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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Bringing cats and dogs to Australia
  4. Step-by-step guides
  5. Group 1: Norfolk Island

Sidebar first - Cats and Dogs

  • 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

Group 1: Norfolk Island

  • Cats and dogs coming to mainland Australia from Norfolk Island do not require an import permit.
    • The following step by step guide outlines the requirements for importing the cat or dog.
    • The information below is a guide to help importers, exporters, veterinarians and pet transport agents prepare a cat or dog for export.
    • Cats and dogs must comply with all import conditions.
    • Failure to comply with the import conditions may result in the animal being (at your cost):
      • moved to and held in post entry quarantine
      • subject to additional testing
      • exported
      • euthanased
  • A registered veterinarian must perform all veterinary procedures listed below.
  • There is no mandatory quarantine period for cats and dogs from Norfolk Island.

[Expand all]

Step 1: Contact the Norfolk Island Veterinarian
Timeframe: Before starting the export process

  • Contact the Norfolk Island Regional Council to find out which veterinarians are approved to prepare your cat or dog for export
  • The department recommends that you take this information to your veterinarian or pet transport agent to help you understand the requirements.

Step 2: General eligibility
Timeframe: Before starting the export process

  • Cats and dogs must have been continuously resident on Norfolk Island since birth or since direct importation from Australia or New Zealand.
  • Cats and dogs must not be under quarantine restrictions at the time of export.
  • Cats and dogs must not be more than 40 days pregnant nor be suckling young at the time of export.
  • Cats and dogs must be at least eight (8) weeks old at the time of export.

Cat breeds

  • In accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, domestic/non domestic animal hybrids are not eligible for import to Australia. 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).

Note – in certain circumstances, the Department may permit the import of Bengal cats that are five generations or more removed from their wild ancestor. If you plan to import a Bengal cat, please contact the department’s Environmental Biosecurity Office to confirm your cat satisfies the requirements before you apply for an import permit.

Dog breeds

  • Domestic/non-domestic animal hybrids (e.g. wolf-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.

Please contact the department’s Environmental Biosecurity Office for more information on hybrid animals and reproductive material/specimens.

  • In accordance with the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, the following pure breeds cannot be imported to Australia:
    • dogo Argentino
    • fila Brasileiro
    • Japanese Tosa
    • Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull
    • Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

For more information on prohibited dog breeds, contact the Department of Home Affairs on +61 2 6264 1111 or 131 881 (within Australia) or visit their website.

Step 3: Verify existing microchip or implant a new microchip
Timeframe: Before starting the export process

  • Cats and dogs must be identified by a microchip that can be read by an Avid, Trovan, Destron or other ISO compatible reader.
  • A registered veterinarian must scan the microchip at each veterinary visit. The veterinarian must also check that the scanned microchip number is correctly recorded on all documentation.
  • If the microchip cannot be read or is recorded incorrectly in the animal's documentation, the animal cannot be imported to Australia
  • Microchip numbers starting with 999 are not acceptable because they are not unique.

Step 4: External parasite treatment
Timeframe: Within 5 days before the date of export

Cats and dogs must be given a topical external parasite treatment by a registered veterinarian, which kills ticks and fleas on contact within five (5) days before the date of export.

Further information on acceptable treatment products.

Step 5: Internal parasite treatment
Timeframe: Within 5 days before the date of export

Cats and dogs must be given an internal parasite treatment, by a registered veterinarian, effective against nematodes and cestodes within five (5) days before the date of export.

Further information on acceptable treatment products.

Step 6: Pre-export clinical examination
Timeframe: Within 5 days before the date of export

The cat or dog must be examined by a registered veterinarian and found to be free from ticks and fleas, and signs of infectious or contagious disease within five (5) days before the date of export.

Step 7: Completion of veterinary health certificate
Timeframe: Within 5 days before the date of export

  • The required import certification DOCX [84 KB, 2 pages] must be completed and signed by the owner/representative (declaration), registered veterinarian preparing the cat or dog for export (veterinary health certificate) and a government officer of Norfolk Island (endorsement).
  • The animal must be accompanied by a declaration that is completed and signed by the cat or dog’s owner/representative certifying:
    • the animal’s name, breed, sex and age
    • the animal’s microchip number
    • the animal has been continuously resident on Norfolk Island since birth or since direct importation from Australia or New Zealand.
    • the animal was not under quarantine restrictions at the time of export
    • the animal is not a prohibited breed or a domestic/non-domestic hybrid
  • The cat or dog must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate DOCX [84 KB, 2 pages] that is completed and signed by a registered veterinarian of Norfolk Island certifying:
    • the animal was examined within 5 days before the date of export and found to be free from ticks and clinical signs of infectious and contagious disease and fit to travel
    • the animal was treated for internal and external parasites within 5 days before the date of export
  • The cat or dog must be accompanied by an endorsement that is completed and signed by a registered government officer of Norfolk Island certifying that:
    • in the 12 months before the date of export, Norfolk Island has had no cases of:
      • rabies
      • canine brucellosis
      • canine monocytic ehrlichiosis
      • canine leishmaniasis
      • canine leptospirosis
    • no animals have been imported into Norfolk Island except from Australia and New Zealand in the five (5) years before the date of export.

Step 8: Travel to mainland Australia

  • Cats and dogs may travel by either sea or air but must travel directly to mainland Australia.
  • No cats or dogs except those for import to Australia or New Zealand may be carried on the voyage/flight without prior approval by the department.
  • If travelling by air, cats and dogs must travel as manifested cargo (not in the cabin) in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for cats or dogs. IATA guidelines can be viewed on the IATA website.
  • The department accepts no responsibility for cats or dogs that escape en route.
  • All transport costs are at the importer’s expense.
  • Assistance dogs may travel with their handler in the cabin, at the discretion of the airline.

Step 9: Clearance on arrival

  • All import conditions must be met.
  • The import certification and any other relevant documentation must travel to Australia with the cat or dog.
  • Notify the department at least three (3) days before the animal arrives in mainland Australia by emailing the regional office in the state/territory in which the cat or dog will first arrive in mainland Australia.
Regional Office Email
Australian Capital Territory ACT Rego Office
New South Wales CER Animal Imports
Victoria SE Animal and VIC Controller
Queensland QLD Live Animal Imports
South Australia SA Live Animal Imports
Western Australia WA Live Animal Imports
Northern Territory NT Live Animal Imports and NT Airport Controller

General inquiry: 1800 900 090 or + 61 3 8318 6700 (from outside Australia)

For more office locations visit: Office locations

  • Your email must include:
    • the date and estimated time of arrival
    • the flight number
    • the air waybill number
    • a short description of your cat or dog
    • a contact phone number in Australia
    • the address at which the cat or dog will stay in mainland Australia
    • whether the animal is an assistance dog.
  • Cats and dogs must be cleared at the first port of arrival in mainland Australia.
  • Allow at least 1 hour for the cat or dog to be released by airline cargo and cleared by the department. Connecting flights must not leave within one (1) hour of the animal arriving in mainland Australia.
  • If your cat or dog is to connect with a domestic flight you will have to arrange for it to be moved from the international to the domestic terminal. Animal transport agents/pet shippers can help you with this. A list of agents can be obtained from the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association website.
  • You will be charged for the time taken to assess the documentation that accompanies your animal to Australia. Details of the department’s fees can be found in the charging guidelines.
  • Please contact the relevant regional office to determine the fees for clearing your cat or dog.
  • Fees are usually collected by the airline carrying your animal, prior to export from Norfolk Island. The payment should appear on the air waybill. The department then invoices the airline to recover the fees. If the air waybill has not incorporated these fees the department will require payment before releasing your animal.

Step 10: On arrival in mainland Australia

  • A biosecurity officer will check the cat or dog to verify all details match the import certification.
  • If acceptable, the animal will be released from biosecurity control. If not, additional documents may be requested and/or the animal may be subject to quarantine, treatment, export or euthanasia.
​

Contacts

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

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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: 10 August 2021

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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.