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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Bringing cats and dogs to Australia
  4. Step-by-step guides

Sidebar first - Cats and Dogs

  • Bringing Cats and Dogs to Australia
    • Assistance dogs
      • Travelling on a cruise vessel-step by step guide for assistance dogs
    • Bringing cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from mainland Australia
      • Health certificate for cats brought from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
      • Health certificate for dogs brought from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
    • Bringing cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from New Zealand
    • Cats and dogs frequently asked questions
      • Glossary of terms
    • Cats and dogs returning to Australia
    • Fees for cat and dog import permit applications
    • How to Complete the Import Application
    • Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) Declaration
    • Quarantine facility and fees
      • Fees for government animal quarantine facilities for cats and dogs
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    • Step-by-step guides
      • Group 1: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
      • Group 1: New Zealand
      • Group 1: Norfolk Island
      • Group 2: step by step guide for cats
      • Group 2: step by step guide for dogs
      • Group 3: step by step guide for cats
      • Group 3: step by step guide for dogs
      • Non-approved country via Group 2 or 3 Country: step by step guide for cats
      • Non-approved country via Group 2 or 3 Country: step by step guide for dogs
      • Importing frozen canine semen from New Zealand
      • Importing frozen canine semen from approved countries
    • Other live animals and reproductive material
    • Unique or exotic pets

Step-by-step guides

​​​​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.

[expand all]

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:

  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  • New Zealand
  • Norfolk Island

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:

  • Cats
  • Dogs

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:

  • Cats
  • Dogs

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:

  • Non-approved country via Group 2 or 3 country: step by step guide for cats
  • Non-approved country via Group 2 or 3 country: step by step guide for dogs

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:

  • New Zealand
  • Approved countries
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.

​

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  • departmental policies that affect cat and dog importers and their agents.
  • emergency situations i.e. overseas cat and dog disease outbreaks affecting imports.

We recommend you check our website regularly for up‐to‐date information as import conditions can and may change without notice.

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Last updated: 24 February 2021

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.