Disability assistance dogs

To be eligible for import into Australia under the modified conditions for disability assistance dogs, the following criteria must be met.

Handler’s disability and requirement for an assistance dog

A medical doctor(s) specialising in the area of the handler’s disability must provide documentation confirming:

• the handlers disability, and
• the handlers physical dependence on a dog (AQIS allows only one disability assistance dog per handler) for day to day tasks, and
• the dog will be in the continuous service of the handler for at least 6 months prior to export.

This document(s) must be submitted when applying for an AQIS import permit.

Specialised training of the assistance dog

Disability assistance dogs must be licensed by either:

• The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) or
• Assistance Dogs International  (ADI) as a "service", "seizure" or "hearing" dog.

A copy of the dogs licence must be submitted when applying for an AQIS import permit. Due to the fact that ADI requires dogs to be re-assessment every 12 months, AQIS can only accept ADI licences granted within 18 months of the import date.

Dogs which are not licensed as guide, service, seizure or hearing dogs (as above) may be imported under the standard AQIS import conditions for dogs.

Travel to Australia

In order to demonstrate on-going dependency, dogs and handlers must travel to Australia on the same flight.

The following documents provide further information.

• Information packages for importing disability assistance dogs from AQIS approved countries
• Application to Import Disability Assistance Dogs