December 2021, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority made the rule to allow pets to fly in the cabin if airlines allow it.

    Currently only Virgin Australia has announced its intention to operate flights with pets in cabins from 2025 and is subject to regulatory approval.

    What rules do other cities have for pets on transport?

    City Current Regulations

    Auckland

    Auckland offers best practice regulations for pets on public transport in Australia.

    Domesticated pets must travel in an approved carrier that fits on your lap or under the seat in front of you. Dogs that do not fit in a carrier must wear a lead and cage type muzzle.

    Pets are permitted on trains and buses in off-peak hours on weekdays, and all-day on weekends and public holidays. Further terms and conditions apply.

    Berlin

    As a rule, the BVG only transports animals that are not deemed dangerous for other passengers. Dogs must be placed inside a transport box or suitable bag during the entire journey. If this is not possible or desired, dogs on public transport need to be on a leash and to wear a suitable muzzle. Animals may not be placed in a seat during the journey.

    Small dogs - no larger than the size of a domestic cat - may travel free of charge on public transport in Berlin. However, they must travel inside a closed container such as a transport box or bag. Larger dogs need a reduced-fare ticket. When using a day ticket or small group day ticket, a dog can be taken along free of charge.

    Paris

    According to RATP, small dogs, suitably enclosed in bags or baskets (max. 45 cm) can ride on bus, funicular, metro, RER trains and trams for free, provided that they cannot soil or inconvenience travellers.

    Larger dog breeds must be on a lead and muzzled and can only travel on the RER train and metro.

    San Francisco

    To ride on Muni buses, light rail Metro trains, streetcars and cable cars, dogs must be leashed and muzzled and can only ride on the lap of the rider or under their seat; all other pets must be carried in a small closed container on the lap of the rider or under their seat.

    Pet owners or guardians must pay a fare equal to their own for their pet to ride.

    Pets may not ride Muni during peak hours Monday through Friday.

    Los Angeles

    Pets and emotional support, therapy, comfort, and companion animals are welcome aboard Metro buses, light rail and trains when they:

    • Are secured in enclosed carriers and do not block the aisle or a doorway
    • Do not deprive a customer of a seat
    • Do not interfere with the comfort or convenience of other customers

    Dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (combined weight of pet and carrier) are welcome on Amtrak trips up to seven hours on most routes (some restrictions apply).

    On Metrolink, small pets are allowed if enclosed in a properly ventilated carrying case that can be held on your lap or stored under a seat. Large pets that do not meet these criteria are not allowed.

    London

    According to London Transit, small domestic pets can be transported on London's public transit services only if they are in a fully enclosed pet-purpose cage/carrier that can either be held on the lap of the rider or fit under the seat/at their feet where they sit/stand.

    Small domestic pet is generally defined as a mammal or bird (i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits) that can be transported in a pet-purpose carrier. Excludes all exotic pets (i.e. snakes, lizards).

    What regulations are being proposed for pets on transport in Australia?

    We understand that there may be concerns about disruptions caused by animals. We also don't want pets loose on transport, as that is just as dangerous for the pet as it is for passengers.

    These issues can be easily addressed through specific guidelines, such as, designated areas for passengers with pets, requirements for small dogs and cats to be in carriers and larger dogs to be restrained on a lead with a safe muzzle like basket muzzles as well as socialised to animals and other people, only allowing one animal per person for responsible handling, designated toilet areas for pets at airports, requirements to carry bags/wipes for accidents, and required distances between pets or limits on the number of pets (excluding assistance animals) on certain types of transport like buses.

    We can also learn from places like Victoria, Auckland, Berlin, Paris and San Francisco which provide pet friendly public transport options. In Victoria, small pets are allowed on trains, trams and buses in a carrier and larger dogs can travel on trains with a lead and muzzle. We could also look to run trials like they did in Auckland before updating regulations.

    Furthermore, we propose providing online training resources created by pet behaviourists and vets to support pet owners to help manage their pets' behaviour whilst travelling.

    We applaud Virgin Australia for leading the way in allowing pets in cabins on domestic trips in Australia in 2025, and hope other local airlines soon follow suit.

    It's important that we create uniform regulations for pets on transport and cohesive laws nationwide. By legislating regulations, we ensure consistency, clarity, and ease of compliance for pet owners, transport operators, and authorities.

    Want to know more?

    How to travel safely with pets on public transport

    How to muzzle train your dog

    Preparing to fly with your pet

    The importance of socialisation in pets

    References:

    1 Survey commissioned by Pet Circle and conducted by Pureprofile from 16 - 22 March, 2022, nationally representative sample N=2200

    2 28% merged percentage including 16% who can't easily take their pet to the vet, 10% who have missed vet appointments with no access to transport, and 6% who are unable to take their pet to the vet at all.