defra pet travel to australia

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Travelling with pets.

Pets are beloved members of the family.   If you’re travelling and want to take your pet or have a service animal, you need to be aware of the rules.

Explore this advice to learn about

• what to do before deciding to travel
• preparing to depart Australia
• foreign import rules
• returning to Australia

In this advice, pets are defined as

• dogs (excluding greyhounds and banned breeds)
• rabbits, guinea pigs and other domestic rodents
• domestic fish (no aeration requirement)
• domestic birds that don’t need a permit to travel.

Before deciding to travel

Talk to your vet.

Your pet's health is the most critical factor when considering overseas travel. Meet with a Vet early to ensure your pet is healthy and can travel. Make sure their vaccinations and parasite preventions are up to date.

Research the process and rules

There are rules for departing Australia (export) and entering your destination (import) with a domestic animal. 

These are based mainly on preventing the spread of diseases that are a risk to human health. The rules are typically not flexible.

Be aware of Australian import restrictions

If you’re planning to return to Australia with your pet, be aware that

• some animals can’t be returned to Australia under any circumstances
• you can’t import some animals to Australia from certain countries
• assistance dogs are still subject to biosecurity import conditions when returning to Australia. This includes quarantine of up to 6 months.

Consider using a pet transport company

Preparing your pet for export can be a complex process. It’s essential that it’s done correctly. Delays in their departure can occur if steps are not completed correctly.

Consider using a pet transport company to help with some or all pre-export preparations.

Preparing to depart Australia

The export process for animals can be lengthy. It can take several months to complete the required testing and documentation. Plan ahead and start early to ensure you can finish the process in time for your travel.

You’ll need to visit an Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) certified vet at least 30 days before you travel. They’ll help you with the paperwork for exporting your animal from Australia. They can also write a letter or complete paperwork for the authorities in your destination.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) provides a comprehensive list of requirements that will help you prepare. They also provide links to relevant contacts.

You may need to meet pre-export requirements if you plan to import your animal back to Australia within 6 months of export. Visit the DAFF website to learn about pre-export preparations for dogs and cats returning to Australia .

Pet Travel Insurance

It’s unlikely that your own travel insurance will also cover your pet. Get pet travel insurance.

Foreign import rules

Each country has its own health requirements for importing animals. These can be complex and can change without notice.  If your pet fails to meet importing country requirements, they may be detained on arrival.

For more details, you should:

• read the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor)
• contact the relevant authority of the importing country.

You are responsible for providing the importing country requirements in writing to the AQIS certified vet that will prepare your animal for export.

Some of the most common requirements are

• an international health certificate (completed within a specific time frame, usually within 10 days, before your arrival date) and any other paperwork required by the destination country
• government export paperwork
• a microchip
• up-to-date vaccinations
• blood titre tests
• parasite prevention.

You may need an import permit for some countries. The permit will list the health requirements you must meet, including

• examinations

Returning to Australia

Australia's pet entry and quarantine rules are some of the strictest in the world. When your pet leaves the country, it no longer qualifies for its Australian health status. It will need to go through quarantine to return.

This process can be complex and lengthy, sometimes as long as six months. To help things go smoothly, it's a good idea to know the requirements and plan ahead.

• Use the Australian government's pet import tool to see if your pet is eligible for import back to Australia. Get a recommended timeline.
• Register for an import permit . You need this to bring your dog or cat back into the country. If your pet will be leaving and returning within six months, it's a good idea to do this before departure.
• Learn more about taking animals overseas.
• Understand the requirements for bringing cats and dogs to Australia.

General Pet Travel Requirements

1. The Pet Travel requirements allow pet dogs, cats and ferrets from certain countries to enter Great Britain (GB) without quarantine as long as they meet the conditions of the scheme.

2. It also means that people in GB can take their dogs, cats and ferrets to European Union (EU) countries, and bring them back to GB without the need for the animals to enter quarantine.

3. These rules are in place to keep GB free from rabies and certain other diseases.

4. General scheme requirements for exports from GB to EU countries are:

• Microchip or legible tattoo imprinted prior to 3 July 2011
• Rabies vaccination
• 21 day wait before being eligible to travel to other EU countries
• Animal Health Certificates (AHCs)

5. Pet passports issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland can still be used for exports from GB to the EU, as long as the rabies vaccination is still valid.

6. GB OVs cannot enter rabies vaccination details in EU issued pet passports. The only sections of an EU passport which may be completed by GB OVs are the tapeworm and clinical examination sections.

7. If a rabies vaccination in an EU issued pet passport has expired whilst the pet has been in GB, an Animal Health Certificate must be issued.

Administering the Pet Travel Requirements

1. The Pet Travel requirements are administered in GB by OVs on behalf of Defra and the devolved administrations for Scotland and Wales.

2. OVs, who hold an Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) (OCQ(V)) for Companion Animals (CA) or Small Animal Exports (SX), are permitted to hold microchips and rabies vaccinations in order to administer the Pet Travel requirements.

Further Pet Travel Guidance

1. Extensive guidance is available from:

• GOV.UK - taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
• GOV.UK - bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to the UK
• Pet Travel Scheme Helpline 0370 241 1710 (available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm UK time (closed Bank Holidays)).
• External OV Instructions/Export Instructions/Certification_Procedures/Small_Animal_Exports/index.htm

Questions about traveling with a pet?

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Home > Pet Passports > Australia Pet Passport & Import Regulations

Australia Pet Passport & Import Regulations

Note that changes to import regulations for pet cats and dogs entering australia will go into effect march 1, 2023. for all pets who do not have approved import permits as of march 1, the following changes apply. 1. pets must reside in an approved country (see step 7) at least 6 months prior to export and must be exported from the approved country. all tests, treatments and vaccinations must be administered in the approved country. 2. a decrease in rabies titer test validity from 2 years to 1 year after the date the test is administered. 3. an increase in quarantine from 10 to 30 days without microchip validity identification* from group 3 countries (see step 7) unless your pet is an resident of australia and is being reimported. (export health certificate must be available) 4. mandatory microchip validity identification for all pets entering from group 1 and 2 countries. 4. mandatory microchip validity identification* must occur prior to the administration of a rabies titer test..

*Microchip Identity Verification procedures are currently being negotiated between Australia and other countries. The process has been completed in the United States and several other countries; however, the process will be different in each country. It is advised to direct an inquiry to the agency in your country that is responsible for the import or export of live animals. This agency is commonly a division of the Department or Ministry of Agriculture. All dogs and cats entering Australia from Group 2 countries must undergo Microchip Identity Verification.

Pets who have had their 180-day rabies titer test; however, have no approved import permit as of March 1, 2023 can either wait for the microchip verification procedure, have another 180 day rabies titer test administered and complete the process and be subject to 10 days of quarantine OR continue the process with their without the microchip verification and be subject to 30 days of quarantine.

Note that Australia is delaying approval of import permits to up to 140 days due to the implementation of these new regulations.

Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats only. Owners of other pets should refer to item 13.

Pet Microchip

Your pet must first be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 pet microchip that is a 15 digit and non-encrypted. If your pet's microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner. Make sure your veterinarian scans your pet's microchip after it is implanted.

The microchip should be implanted by your veterinarian, veterinary hospital or trained nurse. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions how to register your pet's information in the manufacturer database.

The administering veterinarian should issue a declaration stating that your pet is microchipped, they have scanned the chip and the location of the chip.

Your pet's microchip number must be present on all documentation required to enter Australia. Your veterinarian must scan your dog or cat's microchip before any tests or treatments required to enter Australia.

Vaccinations

Rabies vaccinations are not required for pets residing in and entering from Group 1 and Group 2 Countries (see step #7), but it is required for pets entering Australia from all other countries. All dogs and cats should be vaccinated for rabies a minimum of 30 days before the rabies titer test is administered if they are not currently vaccinated for rabies or their previous vaccination has expired (see step #3).

Australia does accept the 3 year rabies vaccination if it is current when entering the country.

It is recommended that cats receive a vaccination that protects against feline enteritis (also known as feline panleucopenia or feline distemper), rhinotracheitis and calicivirus. The vaccination should be valid for the entire post-arrival quarantine period.

It is recommended that your dog receives a vaccination that protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Para-influenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica and is valid for the entire post-arrival quarantine period. Dogs entering from Canada, the United States and Korea must be vaccinated against canine influenza between 14 days and 12 months prior to travel, and it is advised that dogs entering from other countries also receive the vaccination if it is available.

Dogs must be treated against Brucellosis, Ehrlicia canis, Leishmaniosis and Leptospirosis. Dogs that have visited Africa must have treatment for Babesia canis.

Rabies Titer Test

Unless your dog and/or cat has proof of at least 6 months residency or birth in a Group 1 or Group 2 country (see step #7), your pet must have a rabies titer test (FAVN or RFFIT) administered by a licensed veterinarian between 180 days and 12 months of entry. This also includes pets entering Australia from a non-approved country via a Group 2 or 3 country (see step #7).

Your pet can enter Australia no sooner than 180 days after date that the lab receives the blood sample. The titer test is valid for 12 months after the date the blood was drawn for the titer test. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.)

Note that this test is not required for pets entering Australia from Group 1 or Group 2 countries who have proof of a minimum of 6 months of continuous residency or birth in that country immediately proceeding import to Australia.

Dogs and cats who reside in Australia prior to export and will be returning to Australia within 12 months of export can have the rabies titer test done prior to leaving Australia to start the 180 day requirement. They must have proof of export and conform to all import regulations.

Import Permit

You can file an import permit after the rabies titer test is done in the approved country and no sooner than 42 days before import. It is valid for 12 months after issue date. (Not required for pets entering from New Zealand or Norfolk Island.)

Pet Health Certificate

Your pet must be inspected within 5 days of travel by a licensed veterinarian in your country who will issue a health certificate. The certificate must be endorsed by a government veterinarian who is a representative of the agency responsible for the import and export of animals, generally the Department or Ministry of Agriculture, in the origination country.

Internal and External Parasites

Before your dog or cat can enter Australia, it must be treated against internal parasites twice with the second treatment administered within 5 days of transport.

Two treatments against external parasites must be administered to your cat. Dogs must start treatments 21 days prior to Ehrlichia blood sampling.

Country Classifications

To qualify to be classified in the country groups below, your dog or cat must have resided in the country continuously since birth or a minimum of 6 months prior to import.

Group 1 Countries:New Zealand; Norfolk Island; Cocos Island

Group 2 Countries: American Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Christmas Island, Cook Island, Falkland Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati Mauritius, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Group 3 Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary and Balearic Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Netherlands - Antilles & Aruba, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, the Republic of South Africa, Reunion, Saipan, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland (including Liechtenstein), Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States (including the district of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (but excluding Guam and Hawaii) and Uruguay.

If your dog or cat does not reside in one of these countries, it is not approved for import to Australia. It must reside in an approved country for 6 months prior to export. All tests and treatments must be done in the approved country.

All pets entering Australia, except those from New Zealand or Norfolk Island are subject to 10 - 30 days of quarantine at the Mickleham Quarantine Facility at Melbourne depending on whether the Microchip Validity Identification process was followed (see above). It is advisable to make reservations for your pet as soon as you receive your pet's import permit.

When entering Australia from another country through New Zealand, pets must remain on the island for 180 days after quarantine prior to entering Australia. (new requirement)

Further quarantine may be required for additional verification of tests or treatments.

Entering Australia by Air

Pets entering Australia must enter as air cargo via Melbourne Airport. Your pet must arrive between the days of Monday - Friday between the hours of 04:30 – 16:30, else special arrangements must be made for inspection at additional expense.

Pet owners should plan to avoid importing their pets to Australia during the months of December through February as the temperatures can be too high during that time to fly your pet in the cargo hold.

Note that, if there are no direct flights from your pet's originating country, then all transits or layovers must be through DAFF approved countries (see step #7).

The rules and regulations are complex and we recommend that you enlist the services of a licensed pet transport agent to assist you in making the arrangements to take your pet into Australia.

From most counties, it is a very long flight and you should consider the health and well being of your pet including asking the advice of your veterinarian. Taking a pet animal into Australia for a holiday is not practical.

Puppies and Kittens

Unvaccinated puppies and kittens are not permitted to enter Australia. The import requirements include microchipping and rabies vaccination no sooner than 3 months of age. Puppies and kittens should wait a minimum of 30 days after rabies vaccination prior to having their titer test, thus the minimum age of import would be 10 months of age. As these tests do not apply to puppies and kittens entering Australia from the Keeling Islands, New Zealand or Norfolk Island, pets must be at least 8 weeks of age when entering from these countries.

• Traveling with a puppy

Banned Breeds

The following dog breeds are not permitted to enter Australia: Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazileiro, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is not included in Australian legislation. The laws only apply to pure bred dogs and does not apply to cross breeds or mixes.

Wolf and dog crosses are not eligible for import. This includes, but not limited to: Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog.

Domestic/non domestic animal hybrids are generally not eligible for import. Hybrid cats include, but are not limited to: Savannah cat, derived from crossbreeding domestic cat (Felis catus) with Serval cat (Felis serval) Safari cat, domestic cat crossed with Geoffroy cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) Chausie, domestic cat crossed with Jungle cat (Felis chaus) Bengal cat, domestic cat crossed with Asian Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).

Exporting Pets

Pet owners planing to export their pets from Australia must apply for an Export Permit and supply a Health Certificate. All requirements for the country your pet is traveling to must have been met.

Other Animals

The following pets are not permitted to enter Australia: chinchillas, fish, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, mice, snakes, spiders, pigs and turtles. Live pigeons are permitted from any country, however, household birds are only permitted if they are entering from New Zealand. Import standards are being compiled for the import of parrots.

Horses may enter from select countries. Rabbits are also permitted entry from certain countries.

Need More Advice?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com . We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 2:00 PM EST.

HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS???

Due to the high demand, we may be unable to respond to your question quickly if posted below. If you need a fast response, you can post them directly to our Facebook page , blog , or forum . We will respond as soon as we can.

Please note that the accuracy of comments made from Facebook users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.

What is The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)? [2023 GUIDE]

What is better than going on holiday? Going on holiday with your beloved furry friend!

Under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), you are able to bring your dog, cat or ferret abroad with you. Regularly, it is wrongly assumed that pets must endure a painful length quarantine period when going abroad. However, with a Pet Passport, under the PETS your pet can travel through certain borders with ease. Generally, pets will require a microchip and a rabies vaccination to qualify for travel. However, different countries have additional requirements when it comes to importing and exporting pets. 

In this article we will discuss the Pet Travel Scheme in detail.

Table of contents:

What is the Pet Travel Scheme?

• What are the requirements to comply with the Pet Passport Scheme?

What countries are included in the Pet Travel Scheme?

• What are the requirements for the UK Pet Travel Scheme?

Which countries are exempt from quarantine under the Pets Travel Scheme?

When was the pet travel scheme introduced, what if my pet doesn’t pass the requirements for the pet travel scheme, what is the most common reason for failing requirements for the pets, can my puppy or kitten travel with me, are tattoos an acceptable form of identification, is there a limit to the number of animals that can travel under the care of one person.

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is a system which allows animals to travel easily between member countries without undergoing quarantine . A pet passport is a document that officially records information related to a specific animal, as part of that procedure. The effect is to drastically speed up and simplify travel with and transport of animals between member countries, compared to previous procedures if the regulations are followed.

What are the requirements to comply with the Pet Travel Scheme?

ALL COUNTRIES

Most countries require the following to qualify for travel:

• Microchipping – all dogs, cats and ferrets must have a microchip implant. A microchip is a permanent method of electronic identification. The chip, around the size of a grain of rice, is implanted subcutaneously (just under the skin) between the shoulder blades at the back of your pet’s neck. Each chip has a unique number that is detectable with a microchip scanner. 
• Rabies vaccination – all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies. This procedure is mandatory even if your pet already has a current rabies vaccination. In this case, your pet will need a rabies booster to keep them up to date. For pet travel in Europe, the rabies vaccine should be administered by a veterinarian with a minimum of 21 days before travel. Some countries may differ and always check with your local veterinarian for the procedures to follow.

SOME COUNTRIES

Some countries require the following to be permitted for entry:

• Tapeworm, tick and flea treatment – some countries require animals to be treated for ticks, fleas and tapeworms before boarding the outbound transport. There is usually a time restriction when it comes to administering these treatments. For example, a tapeworm treatment must be administered between 24 hours and 5 days before entering the UK, Ireland, Finland, Norway or Malta.
• Additional vaccinations – some countries will require additional vaccinations, such as those against distemper, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, parvovirus, bordetella and hepatitis.
• Rabies blood test – some countries need evidence that your pet’s rabies vaccination is working by taking a rabies blood test (also known as Rabies Titer Test). Your pet’s blood sample will be taken by a vet and send to an approved laboratory for testing. Your pet’s blood must contain at least 0.5 IU/ml of the rabies antibody. Normally, you will then need to wait 3 months before traveling.
• Health certificate – many countries require a veterinarian’s letter or certificate confirming that your pet is fit and healthy to travel and has no obvious signs of disease.
• Government certification – in some cases, you will need to get health certificates approved. For example, all animals leaving the US must have their health certificates endorsed by the USDA .

In some countries, the formal passport is needed. However, others will accept documentation in any form so long as it provides clear evidence of the procedure being followed.

Requirements vary widely between countries, so it is best to check those for your destination country before traveling with your pet.

In the next section we will discuss which countries are included in the Pet Travel Scheme, making it easier to travel.

With an EU Pet Passport, dogs, cats and ferrets can travel freely within the EU, and some non-EU countries without quarantine.  The countries in each category are listed below.

EUROPEAN UNION (EU) COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES

* When traveling to UK, Ireland, Finland, Norway or Malta, dogs must have a tapeworm treatment within 24 hours to 120 hours (1-5 days) of entry.

** Includes St Barthelemy and St Martin (French part of the island)

LISTED NON-EU COUNTRIES

* The Russian Federation consists of 88 subjects (regions). Please note that the following Republics are not part of the Russian Federation: Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

** The UAE consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Al Fujairah.

*** Formally known as the Netherland Antilles. The BES Islands are Bonair, Saint Eustatius and Saba.

**** The mainland United States of America as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

UNLISTED COUNTRIES

An unlisted country is any country not listed above.

These countries have not applied or been accepted for listed status because of higher rabies incidence or less robust veterinary or administrative systems. The rules for taking your pets to these countries, or returning to the EU from these countries are different than they are for EU member states and listed countries.

What are the requirements for the UK Pet Travel Scheme

Traveling to the UK from an EU or listed non-EU country

When traveling to the UK from an EU or listed non-EU country, your pet will need the following:

• A microchip – this is the first procedure you should consider. A microchip has a number unique to your pet and will help authorities to properly identify them. You must get this first, as a rabies vaccination is invalidated without a microchip number attached to it. If you get your pet’s rabies vaccination before getting a microchip, it will not count.
• date of birth/age
• microchip number
• when and where the microchip was inserted
• vaccination date and product name
• date its booster vaccination is due
• batch number
• Tapeworm treatment – before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1–5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. (There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).
• To travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – your pet must travel with companies and on routes that have been approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (previously known as the Animal Health and Laboratories Agency). In case of pets travelling by plane, the company may assign those checks to a third party, i.e. the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow airport.
• List of authorised carriers and routes can be found here .

There may be some additional requirements if you are traveling to the UK from an unlisted non-EU country. Please refer to the section below if you are travelling from an unlisted. non-EU country.

Traveling to the UK from an unlisted non-EU country

When traveling to the UK from an unlisted non-EU country your pet will need the following:

• A microchip – this is the first procedure which you need to consider. The microchip will help authorities to properly identify your pet. You must get this first, as a rabies vaccination is invalid without a microchip number attached to it. If you get your pet’s rabies vaccination before getting a microchip, it will not count.
• date its immunisation vaccination is due
• Rabies blood test / rabies titer test certificate – all dogs, cats and ferrets must have passed a rabies blood test to show that their rabies vaccination was successful. Your veterinarian must take your pets blood and send it off to an EU Approved Laboratory . Your pet’s blood sample must show at least 0.5 IU/ml of the rabies antibody. You must then wait 3 months from the date the successful blood sample was taken before you are permitted to travel.
• Tapeworm treatment – before entering the UK, all dogs must be treated against tapeworm. This even applies to dogs who reside in the UK and are returning from being abroad. The treatment must be administered by a vet between 24 hours and 120 hours (1–5 days) before your scheduled arrival time in the UK. (No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).
• 10 days after the date of issue for entry into the EU
• onward travel within the EU for 4 months after the date of issue
• re-entry to the UK for 4 months after the date of issue
• To travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – your pet must travel with companies and on routes that have been approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (previously known as the Animal Health and Laboratories Agency). List of authorised carriers and routes can be found here .

Make sure your vet gives you copies of all of your pet’s veterinary treatments and vaccinations certificates. They must all contain the date of treatment.

Can I fly with a dog to the UK?

Yes, but only under specific circumstances.

British law bans all animals entering the UK either in the airplane cabin or as ‘checked or ‘excess’ baggage. Therefore, your pet (except guide dogs*) will need to travel in the aircraft hold as manifest cargo. Unfortunately many airlines do not offer cargo services, so quite often specialist pet travel agents must be used.

Furthermore, there are very strict rules when it comes to the carrier or crate that your pet travels in. You must ensure that the container is International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved. There are strict rules regarding the material, size and construction of the crate. You can find full details here .

UK law does not prohibit the transport of pets in the cabin or as hold baggage when departing from the UK. However, restrictions may be imposed by individual airlines or destination countries.

Pets traveling between EU and listed non-EU countries

Pets traveling between EU and listed non-EU countries can travel freely without enduring a length quarantine. This is as long as they comply with the Pet Travel Scheme requirements (microchip and rabies vaccination). For more details on the requirements, check the ‘What are the requirements to comply with the Pet Travel Scheme?’ section above.

This is as long as pets are transported by an authorised travel carrier on an authorised route. More information on authorised carriers and routes can be found here .

For information on how to get an EU Pet Passport, check  How to get an EU Pet Passport .

Pets traveling to an EU country from an unlisted country

When traveling from an unlisted country to a listed country, your pet will be able to avoid quarantine as long as you follow the EU entry requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, blood sample at least 30 days after vaccination). You will then wait a further three months after the blood sample was taken. For more details on entry requirements, check the ‘What are the requirements to comply with the Pet Travel Scheme?’ section above.

This is as long as pets are transported by an authorised travel company on an authorised route. More information on authorised carriers and routes can be found here .

Pets traveling to or between unlisted countries

When traveling between non-listed countries, it gets a little more complicated as each country can have different entry requirements. We recommend that you check for your specific destination country, if it isn’t listed above.

The Pet Travel Scheme was initially set up in 2000 as a control measure to prevent rabies, ticks and other diseases from entering the UK. Prior to this, the UK was known for having very tough checks to protect against rabies. Bringing pets to the UK meant serving an obligatory 6 month quarantine period. Over time the program has rolled out to other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Pet Travel Scheme has gone through many changes since 2000, making it easier for pets to travel to the UK, to EU countries and other listed non-EA countries (see more information below). Changes to the scheme introduced in January 2012 revoked the need for dogs to be treated against ticks. This change reduced the length of time after vaccination that a dog may enter the UK from six months to 21 days. Secondly, dogs are now required to have their tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 5 days before travel, administered by a certified vet. Lastly, there is no longer a requirement to blood test a dog before travel.

A new requirement was introduced in December 2014, meaning that all dogs, cats and ferrets must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated against rabies for the purposes of pet travel.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

When re-entering the UK, DEFRA may perform an inspection of your pet’s pet passport. If any element of your pet's passport or electronic microchip fails, your pet risks being re-exported or placed in quarantine at the owner’s expense.

Issues with dog's tapeworm treatment account for most of the failures. Most commonly, pet owners fail to arrange treatment within the defined timeframe.

Pets must be at least 15 weeks old to travel. Firstly, they must have been vaccinated on or after 12 weeks of age. They must then wait 21 days before they can travel.

Tattoos can be accepted as a valid form of identification, in lieu of a microchip, as long as the tattoo was applied to the pet before 3 July 2011. The tattoo must be clearly readable and matched to the number in the passport/third country certificate.

One individual can travel with a maximum of five dogs, cats or ferrets, in total. Ten pets travelling with two people is acceptable as long as one of the people is an adult. The owner named in the passport must travel with the pets. Alternatively an authorised person can accompany the pets as long as they have a document from the owner named in the passport authorising them to accompany up to five owned pets.

• How to get a US Pet Passport 
• How to get an EU Pet Passport
• How Much Does a Dog Passport Cost in the UK?

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Pet Travel to Australia from “Non-Approved” Countries

This post was most recently updated on February 10, 2021 Please note: Australia's only pet quarantine facility is at max capacity and does not have any availability for pets arriving until July 2021

If you're moving to Australia with your pets, your country of origin is an important factor. If you're planning to travel with a pet to Australia from a “non-approved” country (here's the list of country categories ), you'll need to be aware of the differences compared to countries considered approved. 

Here's  a list of extra steps you'll need to take if you're traveling from a non-approved country, according to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture :

• Your pet will need to get their rabies vaccine and titer test in their country of origin. This test must be administered by a registered vet and the blood must be tested in a lab recognized by DAFF with passing results. 
• The pet  will then need to travel to an approved country, where a second blood sample must be collected from the animal. The rabies antibody titer must be tested at a laboratory recognized by the competent authority of that country at least 10 days prior to export to Australia. The second RNAT test must also record a rabies antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/m. The pet must remain in this approved country for at least 60 days prior to export to Australia. 
• Immediately after the blood sample is taken for the second RNAT test, an approved inactivated rabies vaccine must be given to the animal in the approved country.

If your cat or dog is in a non-approved country, and you would like them to spend the required 60 days in the United States, PetRelocation can assist in their relocation. To learn more about moving pets to Australia, including the costs included, please see our guide: Everything You Need to Know About Moving Cats and Dogs to Australia.  If you have any further questions about this process, contact us.  We'd love to help you! 

Pet Travel to Australia

“Bazz enjoying his time in Australia”

Taking dogs & cats to Australia can be a complicated process.

The Australian Department of Agriculture places great emphasis on protecting their natural flora and fauna. As such there are a number of conditions that must be met in order to successfully travel with your cat or dog to Australia.

To complicate matters further, these rules change regularly – sometimes for the better, and sometimes for worse! As a result of these changes, it is unfortunate that many articles on taking dogs to Australia are significantly out-of-date and give advice that is no longer relevant.

In this continually-updated guide, you’ll learn the most current guidance for transporting pets to Australia.

Quarantine Rules for Taking Pets to Australia

Over the last few years two major changes have been made to how pets gain entry to Australia.

Firstly from the 3rd February 2014 cats and dogs travelling to Australia no longer require 30 days in quarantine (Hooray!)

The quarantine period is now 10 days – like New Zealand.

However, the rabies vaccination and RNAT test (Rabies Neutralising Anti-body Titre Test) is STILL a requirement and there is STILL a waiting period! (Boo!).

The second change is that the Australian government has been making changes to the quarantine facilities available to those looking to import cats and dogs.

Just a few years ago there were three entry points to the country; Eastern Creek in Sydney, Spotswood in Melbourne and Byford in Perth. As reported  here  Perth closed in 2013 due to repeated forest fire damage.

But now, all animal imports are to arrive at one central facility – Mickleham in Victoria.

As of November 2015 all dogs and cats entering Australia will now be housed at this facility for their 10 days of quarantine – meaning that all cats and dogs can only fly in to Melbourne airport.

This means that thought will have to put in to how you will collect your pet if you’re relocating to a different part of Australia.

What Pets Can Be Taken to Australia?

Australia classifies the exporting country into one of three categories. Fortunately, the UK is one of those countries which may transport pets to Australia. However, not all pets are allowed entry to Australia.

Taking Dogs to Australia

Assuming your dog meets a number of rules, it may be transported from the UK to Australia.

Firstly, you should be aware that a number of “fighting” breeds are not permitted within Australia. At present the following breeds are banned:

• Dogo Argentino • Fila Brazileiro • Japanese Tosa’s • Pit Bull Terriers • Presa Canaria

Furthermore, restrictions exist both with how long your dog has been within the UK, and pregnant dogs may only be transported up to three weeks of gestation.

Assuming your dog meets these requirements then you will be allowed to transport it to Australia, assuming the health and paperwork restrictions outlined below are all met.

Taking your dog to Australia can seem like a daunting task, but our dog shipping experts will be able to guide you every step of the way and advise on veterinary work, blood tests, vaccinations, quarantine and paperwork. Pet travel to Australia does require a lot of preparation, so we suggest you contact our dog shipping experts as far in advance of travel as possible so that we can discuss the process with you step-by-step.

We can transport many types of dog to Australia including Labradors, Alsatians, Spaniels, Jack Russells, German Shepherds and many more – however transporting bulldogs to Australia or snub-nosed dogs to Australia can be slightly more complicated, as many airlines have restrictions on these breeds. If you have a snub nose dog to take to Australia, please contact us and one of our pet relocation specialists will be able to discuss the possible routes and options with you.

Taking Cats to Australia

It is slightly less complicated to arrange the relocation of cats to Australia than it is dogs, however, there are still strict rules and regulations which need to be followed when shipping cats to Australia and the same rules apply regarding rabies vaccinations, blood testing, quarantine and paperwork.

Australia maintains tight rules on other types of pets which can be imported. For example it is not possible to import pet fish, reptiles or small mammals such as rabbits. If in doubt you can check the latest information on approved pets  here .

Rules Regarding Rabies Vaccination and Testing

Assuming your pet meets the criteria set out above, the next consideration is the health requirements that must be met.

Your cat or dog must be vaccinated against rabies AT LEAST 180 days prior to travel. The vaccination must still be valid at the time of leaving the UK (3-year rabies vaccine is accepted!) and pets must be more than 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.

Your cat or dog will then need to have the RNAT test, and this must be carried out AT LEAST 180 days prior to travel, and NO MORE than 24 months prior to travel.

So, as an example! For a pet over 12 weeks of age that has never been vaccinated against rabies:

Step 1  – get your pet vaccinated against rabies!

Step 2  – have the RNAT test! But bear in mind since the pet has just had its primary vaccination, it is recommended to wait around 4 weeks before having the blood test, to ensure satisfactory test results.

Providing test results are satisfactory, the 180-day countdown starts from the date the blood sample was received at the testing laboratory- after 180 days have passed, your pet is free to travel to Australia and upon arrival, they will spend 10 days in the quarantine station.

Paperwork for Taking Dogs and Cats to Australia

The above vaccinations and veterinary tests are just a start. Before you can transport your pet to Australia you’ll also need to have the following paperwork in order:

• DEFRA Export Health Certificate from the UK government.
• Import permit from the Australian government.
• Pre-booking at the Australian quarantine centre.

Need Help Taking Your Pets to Australia?

Now all you need to arrange is, testing, treatments, vaccinations, quarantine, permits, more tests, more treatments, export papers…..YIKES! A lot to take care of, Where do you start?

Well luckily for you we have provided an easy to follow, step-by-step guide for transporting your cat or dog to Australia, to receive this all you need to do is request a quotation  and one of our Australian pet travel experts will be back in touch.

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Moving a Pet to Australia

Rules and regulations for moving cats and dogs to australia, rabies vaccination, rabies titer blood test, 180 day waiting period, rnatt declaration, other vaccinations, import permit, quarantine reservation, other required blood tests (dogs only), babesia canis treatment (dogs only), internal & external parasite treatments, pet travel documents & requirements, health certificates, banned breeds, age restrictions.

• Microchip for Pet Travel to Australia
• Quarantine for Pet Travel to Australia
• Area Specific Information

Pet Carrier Measurement Guide

Ultimate guide to moving pets, international airline pet policies, top destinations in australia.

• How Starwood Can Help

What Pet Travel Documents Are Needed to Travel to Australia?

**As of March 1, 2023 , the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry has implemented changes to the import requirements for cats and dogs . These changes have been reflected in this guide.

The Australian Department of Agriculture provides step-by-step guides to help you, but you’ll find all the basics below.

One exciting fact is that Australia mandates that all imported pets must arrive as manifest cargo, under the care of a professional animal transporter . That's where we come in! We will be your reliable companion throughout the entire process, starting from our initial conversation, providing guidance and assurance, handling Australian customs, and ensuring a smooth quarantine experience. Say goodbye to worries about making mistakes or overlooking important details and say hello to a delightful and tail-wagging journey.

Please note that all required vaccinations, treatments, and blood testing must be completed by a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian.

All pets are required to have an ISO-compatible microchip before completing any other requirements for Australia. A government-approved veterinarian (USDA Accredited) must scan the microchip at every visit and it must be reported accurately on all of your pet's paperwork.

**Microchips that begin with 999 are not acceptable.

AS OF MARCH 1, 2023 : Your pet's identity must be verified by the competent authority (the USDA in the United States) in the country of export. This must be completed BEFORE the blood draw for the rabies titer test. This is a multi-step process that is outlined on the USDA website . Starwood also offers assistance with this step, to ensure it is done properly.

Pets who have had their identity verified with the USDA will be eligible for a 10-day quarantine period. If your pet's identity is NOT verified by the USDA, then they will require a 30-day quarantine period.

Cats and dogs must be immunized with an inactivated rabies vaccine in an approved country when they are at least 84 days old. Three-year rabies vaccines are acceptable, as long as they are given according to the manufacturer's guidelines. The vaccine must be kept continuously up to date from the time of vaccination until export - don't let it expire!

Cats and dogs must complete a Rabies neutralizing antibody titer (RNAT) blood test at least 3-4 weeks after the rabies vaccination. A passing result is >/= 0.5 IU/mL.

The RNAT blood draw must be completed by a government-approved veterinarian (USDA-Accredited) and the blood samples must be sent to an approved laboratory (The Rabies Laboratory at Kansas State University in the USA). The testing laboratory must complete a fluorescent antibody virus neutralization ( FAVN ) test or a rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).

The RNAT test is valid for 12 months from the date of the blood draw.

Cats and dogs cannot enter Australia until at least 180 days after the blood sample arrives in the lab. There is no exception to this rule. 

There are NO exceptions to the 180-day waiting period.

If you don't want to do a blood test, dogs must be vaccinated for Leptospirosis in a series of two shots following manufacturer guidelines - with the second vaccine or annual booster given at least 14 days before travel. Unvaccinated dogs must be tested for Leptospirosis (see other blood tests).

Dogs coming from the US must receive full canine influenza virus (CIV) immunization, at least 14 days before departure. You must follow manufacturer guidelines with a primary vaccination + booster given 3 weeks later.  All boosters thereafter are valid for 1 year. 

If your pet will be boarding at all prior to or after travel, then they will still require these additional vaccinations:

• FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus & Panleukopenia)
• CIV (Canine Influenza Virus)
• Leptospirosis
• DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza)
• Bordetella (kennel cough)

Dogs and cats entering Australia must have an import permit unless you are coming from New Zealand or Norfolk Island. You can only apply for the Import Permit after you have received the USDA-endorsed RNATT Declaration, Rabies Titer Results (FAVN), current rabies vaccination certificate, and identity verification details.  It's recommended that you apply for the import permit at least 42 days prior to export, but the earlier, the better. You can apply and pay online via the Biosecurity Import Conditions System .  If you hire Starwood to assist with your pet's travels, we can handle this on your behalf. 

The import permit is valid until the RNAT test expires.

Once you have received the import permit, then you can arrange your pet's quarantine reservation.

Kindly note that quarantine space is limited and they process applications in the order they are received. Quarantine has been booked at capacity lately and may not be able to accommodate the date you request. It's possible your pet will be approved to arrive at a later date, depending on quarantine availability.  

Dogs are required to complete additional blood tests and the blood draw must be done by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and submitted to an approved lab. It is NOT recommended that your vet use an intermediary lab as they are not all approved for export testing and this may cause problems or delays.  We strongly recommend that you use Protatek Reference Lab .  The below tests are solely for dogs; cats only require the Rabies Titer Test (FAVN). All of the results for these tests must be negative or your dog cannot travel to Australia.

These tests must be completed within 45 days prior to travel:

• Leishmania Infantum : Using  either an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola (only required if the dog is not fully vaccinated for Leptospirosis): A Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) is required. The result must be negative at a serum dilution of 1:100.
• Brucella Canis (for intact dogs only - if your pet is spayed or neutered, this is not required): Any of the following test types are accepted - rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), a tube agglutination test (TAT) or an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) . If your dog is intact, they cannot be mated from 14 days prior to Brucella testing until export.

Both cats and dogs must be treated for internal and external parasites prior to travel.  These treatments can only be administered in-office by a USDA Accredited Vet using an approved product .  Failure to follow these requirements or letting the treatments expire can result in a delay in your pet's travels and/or non-compliance issues with the USDA or Australian Government.

External Parasites

• Dogs must be treated for external parasites ( fleas and ticks) at least 30 days prior to export.
• Cats must be treated for external parasites ( fleas and ticks) at least 21 days prior to export.
• The treatment must be kept up to date according to manufacturer guidelines through the time of export.
• The USDA-Accredited vet should examine your pet for fleas/ticks at every visit. If any fleas or ticks are found, they must be removed and the treatments started over.

You can find a list of approved products here . 

Internal Parasites

Dogs and cats must also be treated for internal parasites (both nematodes and cestodes) twice prior to travel. The first treatment must be completed within 45 days prior to travel and at least 14 days prior to the second treatment. The final treatment must be given within 5 days of travel. You can find a list of approved products here .

Starwood typically handles the final exam, health certificate, and final parasite treatment on your behalf.

Pets arriving to Australia must travel with the following documents:

• Microchip verification documents
• Rabies vaccination certificate(s)
• General vaccination certificates
• Endorsed RNATT Declaration
• Parasite treatment letters
• Rabies titer test results
• Other required blood test results
• Copy of the import permit
• Endorsed Australian health certificate

If your pet requires medication, special food, or special care while in quarantine, then additional forms must be completed by you and your veterinarian.

If you hire Starwood to assist with your pet's relocation, we will take care of the final exam, paperwork, and USDA endorsement on your behalf.

What Are the Pet Restrictions for Australia?

Australia does not allow the import of domestic/non-domestic animal hybrids.

Hybrid cats include, but are not limited to:

• Savannah cat - domestic cat ( Felis catus ) + Serval cat ( Felis serval )
• Safari cat - domestic cat + Geoffroy cat ( Oncifelis geoffroyi )
• Chausie - domestic cat + Jungle cat ( Felis chaus )
• Bengal cat - domestic cat + Asian Leopard cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis ).

**In some cases, Australia may permit the import of Bengal cats if they are five generations or more removed and proper documentation is provided.

The following dog hybrids and pure breeds cannot be imported to Australia:

• Czechoslovakian wolfdog / Czechoslovakian Vlcak
• Saarloos wolfdog / Saarloos wolfhound
• Lupo Italiano / Italian wolfdog
• Kunming wolfdog / Kunming dog
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasiliero
• Japanese Tosa
• American Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull Terrier
• Perro de Presa Canario / Presa Canario

Dogs and cats may not be more than 30 days pregnant or have suckling young at the time of travel.

Do I Need a Microchip for My Pet to Travel to Australia?

Yes. All pets must have a microchip that is ISO-compatible. If your dog or cat already has a non-ISO microchip (or a number that starts with 999) your vet can implant a second one. Microchips must be implanted & scanned before any other treatments are completed. The correct microchip number MUST be reported on all of your pet's paperwork.

As mentioned above, Australia now requires your pet's identity/microchip to be verified prior to any other treatments in order to qualify for a 10-day quarantine. 

What Are the Quarantine Requirements for a Pet Traveling to Australia?

All pets arriving to Australia must spend at least 10 days at the Mickleham quarantine facility in Melbourne upon entering the country. This is why your pet must fly into Melbourne airport, rather than arriving at some other city in Australia. A PEQ staff member will meet your pet from the plane and escort them directly to the quarantine facility.

You must reserve quarantine space in advance, and it is first-come, first-serve. Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) has been fully booked months in advance, so you may not get the date you are hoping for. 

As of March 1, 2023 : Pets who have had their identification verified by an official government veterinarian in the country of export, or have originated in Australia are eligible for a 10-day quarantine period. All other pets are eligible for a 30-day quarantine period.

Your pet’s import permit must be received before you can reserve quarantine space. And proof of full payment for quarantine is required to book your pet’s flight to Melbourne.

Starwood can take care of the quarantine reservation and payments on your behalf.

Are There Any Area Specific Pet Requirements in Australia?

You must use a kennel that is IATA-compliant to ship your dog or cat to Australia. To make your furry companion feel as calm and comfortable on their journey, get the crate early so they have plenty of time to become familiar with it . Keep in mind that any bedding that arrives with pets in Australia will be destroyed for biosecurity reasons.

If you have a service dog, they may ride with you in the passenger cabin, provided they meet the country’s eligibility criteria for assistance dogs . The dog must be clean and well-behaved in public and must have been trained to assist persons with disabilities by alleviating the effects of the disability. Training facilities outside Australia must be a member of the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International. You must provide:

• The handler’s medical history form (completed by your doctor)
• The assistance dog training form (completed by a representative of the dog training institution)
• Proof of the dog's certification/accreditation from the dog training institution

We noted above that Australia requires you to use a professional pet transport company because all animals entering the country must arrive as manifest cargo. Starwood is extremely well-versed in moving pets to Australia, so we're here to help!

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Door to door pet transportation services to Australia include:

• Dedicated Pet Travel Support Team to coordinate your pet's move
• Liaise with your veterinarian & review documentation
• Provide an IATA-compliant travel kennel with kennel bowls, personalized labels, identification, and emergency notification instructions
• Obtain the RNATT Declaration with endorsement from the USDA
• Apply for the Australian Import Permit
• Make the quarantine reservation & pay quarantine fees
• Book flight(s) and pay air cargo charges
• Transportation to/from the airports
• Final veterinary exam, completion of the Australian health certificate, and final parasite treatments
• USDA endorsement of the final documents
• Customs clearance
• Pick up from quarantine, if required
• Domestic transportation within Australia upon release from quarantine, if required
• Provide a detailed travel itinerary
• Real-time updates while your pet is in transit

Request a FREE Quote

Get in touch +44 (0)1725 551124

Taking Pets to Australia

• Taking Cats To Australia
• Taking Dogs To Australia

Taking pets to Australia by plane is complicated and can be quite expensive. However, many thousands of dogs and cats fly to Australia to start their new lives with the families who move there. There is a strong feeling amongst the expat community that bringing your pets is the final piece of the jigsaw to assist your settling into your new lives in Australia.

Since 2012 and the relaxation of pets being allowed to enter the UK, the Australian now class the UK as rabies absent/well-controlled rather than rabies free, which means that the preparation has now been extended greatly to try to ensure that rabies does not enter Australia.

Below is a watered down version of what it takes to fly your pet to Australia from the UK – the full version is here – published by the Australian quarantine department. If your situation has doesn’t neatly fit the information supplied on the website or there are bits you don’t understand please get in touch!

Since 01st March 2023, the rules have changed slightly and now pets need to serve 30 days quarantine rather than 10 days, unless they are pets returning to Australia. Pets need to have their identities verified by a government veterinarian and due to the way government vets are organised in UK, this is not possible at this time, but we hope it will change.

Step 1: Decide when you want your dog or cat to fly to Australia – preparation is key! Most pets in the UK are not routinely vaccinated against rabies, so we have assumed this for the below. Dogs and cats travelling to Australia will need to begin their preparation process with a rabies vaccination – this should be given around 9-10 months before you want them to fly.

Step 2: Around 3-4 weeks after this they will then need a rabies blood sample (Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT)) completed at their vets. This determines if your dog or cat has made enough antibodies to keep them safe from picking up rabies. It is valid for one year . Your dog or cat is not allowed to enter Australia until at least 180 days after the date the rabies blood sample reaches the government approved laboratory for testing. The idea being that if they made antibodies because they actually had rabies, then it would have shown itself in this waiting period! You may have to repeat this process twice during your pet’s preparation, depending on the waiting times in quarantine. Our experienced team can advise you on this during the process.

Step 3: Call PetAir UK for a bespoke quote. Once you have the above 2 steps completed, we can start the ball rolling for your pet to depart the UK.

Step 4: Once your pet has passed the RNATT, a UK government vet (Official Veterinarian) will need to fill out an RNATT declaration ( here ). The vet looks at the RNATT, as well as any rabies vaccination history, and then is able to fill out the RNATT declaration, sign it, and stamp it with an official UK government stamp. Crucially, the vet who takes the blood for the RNATT cannot sign off the RNATT declaration, it must be an entirely different veterinary practice, which can make this process a little complicated. At PetAir UK, our vets will do this for you as part of our service.

Once the RNATT declaration has been completed, we can now apply for your import permit. In order to allow your dog or cat to be allowed into Australia, the Australian quarantine department will issue an import permit, which is valid for one year. The application requires the following details:

• Name and address in the UK
• Name, address and Australian phone numbers in Australia
• Your pet’s name, pet’s date of birth and chip details
• The copy of the rabies serology certificate (RNATT certificate) and the actual RNATT declaration.

The import permit process can be slow – taking anywhere up to 12 weeks from application to procurement.

Step 6: Once your import permit has been issued, we can apply for a quarantine space in Melbourne. This can take a few weeks to be booked and is issued on a first come, first served basis.  Once quarantine is booked, you then need to pay for the 30-day stay, in order to confirm the booking. You can find more details about quarantine here

Step 7: So, we’ve completed the first stages of getting your pet ready to fly to Australia and, depending on how organised you have been, now is a chance for a bit of downtime to organise all the other things you need to arrange for your move. If you’ve been organised, then you need to race on with the next sections!

Step 8: If you are travelling with a dog, around 6 weeks prior to flight, you will need to visit your vet again. This appointment is for your vets to have a look at your dog, examine them for ticks and apply a long-acting anti-tick treatment. You need to be quite careful about what tick treatment your vet uses as the Australians only accept certain ones. This appointment is also a great chance to check the vaccination status of your dog. To enter Australia, your dog must be fully vaccinated against Leptospira and so if they are not, then at this appointment your vets can do the first of two ‘Lepto’ vaccines, to get you all back on track. At PetAir UK, we will provide you and your vet with a comprehensive veterinary schedule, providing all the necessary instructions and required documentation for your travel. This can bring peace of mind to the tricky process!

Step 9: We will also apply for the DEFRA export paperwork around now. This paperwork can then be completed by our vets the day before the flight.

Step 10:  Around 3-4 weeks prior to flight, both dogs and cats need to visit the vet. This is the date that dogs need to have blood samples to check that they are not carrying any diseases with them into Australia. At this point, dogs will need another tick treatment, an internal worming treatment, and your vet needs to check they have not got any ticks on them. If your dog needs a second ‘Lepto’ vaccine, then this is the day to do this. Important** – different Lepto vaccines need to be given at different intervals – this is where the veterinary schedule can be a lifesaver!

If you are flying with cats, then today is the day for the vets to check they have not got any ticks on them, apply an anti-tick treatment, and apply an anti-worm treatment. Preparing a cat to fly to Australia is much simpler!

Step 11: Final check date. Within 5 days of the flight, your dog or cat needs to be checked to make sure they are fit and healthy, and free from signs of infectious or contagious diseases. Dogs and cats are required to have another treatment against worms and ticks at this point. A government approved vet then needs to fill out the DEFRA export paperwork – this must be a different vet practice to the one that has done the preparation work. At PetAir UK, we take care of all of this for you. We can collect your pet(s) the day before the flight from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales, complete this paperwork, board them at our lovely kennels and cattery close to the airport, and take them to check-in on the morning of their flight. You will also get photos of them once they are settled in with us for the night.

Step 12:  Flight Day! Keep an eye on the tracking link we have previously sent you, to see when your pets have been checked in and when their flight has taken off. Depending on the airline, some will take pictures and send a much-anticipated update during the stopover too.

Step 13:  Once your pet has landed in Australia, the quarantine team will collect them from the airport and transport them to the quarantine station to settle them in. You will be emailed directly by the quarantine team to let you know they are safe and well.

Step 14:  Reuniting! Everyone’s favourite day! The day you get to collect your pet from quarantine, for them to begin their new life down under. We can also organise onwards flights from quarantine to other areas of Australia if required. Please don’t forget about us on this exciting day – our favourite part of the job is receiving reunion photos and videos!

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‘It was wet. It was filthy. It was aggressive. I said, I’ll take the racoon. But keeping exotic pets is cruel’

Lindsay McKenna’s wildlife centre takes in exotic animals when owners can’t cope. She and other experts fear the law is failing the very animals it is designed to protect

When Lindsay McKenna went out to buy a piece of furniture from a seller, the last thing she expected was to return with a wild animal.

“Something moved in the garage when I was in there helping the guy lift [the furniture],” she said. “It was a racoon in an incredibly small cage, it could hardly turn around. It was wet. It was filthy. It was skinny, aggressive.”

When the man kicked the cage, McKenna asked what was going on. “He said: ‘Oh, my stupid wife got it when it was eight weeks old for the kids – it is aggressive, we don’t know what to do with it’. So I said: ‘Right. I’ll take that with the furniture’.”

The incident, in late 2009, marked the beginning of Wildside Exotic Rescue – a centre near Ross-on-Wye that now houses animals from meerkats to mountain lions, mostly from UK homes.

Keeping such animals is not illegal – the Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) Act 1976 permits private ownership with a licence from the council. But now experts, charities and even some owners are raising concerns that the act is failing the very animals it is designed to protect.

“I‘ve come across people that have done their best by the animals within the restrictions of a domestic household. So I wouldn’t want to be slamming everyone who’s got an exotic animal as cruel. I don’t think that’s the case. I think the system is cruel to enable it.

“The UK government is saying we will permit you to have something as magnificent as a lion and tiger in less than the size of your lounge,” said McKenna, who holds a DWA licence.

A DWA licence lasts for two years and can be granted only if a number of requirements are met. The local authority must be satisfied that there are no safety concerns; the animal should be kept in suitable conditions with appropriate food, drink and exercise, infection and disease control, and the person requesting the licence must have insurance. An authorised vet must also inspect the premises where the animal is to be held to ensure they are suitable.

The need for regulation is evident: in the years before the act passed in 1976, it was easy to purchase exotic animals, with lion cubs available at Harrods . One such cat, named Christian, became a film star after the story of his life in London – and return to the wild – hit the big screen.

Yet ownership of dangerous wild animals remains surprisingly widespread. According to recent statistics from the charity Born Free , there are more than 2,700 dangerous or wild animals kept in private settings in Great Britain, including more than 200 wildcats, 250 primates and 400 venomous snakes.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “We keep this legislation under regular review to ensure it continues to keep the public safe and all animals judged to be especially dangerous are included on the list.”

Defra said it was a punishable offence for a dangerous wild animal to be kept in an inappropriate environment. The absence of reports of attacks suggests the act is working, it added.

Anna Judson, the president of the British Veterinary Association, thinks the DWA act is “inadequate”. “Wild and exotic animals have complex needs and, whilst many keepers are extremely competent and knowledgable, despite best intentions, these needs are sadly often not met. Some species have such specific requirements, it’s near impossible to fulfil these in domestic settings,” she said.

Judson added that there was an inconsistent approach to handing out licences, and their enforcement by local authorities. When the Guardian asked councils across Great Britain whether they queried would-be licencees about the provenance of their animals, and the reasons for keeping them, responses were mixed. Some said that such considerations were part of their application process, yet others stated that neither question was required by the DWA.

One council said: “The legislation covering this is extremely old and limited in its requirements.”

While individual councils have records of animals kept under the licence, the BVA is calling for a central register, and more regulations around the purchase and keeping of dangerous animals. This could resemble the set of minimum standards recently introduced in law on keeping primates as pets, with a stronger focus on animal welfare, including preventive health programmes with mandated veterinary visits, said Judson.

Yet even this is not a perfect solution, as many vets won’t have seen unusual animals before. The DWA licence also only covers animals judged to be dangerous if they escape, which excludes many exotic, wild creatures, from some species of snake to meerkats.

Born Free argues that the only answer is to end the keeping of dangerous wild animals in the UK, along with a review of other exotic pets.

Some owners told the Guardian they also had concerns with the DWA.

Rebecca Fosset, who keeps camels near Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire, said: “Where I think the act falls down is that [it is about] the premises, not the person keeping the camel.”

She disagrees with a ban on all exotic pets. “Camels have been domesticated longer than horses.… What could be nicer for a camel than living in a place where it’s got plenty to eat and plenty to drink and a roof over its head?”

However, Thomas Chipperfield, often described as Britain’s last lion tamer , has no plans to give up his two lions and tiger..

“I’m still able to look after them and I’m able to provide them with a home that meets their rare needs, according to our vets,” he says, noting there is no shortage of zoo vets, and that the purpose of inspections is to ensure animal welfare is “satisfactory” rather than just meeting a bare minimum standard.

Chipperfield added that both his lions were about 14 years old – meaning they have outlived most wild males. “That’s in no small part down to the care that we’re able to give them in terms of a high quality of life,” he said.

“It is the right of anyone in a free society to engage in their passions, which includes animal keeping,” he added. “It would be illiberal for the state to arbitrarily or ideologically oppose this without consideration for the fact that keepers can and do look after their animals well.”

• Animal welfare
• Endangered species
• Conservation

Most viewed

'Petflation' forcing Australians to surrender their beloved pets as food and vet bills rise

Karen Moore was already fostering nine cats and four puppies at her Adelaide home when she received an email from another family needing to surrender their pet due to the rising cost of living.

"The cost is just rising all the time and the cost has just about doubled in price," Ms Moore said. 

A Foodbank report released this month found almost one in every four of those surveyed admitted to skipping meals so their pets could eat.

The report also found 14 per cent had surrendered their pet in the past 12 months due to financial hardship, and eight per cent were resorting to charity organisations to help put food in the bowl.

"This is how heartbreaking things are," Ms Moore said while reading the latest email from a family seeking help.

"We are in financial hardship and unfortunately cannot support this dog anymore, we feel awful and are trying to give our dog away to a family but cannot find a home. She's very anxious and kept indoors."

Pet surrenders are something Ms Moore sees often while fostering animals for charity group Paws and Claws Adoptions.

"The mum cat with her litter was abandoned and left behind in a rental … people do leave their pets behind because they can't afford to keep them or are no longer able to take them with them in rentals," she said.

She said more and more Australians are having to choose between feeding their kids and pets.

"It's terribly sad that you should have to make a choice, I mean pets are the best therapy for families but to have to make a decision between who you're going to feed is so sad," she said.

"Kids are crying … children get very distressed [when their pets are surrendered]."

Ms Moore said it was not just pet food prices that were climbing.

"Pet food would have at least doubled, you've also got yearly vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, all of the ongoing costs to keep a dog healthy," she said.

Pet food stolen

Ms Moore said she was not surprised to hear reports of people stealing pet food in the current economic climate.

Last week, South Australia Police charged three teenagers for allegedly stealing boxes of cat food.

But Foodbank's chief executive officer (SA and NT) Greg Pattison said help was available.

"I think a lot of people don't realise that Foodbank has pet food available, I think only 9 per cent of the clients we surveyed actually knew that we had pet food," he said.

Loyalty programs and pet insurance

Some South Australians, like Deb Cleggett, are using loyalty programs and pet insurance to help keep the costs of owning their four-legged friends manageable.

"We buy food from one of the local pet stores because they've got a loyalty program and if you buy every month you get a discount on food," she said.

"I tend to mix that with supermarket food to make the food more interesting, and also keep it a bit more budget-friendly," Ms Cleggett said.

She said if something major happened to her dogs, her vet bills would also hopefully be covered by insurance.

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How to bring your dog to Australia from a Group 2 country

This step-by-step guide will help you prepare your dog for import into Australia from a Group 2 classified country.

Need to know

This is a complex process. Before you start the import process, we recommend you read this guide in full.

• Allow at least 6 months to complete health checks, tests and paperwork.
• All procedures must be completed by a veterinarian approved by the government in the country of export.
• Fees apply for our services, such as permit assessment and quarantine in Australia.
• There are certain breeds of dogs that are prohibited from import into Australia.
• Overseas travel can cause stress to animals. If your dog is sick or elderly, consider if this is the right decision for them.

1 Find a pet transport agent

We encourage you to use an experienced pet transport agent or shipper .

Importing a dog to Australia is a complex process. It will take at least 6 months to complete. You will need to make sure your dog meets a range of import conditions. This includes multiple veterinary visits, checks and treatments.

Seek help from a pet transport agent with experience in importing dogs to Australia.They will help guide you through the import process.

To find a pet transport agent or shipper you can:

• search online (use terms like ‘pet transport agent Australia’)
• check the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IATA).

We cannot recommend one agent over another. We have no influence over any fees or charges an agent may require for their services.

This is an optional step, but we recommend you use an agent .

2 Check import conditions you must meet

You must meet all import conditions before you can bring your dog to Australia .

Check the category for your country of export

This step-by-step guide is for dogs exported from Group 2 countries. These are approved countries of origin for dog imports into Australia.

Check the list of Group 2 countries to make sure this is the right guide for you.

Group 2 countries

• American Samoa
• Christmas Island
• Cook Island
• Falkland Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• French Polynesia
• Kiribati Mauritius
• New Caledonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands
• Kingdom of Tonga
• Wallis & Futuna

Your country of export is not on the Group 2 list . Find the right step-by-step guide for your animal and country of export.

If your dog is coming from a Group 2 country, continue through this guide .

Confirm your dog is eligible for import to Australia

You must import your dog to Australia from a department-approved country (includes Group 2 countries). Group 2 approved countries are rabies-free.

To be eligible, your dog must have either:

• lived in a group 1 or group 2 (rabies free) approved country since birth, or
• only resided in a group 1 or group 2 (rabies free) approved country since it was exported directly from Australia, or
• been in a group 1 or group 2 (rabies free) approved country for at least 180 days since an official identity check and immediately before the proposed date of export.

The 180 days in an approved country is NOT a quarantine period . Your dog can be living with you or someone else in a group 1 or group 2 approved country while being prepared for export. They must complete a period of quarantine after arriving in Australia.

When you plan to export your dog, it must NOT be:

• under quarantine restrictions
• more than 30 days pregnant
• nursing puppies.

Some dog breeds are not allowed into Australia .

This includes some hybrid dogs (domestic and non-domestic) and some pure-bred dogs.

These bans relate to environmental protection and customs laws. They are not biosecurity laws. You will need to talk to the relevant government agency for details.

Hybrid dogs NOT allowed into Australia include:

• Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak
• Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound
• Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog
• Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog.

Contact the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water at [email protected] . They can provide more advice on hybrid animals.

Pure breed dogs banned from Australia include:

• dogo Argentino
• fila Brasileiro
• Japanese tosa
• American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
• Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

Contact the Department of Home Affairs on +61 2 6264 1111 or 131 881 (within Australia) for more on prohibited dog breeds.

Mixed-breed dogs are allowed if the dog meets all other import conditions. If an imported dog is identified as possibly being a prohibited breed after arrival in Australia, the Department of Home Affairs may investigate further.

If your dog is sick or old

Consider your dog's age and general health. Sick and elderly animals do not cope with long distance travel and climatic stress.

We do not recommend importing sick or very old animals. International travel can cause them to de-stabilise and rapidly deteriorate. Even dogs with well-managed chronic diseases can arrive in distress and poor health.

Animals may be unable to get medication during transport. As a pet owner, you must consider if it’s in your pet’s best interests to travel the long distance and stay in quarantine.

Talk to the government agency (competent authority) in your export country

How to find the competent authority in your country.

A competent authority is the government agency responsible for animal health. This may be a government veterinary service or similar. In Australia, it is us (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).

The competent authority must provide an official government animal health certificate for your dog before it leaves for Australia. We check this document when your dog arrives in Australia. It verifies that your dog has undergone the required pre-export veterinary procedures in the country of export.

When you contact them, confirm they are recognised by us to oversee all veterinary checks and issue a health certificate.

All pre-export veterinary procedures must be completed:

• by a government approved veterinarian
• while your dog resides in the country of export
• before departing for Australia.

This process ensures your dog doesn’t bring diseases to Australia.

When you talk to the competent authority in your country, they will let you know:

• any local procedures or requirements you must meet before you export your dog
• how to find approved veterinarians to prepare your dog for export to Australia
• how to find approved laboratories for pre-export testing.

We rely on the competent authority to identify which vets can prepare dogs for export in their jurisdiction. In many countries, this may simply be a registered veterinarian. In some countries, it may be specific vets. Contact the competent authority to check local requirements.

Don’t risk arriving in Australia with the wrong checks, treatments or certificates.

Talk to the competent authority. Only use a government approved veterinarian to prepare your dog for export.

Export conditions can vary between countries. The competent authority and approved vet can advise you on extra steps you need to take that aren’t in this guide or detailed on your import permit.

Read through this guide

We recommend you read this whole guide before you start the import process.

This guide details important actions you must take. This includes applying for and being issued with an import permit. Your import permit outlines the exact preparations required for your dog. You must meet all these conditions before you bring your dog to Australia.

Share this guide and your import permit with your approved veterinarian and pet transport company. They will help you meet all conditions.

The import process takes time . Make sure you’re aware of how far ahead of export date you need to start each step. This will be covered in more detail in your import permit.

3 Verify your dog’s microchip and identity

Do this before you start the import process and at least 180 days before export .

Check your dog has a microchip or implant a new one

Microchips are the only approved identification method. The competent authority in the export country will use the microchip to verify your dog’s identity.

A government approved veterinarian must scan the microchip:

• at each visit
• before any pre-export blood sampling.

They will check that the microchip number is recorded on all documentation.

Your dog must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant. Generally, microchips with 10 or 15 digits are ISO compliant.

Microsoft numbers starting with 999 are not accepted because they are not unique.

It is essential your dog has a working microchip before you start the import process .

The government approved veterinarian must scan your dog’s microchip at each veterinary visit and accurately record this on all documents including test samples. This is how we match your dog to its preparations and documents.

We do not accept changes to laboratory reports or other documents to include or amend the microchip.

If a microchip cannot be read or is incorrect in your documents, your dog cannot be imported to Australia.

If your dog has 2 microchips

Both microchip numbers must be included on:

• the import permit application
• the final import permit
• all laboratory reports.

Both microchips must be scanned at each veterinary visit. They must match all import documents.

If your dog’s microchip stops working

The veterinarian should try multiple microchip scanners to read the microchip. An X-ray can be used to locate the microchip if it has moved from the implant site.

Your dog must arrive in Australia with a microchip that can be scanned and linked to the import permit, health certificate and laboratory reports .

Confirm your dog’s identity

Your dog’s identity must be verified by the competent authority in the export country.

Approach the competent authority in the export country. Ask them to verify your dog’s identity so you can import your dog to Australia.

They will provide an identification declaration directly to us.

Identity declarations are valid for as long as the animal:

• can be identified by the verified microchip on the declaration, and
• resides in a group 1 or group 2 approved country.

Do this at least 180 days before export . For dogs less than 6 months old, get their identity verified before you start the import process.

4 Apply and pay for the import permit

Allow plenty of time to get your permit before your proposed export date .

Apply for a permit as soon as you intend to travel . Permits can take time to be issued. Most permits are issued in 20-40 business days. It can take up to 123 business days in some cases.

Apply for an import permit

Apply for your import permit through our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).

Be aware that applying for an import permit does not guarantee you will be issued with one.

How to apply for a permit

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs must meet all import conditions to come to Australia.

If you want to import an assistance dog, you will need to submit extra forms to us. Do this through BICON as part of your import permit application.

See more on importing an assistance dog .

Pay in full when you submit your application in BICON . Extra charges may apply if information is missing, incorrect, or if an application is put on hold.

Your import permit is NOT issued . We may require more details from you before we can issue a permit. We’ll advise you of further action you can take to meet import conditions. In rare cases, we may refuse to issue an import permit.

Your import permit is issued . Continue through the steps in this guide.

Meet all import permit conditions

Read your import permit carefully. It includes important conditions you must meet .

If your permit is issued, you must make sure you meet all your import permit conditions.

The conditions will be specified on the permit. This includes specific pre-export veterinary procedures required for your dog. These conditions are mandatory.

Make sure you read all import permit conditions and understand what you need to do.

If you fail to comply with your permit conditions, your dog may be:

• held longer in post entry quarantine
• subject to additional testing
• euthanised.

You will also be liable for any costs involved.

Import permits are valid for up to 12 months from date of issue . The permit must be valid on the date your dog arrives in Australia.

5 Book post-entry quarantine and arrange travel

Do this after you receive your import permit .

Book your dog’s post-entry quarantine stay

Your dog will stay at least 10 days in quarantine in Australia .

Dogs must spend at least 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility. Our quarantine facility is designed to comfortably accommodate dogs and meet their needs.

See more about the quarantine facility and how to book.

You must pay for all quarantine costs . You must pay your account in full before your animal is released from quarantine. See our list of post-entry quarantine fees and charges .

Check rules for stops on the way to Australia

We have specific rules for travel that include stops in other countries.

These rules depend on whether the dog will:

• remain on the plane (transiting)
• be unloaded from the plane and moved to another plane (transhipping).

Make sure you understand these rules when choosing flights.

During transport to Australia, dogs may transit in all countries. This means the plane can touch down in a country, but your dog must stay on the plane on the international side of the airport.

Transhipping

Your dog may only tranship (change aircraft) in:

• an approved group 1 or group 2 country , OR

Your dog must not leave the international side of the airport. It must stay under the supervision of the  competent authority  in the country of transhipment. It must be in a place that restricts contact with other animals.

It is your responsibility as the importer to contact the competent authority in the country of transhipment. You need to find out:

• whether they allow animals to tranship
• whether they have a facility to hold animals during transhipment
• how long the animals can be held
• if additional conditions apply.

Your dog may not be eligible for import if these conditions are not met .

Book travel for your dog

You can make the travel arrangements yourself or use an animal transport company . You can use any airline to transport your dog to Australia, at the airline operator’s discretion. Find a list of animal transport companies on the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) website .

Your dog must arrive directly into Melbourne International airport. We do not permit domestic transfers.

Your dog must travel:

• as manifested cargo (not in the cabin)
• in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate.

We are not responsible for your dog while they are under the care of the aircraft operator.

You must pay for all transport costs for your dog .

See the full IATA guidelines at  Traveller's Pet Corner .

6 Complete all health checks, treatments and vaccinations

These must be completed by the approved veterinarian in the country of export .

Check all timings of tests and treatments as soon as possible .

Plan early. You need to make sure you complete all treatments and tests in the correct timeframes before export.

All preparations are calculated from the date of export, local time in the country of export. For calculating timeframes, the date of the treatment or preparation counts as ‘day 0’.

Find a government approved vet

All veterinary preparations must be done by a government approved veterinarian.

Any testing must be done by a laboratory approved by the competent authority in the country of export. Some countries may not have labs capable of completing the required tests. You can use a laboratory in another approved country, if it is approved by the competent authority of that country.

To find a government approved veterinarian or laboratory, contact the competent authority in the export country. This is the government veterinary service or equivalent.

We cannot give advice on treatments for diseases. Seek advice from a veterinarian if your dog tests positive to an infectious disease listed in the import conditions.

Some south Pacific Island countries may not have a permanent government approved veterinarian . Contact us if you do not have a local government approved veterinarian. Do this well ahead of your planned date of export. In some cases, veterinary preparations can be completed by a regularly visiting foreign veterinarian.

We recommend you share this step-by-step guide and your import permit with the approved vet .

Your vet will help you make sure you meet all import conditions. This information is also useful to share with pet transport companies.

Guidance for vets

You can also download and share our guidance for vets.

Guidance for government approved veterinarians preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia (PDF 295 KB)

Guidance for government approved veterinarians preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia (DOCX 120 KB)

Check vaccinations

Dogs can be vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola. This is as an alternative to testing for Leptospira canicola . See step 6.3 for advice on the test option.

If you chose to do this, your dog must be fully vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola. This is usually:

• a course of 2 vaccines 2-4 weeks apart
• yearly boosters administered at the interval specified by the manufacturer to maintain immunity.

The vaccination must be valid in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions at the time of export.

You can download and share our guide for vets on Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola.

Leptospira interrogans sv. Canicola vaccination guidance for veterinarians preparing dogs for export to Australia (PDF 441 KB)

Leptospira interrogans sv. Canicola vaccination guidance for veterinarians preparing dogs for export to Australia (DOCX 26 KB)

Recommended vaccinations

This is an optional step.

We recommend your dog is vaccinated against:

• Parainfluenza
• Bordetella bronchiseptica

These diseases exist in Australia. Vaccination is not mandatory.

Check when your dog was last vaccinated . Vaccinations should be valid for the entire post-entry quarantine period

For Singapore only

Dogs exported from Singapore must be fully vaccinated against canine influenza (CIV).

Make sure your vet uses a CIV vaccine that is:

• registered for use in dogs in the country of export
• effective against the CIV virus strain(s) in the area where the dog has been living.

Allow enough time to complete the primary course following the registered manufacturer’s directions .

For previously unvaccinated dogs, the primary course must be completed at least 14 days before export to Australia. The vaccination must be valid per the manufacturer’s directions at the time of export.

For dogs with a history of regular vaccinations for CIV, the dog’s vaccination status must be valid per the manufacturer’s directions at the time of export. This means following a primary course, the dog has received booster vaccinations as specified by the manufacturer to maintain immunity up to the date of export to Australia.

Test for Leptospira canicola (leptospirosis)

This step only applies if your dog is not vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola. See step 6.2 for advice on the vaccine option.

An approved veterinarian must:

• scan and verify your dog’s microchip
• collect and test a blood sample using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT).

The test must produce a negative result.

If your dog returns a positive result, you must contact us for advice. Further testing may be required. This may delay your dog’s export.

Test for Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola within 45 days of the date of export .

Test for Brucella canis (brucellosis)

This step only applies if your dog is not desexed.

To be considered desexed:

• female dogs must have undergone surgical ovariohysterectomy
• male dogs must have undergone bilateral castration or gonadectomy.

Evidence of desexing may be requested by the competent authority in the country of export. We may also request evidence.

If your dog is not desexed, a government approved veterinarian must scan and verify the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample to test for Brucella canis.

The blood sample must be collected using 1 of these methods:

• a rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), or
• a tube agglutination test (TAT), or
• an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).

Test for Brucella canis (brucellosis) within 45 days of the date of export .

Pregnant, mated or artificially inseminated dogs must meet strict timeframes.

The test sample must be collected within 45 days of the date of export. Your dog must not be mated or artificially inseminated within 14 days before blood sample collection for the Brucella canis test . After the test sample is collected, the dog cannot be mated or artificially inseminated again before the date of export, regardless of pregnancy status. Pregnant dogs can only be imported to Australia if no more than 30 days pregnant.

To meet these timings, you must:

• only mate or artificially inseminate a dog within 30 days of export
• then collect the test sample for Brucella canis 14 days after the most recent mating/insemination date
• then not mate or inseminate the dog from test sample collection until export to Australia
• ensure the test sample is collected within 45 days of export

This means that if the mating results in a pregnancy, there is a small window in which the test sample can be collected, laboratory results returned and the dog exported to Australia while less than 30 days pregnant.

Test for Leishmania infantum (leishmaniasis)

A government approved veterinarian must scan and verify your dog’s microchip. They must collect and test a blood sample using 1 of these methods:

• an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT)
• an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Test for Leishmania infantum (leishmaniosis) within 45 days of the date of export .

Treat for external parasites

A government approved veterinarian must treat your dog with a product that kills ticks and fleas on contact. The chosen product must remain effective against new flea and tick infestations until the date of export to Australia.

The veterinarian may need to repeat to maintain protection until export. They must follow the manufacturer’s directions. If the reapplication periods for fleas and ticks (or species of tick) differ, you must follow the shortest reapplication period.

At each visit after the treatment has started, the veterinarian must examine your dog for external parasites. If fleas or ticks are found they must be removed, and the treatment restarted.

See acceptable external parasite treatments .

Start at least 30 days before export and repeat according to manufacturer directions .

To calculate 30 days before the date of export, count the first day the treatment as day 0. For example, if treatment is given 1 January, then the earliest date of export is 31 January.

Treat for internal parasites

A government approved veterinarian must treat your dog for nematodes and cestodes (internal parasites).

See acceptable internal parasite treatments .

Plan enough time to complete these before you export .

Your dog must be treated twice within 45 days before export. The two treatments must be spaced at least 14 days apart. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before the export date.

For example, if the date of export is 30 January:

• The earliest date the first treatment can be given is 16 December.
• The earliest date the second treatment can be given is 25 January.
• There are more than 14 days between 16 December and 25 January – this meets the 14-day spacing requirement.

Ask your vet about products that cover both nematodes and cestodes . Combined products that cover both nematodes and cestodes are available in many countries

Time saver . It’s acceptable to do the final vet check and second internal parasite treatment at the same vet visit.

If your dog has visited mainland Africa

If your dog has ever visited mainland Africa, a government approved veterinarian must treat your dog internally with imidocarb dipropionate.

Dosages are either:

• a single dose at 7.5 mg/kg body weight, or
• 2 doses at 6.0 mg/kg body weight given 14 days apart.

Treatments must be given by subcutaneous injection.

Treatment must be given within 28 days of the date of export .

7 Get a final vet check and prepare your documents

These are the final preparation activities before you export your dog .

Book a pre-export clinical examination

Your dog must be examined for external parasites and clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease. A government approved veterinarian or official government veterinarian must do this.

You must bring these documents to the examination:

• a valid import permit
• a copy of the veterinary health certificate for the government approved vet to complete at this visit. You’ll need to get a blank copy from the competent authority. 

Within 5 days before your dog's export date . It’s acceptable to do the second internal parasite treatment at the same vet visit as the final vet check.

Get your approved vet to complete your Veterinary Health Certificate

The veterinary health certificate is an agreed document between the department and your competent authority.

You will need to get a blank copy from your competent authority. The approved vet completing your dog’s preparations will then complete the certificate.

Get your documents endorsed by an official veterinarian

Take the completed health certificate and laboratory test reports to the competent authority for endorsement by an official government veterinarian .

An official government veterinarian must:

• complete, sign and stamp all pages of the Veterinary Health Certificate (endorsement)
• give you a seal to be placed on the dog’s crate at the time of export. The official vet must record the seal number on the Veterinary Health Certificate.

Any corrections to the Veterinary Health Certificate must be struck through. Corrections must be legible and signed and stamped by the official government veterinarian. Do not use correction fluid.

An official government veterinarian must also sign and stamp every page of the:

• Leishmania infantum laboratory report
• Brucella canis laboratory report (if not desexed)
• Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola laboratory report (if not vaccinated).

Within 5 days before your dog’s date of export . For example, if the date of export is 30 January, the earliest date the health certificate can be endorsed is 25 January. The certificate must be endorsed after the final veterinary health check and second internal parasite treatment has been completed. These can both be completed on the same day.

Check competent authority office hours and timeframes . Government offices may be closed over local public holidays and weekends. You will need to make sure that you have enough time to get the veterinary health certificate endorsed before export.

Gather your import documents

Your dog must arrive in Australia with these documents:

• a Veterinary Health Certificate
• laboratory test reports.

Each page of the veterinary health certificate and laboratory reports must bear the original (‘wet ink’) stamp, signature and date of the endorsing official government veterinarian and competent authority.

Only the first page of the import permit needs to be endorsed.

Send all import documents with your dog . A valid import permit, health certificate and relevant documents must travel to Australia with your dog. Keep a copy of each document for your records.

8 Travel to Australia

What to do when you’re ready to send your dog, and what will happen when they arrive .

Prepare your dog for travel

Your dog must arrive in Australia before your import permit expires.

On the day of travel:

• place your dog in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for dogs (see Step 5 )
• don't place any items, including toys, medication or items of value, in the crate (these will be destroyed as biosecurity waste upon arrival)
• seal your dog into the crate using the seal supplied by the official government veterinarian.

In most cases, you will check your dog in at the freight terminal, not the passenger terminal.

Check with your airline to find out which terminal you need to use .

What may happen during travel

Your dog's crate must remain sealed. The seal must be intact on arrival in Australia. 

Your dog’s crate may only be opened in exceptional circumstances. Opening the crate will cause the tamper-evident seal to be broken.

If this occurs, the crate must be resealed by:

• official government veterinarian, or
• airport authority, or
• captain of the aircraft.

They must also provide a certificate detailing the circumstances. The certificate should be attached to the outside of the crate before departure from the port where the seal was broken.

You can find more information on the IATA website .

When your dog arrives in Australia

One of our biosecurity officers will collect your dog on arrival. They will transport your dog to the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility.

We’ll help your dog settle in and get comfortable after its flight. We will check your dog to make sure they’re healthy and free from diseases or pests of biosecurity concern. We’ll assess your dog’s import documents to check your dog complies with our import conditions.

Your dog will be housed in large, individual, climate-controlled enclosure. They’ll be fed quality food, groomed, and provided with enrichment. We will give you updates on your dog’s health and wellbeing.

Read more about our state-of-the-art quarantine facilities .

If your dog does not comply with the permit conditions, further tests, treatments or quarantine may apply.

Dogs must stay at Mickleham for a minimum of 10 days. Any issues that increase biosecurity risk may result in a longer stay.

Register you dog in Australia

You are responsible for meeting local requirements for dogs in Australia.

Contact your local Australian council or government. They can tell you what you must do. This might include registering your dog and their microchip and paying yearly fees.

We are not involved in local council and national microchip registration databases .

Subscribe to alerts

Import conditions can change without notice. Check our website regularly. Make sure you’re using the most current information.

You can subscribe for updates on: 

• our policies that affect cat and dog importers and their agents
• emergency situations that affect imports (such as overseas cat and dog disease outbreaks).

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

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