Disability assistance dogs

DAFF offers concessional import conditions for the importation of disability assistance dogs from some countries. An importer of a disability assistance dog must provide evidence that satisfies the general eligibility criteria and the import conditions for approved countries of export.

General eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a concessional import permit, the importer of a disability assistance dog must provide evidence of:

• their disability
• ongoing dependence on their assistance dog
• the dog having been in the continuous service of the handler for at least six (6) months prior to export
• specialised training of their assistance dog by a member organisation of the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International, or that the dog and/or their trainer is accredited under a law of an Australian State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of animals trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability.
• successful completion of all DAFF Biosecurity’s treatment and testing requirements for assistance dogs.

The handler must also travel to Australia on the same flight as the dog.

Refer to the Category 2 or Category 4 information packages for disability assistance dogs (available below) for full details of the eligibility criteria and import conditions. Dogs that do not meet the eligibility criteria for a concessional import permit  may still be imported to Australia under the standard DAFF Biosecurity import conditions for dogs.

Import conditions for disability assistance dogs

All import permits are subject to various import conditions. The import conditions vary depending on the country of export. Any countries that are not listed below are not approved by DAFF for the direct import of dogs – refer to Category 6 for further information on non-approved countries.

Category 1 countries

New Zealand and Norfolk Island

Disability assistance dogs from New Zealand and Norfolk Island must meet the standard DAFF import conditions. There is no Australian quarantine period.

Category 1—New Zealand

Category 1—Norfolk Island

Category 2 countries

Bahrain, Barbados, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (includes Tahiti, Society Islands, Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands), Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Norway, Singapore, Taiwan, Vanuatu

Category 2 information package for disability assistance dogs

Category 3 countries

American Samoa, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kingdom of Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa.

Disability assistance dogs from Category 3 countries must meet the standard DAFF import conditions.

Category 3 Information Package — Minimum 60 days in Australian quarantine.

Category 4 countries

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary and Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Ireland (the Republic of), Jamaica, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak only), Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Netherlands—Antilles and Aruba, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Saba and Saint Maarten, Saipan, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland (including Liechtenstein), Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, United States of America (Hawaii—category 2), US Virgin Islands, Uruguay.

Category 4 information package for disability assistance dogs.

Category 5 countries

Republic of South Africa

Disability assistance dogs from South Africa must meet the standard DAFF import conditions.

Category 5 Information Package — Minimum of 210 days in quarantine.

Category 6 countries – non-approved countries

Refer to Category 6—Non approved countries if the country of export is not listed in the categories above.