Frequently Asked Questions

You must first confirm that your cat or dog is coming from an AQIS approved country. Available is a list of AQIS approved countries and the relevant AQIS import conditions.

An AQIS Import Permit is required for cats and dogs being imported into Australia from all AQIS approved countries (except New Zealand).

If your cat or dog is located in a country which is not on the AQIS approved list, it is not possible to directly import your cat or dog into Australia.

Cats and dogs from AQIS non-approved countries can only enter Australia via an AQIS approved country where a six month residency period must be met before import to Australia. You will need to contact the Government authority in the AQIS approved country to confirm if they will accept the import of your cat or dog.

Current AQIS import permit fees are available on the website.

For current information on AQIS Animal Quarantine Station fees refer to this website information.

All costs involved with the importation process are the responsibility of the importer and must be paid in full before AQIS will release your animal from quarantine.

AQIS is unable to provide information on the cost of pre-export preparations, including laboratory testing and flights to Australia.

You must apply to AQIS for special consideration. With AQIS approval, your cat or dog must then meet the AQIS import conditions for the highest risk country that he/she has visited in the six months prior to import into Australia.

If your cat or dog has been within an AQIS non-approved country in the six months immediately prior to import into Australia, he/she is not eligible for import. Refer to website for more information.

No. AQIS does not require that you use a pet transport agent when importing cats and dogs into Australia. However, it may be a requirement of some countries of export or for some airlines.

AQIS cannot recommend specific pet transport agents. You can find a list of worldwide pet transportation agents at the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

No. Your cat or dog must travel to Australia as manifest cargo.

Manifest cargo travels in a special part of the aircraft hold which is climate and pressure controlled to ensure animal welfare requirements are met. It also ensures traceability of your cat or dog.

Your cat or dog should travel in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved container for cats and dogs. It is vital that your crate meets these requirements to ensure your cat or dog cannot escape while travelling.

Further information on air travel of live pets can be found on the IATA website.

Refer to information on ship's pets arriving in Australia onboard international vessels. Additionally, please contact the Live Animal Imports program for further advice.

Certain breeds are prohibited under the legislation of the Australian Customs Service (ACS). The following pure-breeds (both neutered and entire) are not eligible for import:

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull
• Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario

Yes. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are permitted entry into Australia, as long as they meet the AQIS import conditions

Yes. You must inform AQIS if your cat or dog has any medical conditions when you apply for an AQIS import permit. If your cat or dog has been diagnosed with a medical condition after the import permit has been granted, please notify AQIS as soon as possible. This will ensure that the  welfare and medical requirements of your cat or dog are met whilst in our care.

Please note that all cats and dogs entering Australia must meet the AQIS import conditions and be certified as fit to travel and undergo Australian quarantine before leaving the country of export.

The length of time in Australian quarantine can vary depending on the country of export and the pre-entry preparations involved.

To determine the length of the Australian quarantine period download the relevant information package for the country of export from www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs. 

Cats and dogs meeting the AQIS import conditions from Category 1 countries; New Zealand, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island, are not required to enter an Australian Animal Quarantine Station.

No. Quarantine can only be undertaken in an Australian Animal Quarantine Station.

Yes. Exposure to exotic diseases can still occur in a home/backyard environment.

All animals entering Australia must meet the AQIS import conditions.

The AQIS import conditions apply to each country, based on disease risk assessments that are carried out by Biosecurity Australia (BA). BA provides advice to AQIS about the risk of introduction of diseases or pests associated with the importation of animals.

Even if your cat or dog was born in Australia, it may be exposed to exotic diseases when travelling overseas. Your cat or dog must meet all of the AQIS import conditions for the relevant country of export in order to return to Australia.

Microchips are the only identification method approved by AQIS for the import of cats and dogs into Australia.

Your cat or dog must have a microchip implanted before any pre-export blood testing takes place. AQIS requires an International Standards Organisation (ISO) compatible microchip to be implanted.

AQIS will accept microchips that can be read by Avid, Trovan, Destron or any other ISO compatible microchip reader, including (but not limited to):

Your cat or dog should be scanned at each visit to the veterinarian and must be scanned before any blood sampling takes place. If the microchip cannot be read or found in Australia, or the microchip number is inconsistent on any import paperwork, your cat or dog may be exported from Australia.

AQIS recommends that you register your cat or dog with a national microchip registry. It is the pet owner/importer’s responsibility to contact their local Australian council regarding animal registration, microchip registration and any other legislation relevant to your cat or dog. Your local veterinary hospital or animal shelter may be able to assist you with this information.

AQIS does not have any involvement with local council and national microchip registration databases.

AQIS strives to grant an import permit for each application within 10 business days from the date of receipt. However, in exceptional circumstance it may take longer than 10 business days to assess and grant an import permit.

If the application is incomplete, AQIS will attempt to contact you and the processing of your application will be delayed until AQIS receives all required information. Currently AQIS is attending to a larger number of enquires and applications due to changes in the EU policy, this is further impacting on application processing.

Veterinary Certificates A and B are contained in the AQIS import permit. You must submit an import permit application which will be assessed by AQIS before an import permit can be granted.

There are two different veterinarians involved in the export process:

Official Government Veterinarians are employed by the government veterinary administration in the exporting country. They do not generally work in private veterinary practice.

Government Approved Veterinarians have special approval from the government veterinary administration in the exporting country. They generally work in private veterinary practice.

AQIS does not have a list of Official or Government Veterinarians. You must contact the government quarantine, agriculture or food department in the country of export.