Importing Pets to Australia If you’re moving permanently to Australia you won’t want to leave your beloved pet behind. It is possible to import dogs to Australia, as well as cats and other pets, but you must follow strict regulations to make it happen. Dogtainers Pet Transport is a trusted, reliable and affordable pet and animal transportation company offering services all over New Zealand – including Auckland to Wellington and Christchurch and all over Australia from Coffs Harbour to Townsville, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Melbourne along with many other destinations around the country and the world. Dogtainers can ship your pet anywhere in the world, inter island or between regional airports, we are the most trusted pet transport provider in New Zealand and Australia. Dogtainers are members of IPATA the (International Pet and Animal Transport Association) Dogtainers have offices and partners all over the world and provided services for Any Animal, AnyWhere, AnyTime. These regulations are set down by the Department of Agriculture and are designed to protect the biosecurity of the country. They vary depending on the country you are importing your cat or dog from. General Requirements for Importing Cats and Dogs to Australia To import cats and dogs to Australia you need to first make sure that your pet is arriving from an ‘approved’ country. You can check this at the Department of Agriculture website. In summary, the following general guidelines apply:
No import permit or quarantine period is required of you are looking to import cats or dogs to Australia from New Zealand, Norfolk Island or Cocos Islands.
An import permit is required to import a cat or dog from countries where rabies is known to be absent (mainly island nations with no land borders).
An import permit is required to import a cat or dog from countries where rabies is well-controlled (the bulk of developed countries including Europe and the US).
Cats or dogs from ‘non-approved’ countries, where rabies is a known risk, are not eligible for direct import to Australia.
A cat or dog from a non-approved country must spend six months in an approved country before it is allowed to be imported into Australia.
If your pet is being brought from an ‘approved’ country, it will need to have a rabies test six months prior to importation. If you secure an entry permit, your pet must travel as manifested cargo and, upon arrival in Australia, undergo a quarantine period of at least 10 days in Sydney or Melbourne. Importing Cats The steps for importing a cat to Australia are summarized below: Before applying for a permit: 1.
Confirm general eligibility.
2.
Verify existing microchip or implant a new microchip.
3.
Check rabies vaccination.
4.
Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test and Quarantine period (if required).
5.
Rabies Vaccination and Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test declaration from an official government veterinarian.
Preparing for travel: 1.
Apply and pay for the Import Permit – at least 42 days prior to departure.
2.
Book tentative post-arrival quarantine accommodation at an Australian government quarantine facility and make travel arrangements.
3.
Check general vaccinations.
4.
Internal parasite treatments – two treatments at least 14 days apart; second treatment within 5 days of departure.
5.
External parasite treatments – at least 21 days before departure.
6.
Pre-export clinical examination – within 5 days of departure.
7.
Completion of Veterinary Health Certificate – within 5 days of departure.
Travel to Australia: 1.
On arrival Department of Agriculture staff will collect your cat and transport it directly to the Quarantine facility.
2.
All cats must complete a minimum of 10 days in an Australian quarantine facility
Importing Dogs The steps for importing a dog to Australia are summarised below: Before applying for a permit: 1.
Confirm general eligibility.
2.
Verify existing microchip or implant a new microchip.
3.
Check rabies vaccination.
4.
Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test and Quarantine period (if required).
5.
Rabies Vaccination and Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test declaration from an official government veterinarian.
Preparing for travel: 1.
Apply and pay for the Import Permit – at least 42 days prior to departure.
2.
Book tentative post arrival quarantine accommodation at an Australian government quarantine facility and make travel arrangements.
3.
Check other vaccinations – at least 14 days before export.
4.
External parasite treatments – at least 21 days before blood sampling for Ehrlichia canis.
5.
Testing for Ehrlichia canis, Brucella canis (Brucellosis), Leishmania infantum (Leishmaniosis), and Leptospira canicola (Leptospirosis) – within 45 days of departure.
6.
Testing for Babesia Canis Treatment (If your dog has ever visited mainland Africa) – within 28 days of departure.
7.
Internal parasite treatments – two treatments at least 14 days apart; the second within 5 days of departure.
8.
Pre export clinical examination – within 5 days of departure.
9.
Completion of Veterinary Health Certificate – within 5 days of departure.
Pet Travel to Australia: 1.
On arrival Department of Agriculture staff will collect your dog and transport it directly to the Quarantine facility.
2.
All dogs must complete a minimum of 10 days in an Australian quarantine facility
Dogtainers is the most established and reliable pet shipping service in the country. We have a long track record of importing cats and dogs to Australia and can arrange all the necessary documentation, veterinary treatment and transport for you. Call us on 1300 13 52 52 or get a quote here. With over 40 years’ experience in delivering ‘Any animal, Anywhere, Anytime,’ you can trust that your beloved pet is in the safest of hands when you choose our professional pet relocation services for Australia and the world. Dogtainers New Zealand is the only owner-operated Pet Transport service with offices located in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. We pride ourselves in looking after your pets better than anyone else. Dogtainers is the only owner-operated franchise business in Australia and New Zealand and we pride ourselves in offering the very best care to our customers.
We are the premier PetAirline specialists when it comes to moving your pets anywhere in the world. Dogtainers have offices located all over the world which can offer domestic and International Pet Transport with ease. Whether your furbaby is a dog, cat, bird, reptile or rat, we will give them the best possible service from start to finish. Your pet travel arrangements are all taken care of with Dogtainers; we offer a pet freight service reflecting the shortest flights and air conditioned transport for collections and deliveries. We pride ourselves on providing reliable dog,cat and also a wide variety of other pet transport services around New Zealand and the world 365 days a year. Domestic and International animal transport requires a high level of skill and knowledge that is consistently delivered by our team of dedicated consultants. This ensures that all airline and entry requirements are followed and the transport of your pet runs smoothly and without stress. Ensuring you have the correct Pet Crate is paramount in your travel. Pet crates come in many different sizes; which our expert team will be able to advise you of the most suitable crate for transporting your pets. Animal transport has never been this easy to arrange, our animal friendly airlines and dedicated pet travel consultants take all the stress out of flying your pet. Pet shipping transport is fast cheap and reliable for everyone, your best friend can travel in the hold just below you sharing the same cabin air as you. We utilise the services and schedules of many of the worlds leading airlines, including Air New Zealand, Virgin, Qantas, British Airways and many more to ensure the most direct and affordable route for your pet. We are experienced cat and dog transporters and we have yet to come across a pet we cannot move! Transporting your best friend is what we do best! Moving pets can be complicated, so contact Dogtainers today for a straightforward solution to your dog or cat travel and other animal transporting needs. We can handle moving dogs, cats and even goats. Our experienced and pet loving staff members will take utmost care when handling your beloved animal friend, so you can rest assured that your pet will be as relaxed as possible when travelling. When you want the best transport services for your pet, come to Dogtainers.