If you intend to import cats, dogs or frozen canine semen into Australia you will need to ensure you comply with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment import conditions.
Please refer to the below step-by-step guides to help you understand the requirements relating to the different categories of approved countries. The material below is provided as a guide only; the import permit will contain the definitive import conditions. This page also has a guide to importing dogs and cats from non-approved countries.
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Group 1 Country: cats and dogs
New Zealand; Norfolk Island; Cocos Island
Dogs and cats from New Zealand and Norfolk Island do not require an import permit to enter Australia.
Cats from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands do require an import permit.
Select the appropriate step-by-step guide:
Group 2 Country: cats and dogs
American Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga (Kingdom of), Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna.
Group 2 countries are described as approved rabies-free countries and territories in and animals from these countries require an import permit to be eligible for import to Australia.
Select the appropriate step-by-step guide:
Note: Some south Pacific Island countries with limited animal health services may not have a permanent government approved veterinarian present to perform the required blood testing, treatments or examinations. If prospective importers cannot locate a government approved veterinarian, they must contact the department well in advance of their proposed travel dates to discuss further options. In some cases, procedures completed by a regularly visiting foreign veterinarian or para-veterinarian may be acceptable.
Group 3 Country: cats and dogs
Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia (Republic of), Cyprus (Republic of), Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of), Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands , Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa (Republic of), South Korea (Republic of), Spain (including Canary and Balearic Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America (excluding Guam and Hawaii), Uruguay, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (United States of America).
Group 3 countries are described as approved countries and territories in which rabies is absent or well-controlled and animals from these countries require an import permit to be eligible for import to Australia.
Select the appropriate step-by-step guide:
Non-Approved Country via Group 2 or 3 country: cats and dogs
Animals from non-approved countries are not eligible for direct import to Australia. The information in the below guide provides details of what preparation is required to import your animal from a non-approved country.
Select the appropriate step-by-step guide:
Frozen canine semen from Approved Countries
If you intend to import frozen canine semen from New Zealand or another approved country into Australia, you must comply with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment import conditions.
Frozen canine semen from non-approved countries is not eligible for import into Australia.
Select the appropriate step-by-step guide:
American Samoa, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Croatia (Republic of), Cyprus (Republic of), Czechia (Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guam, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Republic of), Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa (Republic of), South Korea (Republic of), Spain (including Canary and Balearic Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga (Kingdom of), Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (United States of America), Wallis & Futuna.Frozen canine semen from Non-approved countries
Frozen canine semen from non-approved countries is not eligible for import into Australia.