Export of Dogs and Cats to Australia

Dogs and cats from New Zealand may enter Australia without the need for an import permit, however, an official export certificate is still required.

A registered veterinarian approved by the New Zealand government to certify cats and dogs being exported to Australia can provide you with the export certification required. Many private veterinarians in New Zealand are approved to provide certification for dogs and cats being exported to Australia.

As part of the certification the following conditions must be met:

The owner must make the following declaration in front of a Justice of the Peace or other person authorised to take a statutory declaration:

  • The animal has resided in Australia and/or New Zealand for the 90 days prior to the scheduled date of export or since birth, and has not been under any quarantine restriction during the 60 days immediately prior to the scheduled date of export.
  • The animal for export is at least 12 weeks old at the time of export.
  • In the case of a dog, the dog is not one of the following breed: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, Japanese Tosa, Fila Braziliero, Dogo Argentino or Presario Canario.
  • If the animal is a domestic/non domestic hybrid (e.g. Bengal cat), it is proven to be 5th generation or more away from any pure-bred non-domestic ancestor. In the case of a cat, the cat is not derived from crossbreeding a domestic cat (Felis catus) with a serval cat or with a savannah cat.
  • In the case of a dog, the dog has never been resident in Africa / has been resident in Africa. (delete as appropriate)
  • In the case of a female cat or dog, the animal is not more than 3 weeks pregnant, nor is it suckling young at the time of export.
  • The animal is being transported in accordance with the container requirements specified in the International Air Transport Association Live Animal Regulations.

The approved veterinarian must certify the following:

  • In the case of a dog, it must either be shown to have lived in New Zealand either since birth or since the dog was imported from Australia, or if this cannot be shown the dog must be tested for the following:

    - Ehrlichia canis - the dog was subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test for Ehrlichia canis and had negative test results (at 1:40), AND

    - Leishmania species prior to export by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with negative test results.

    Note: Dogs that have been previously imported into New Zealand and tested for Ehrlichia canis with negative results (at a dilution of 1:40) prior to entry into New Zealand, are not required to be retested prior to export to Australia.
  • In order to be satisfied that the dog has lived continuously in New Zealand, you must show council registration records or veterinary records that show continuous residency (ie. yearly records from birth or arrival in New Zealand from Australia). You also need to sign a statement that the dog has lived only in New Zealand since birth, or since being imported from Australia. If the dog was imported from Australia, a copy of the export certificate (or, if this is not available, a biosecurity clearance record) must be obtained to show that the dog was imported from Australia and the date of the import.
  • The animal for export must be examined within 72 hours of the scheduled time of shipment by the approved veterinarian and has been found to be fit to travel.
  • In the case of a dog that has resided in Africa, the dog must be treated for Babesia canis with imidocarb dipropionate subcutaneously:
    • EITHER one treatment at 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight;
    • OR two treatments at 6.6 mg/kg bodyweight with an interval of two weeks.

Search Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARS).

Page last updated: 17 February 2009