1. Category 3: step by step guide for dogs

• Dogs must not be under quarantine restrictions at the time of export and can only be exported to Australia from an approved country.
• Pregnancy: Dogs must not be more than 30 days pregnant nor be suckling young at the time of export.
• Dog Breeds: In accordance with the Customs (prohibited imports) Regulations 1956, dogs of the following pure breeds are prohibited and not eligible for import into Australia:
• dogo Argentino; fila Brasileiro; Japanese tosa; American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier; Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.
  [For information about prohibited dog breeds, contact the Australian Customs by phone: +61 2 6275 6666 or 1300 363 263 (within Australia) or email.]
• Hybrids : Any domestic/non-domestic animal hybrids (e.g. wolf-dog crosses) are generally not eligible for import.
  [For information about prohibited dog breeds, contact the Department of the Environment on 1800 803 772.]

• Dogs must be identified by a microchip that can be read by an Avid, Trovan, Destron or other ISO compatible reader.
• A Government Approved Veterinarian must scan the microchip at each veterinary visit. The scanned microchip number must be correctly recorded on all documentation.
• If the microchip cannot be read or is inconsistent across the animal’s documentation, the animal will not be eligible for import to Australia.

• Your dog must be vaccinated with an inactivated rabies virus vaccine in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• Dogs must have a current rabies vaccination record at the time of export that shows that an inactivated vaccine was given when the dog was at least 90 days of age.
• Dogs must be more than 12 weeks of age when vaccinated.
• The rabies vaccine must be approved for use in dogs by the Competent Authority of the country of export.
• Three (3) yearly rabies vaccinations are acceptable.
• Rabies vaccinations must be administered in an approved country.

For your RNAT test to be valid, the following requirements must be met:

• Following a rabies virus vaccination, a Government Approved Veterinarian must scan the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample for the RNAT test.
• The blood sample must be drawn in a Department of Agriculture approved country.
• The animal’s microchip number must be written on the blood tube and the laboratory submission form.
• The testing laboratory must be approved by the Competent Authority in the exporting country. It is acceptable to draw blood in a Department of Agriculture approved country and be tested at a laboratory in a different approved country.
• The laboratory report must be in English and completed on the testing laboratory’s letterhead. The report must include the animal’s microchip number, the blood sampling date, the signature of the person responsible for issuing the laboratory report, the location where the blood sample was taken and test result.
• A result of 0.5 IU/ml or more is acceptable. A result of less than 0.5 IU/ml is not acceptable and in this circumstance you may re-vaccinate and repeat the testing process.
• The department recognises the RNAT test result for 24 months from the date of blood sampling to the date of export. The animal must have a valid RNAT test laboratory report at the time of export. If the RNAT test is due to expire (i.e., greater than 24 months old) prior to the date of export, you must have your dog retested prior to the expiry date.
• The animal is not eligible for importation into Australia until at least one hundred and eighty (180) days have passed from the date that the blood sample is drawn for the RNAT test (with a satisfactory result).

• You must contact an Official Government Veterinarian in the country of export to complete the RNAT test Declaration. This is not the Government Approved Veterinarian (your preparing veterinarian).
• You must submit the RNAT test laboratory report and rabies vaccination certificate to the Official Government Veterinarian so they can complete the RNAT test Declaration.
• The RNAT test Declaration form is available at Application to Import Cats and Dogs.
• The microchip number, test result and blood sampling date must be consistent between the RNAT test laboratory report and RNAT test Declaration.
• You must ensure that the completed RNAT test Declaration states the name of the testing laboratory, not the submitting laboratory.

Please ensure you allow at least 20 working days for the processing and granting of your permit application.
How to apply

• You may submit your import permit application, as well as full payment and all supporting documentation by any of the following methods:
• • Online application using e-lodge (You must scan and attach all supporting documentation).
  • Manual application – send a copy of your application and all supporting documentation to:
  • • Email to Animal Import Branch
    • Fax to +61 2 6272 3110; or
    • Post to Animal Import: GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
• Additional charges may be applied if information required to assess the application is missing, incorrect or if an application is put on hold.
• Import permits are valid for up to twelve (12) months from the date of issue.

• Contact the relevant quarantine facility to make a booking for your animal. Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee a space at your preferred quarantine facility.
• When you make a booking, you will be required to provide the following information:
• • A valid import permit number
  • Flight number and date of arrival in Australia (once confirmed)
  • Air waybill number (once confirmed)
  • Contact telephone number
  • Details of any special needs your animal may have
  • Full payment
• Detailed information on the Australian quarantine facilities can be viewed at quarantine facility accommodation & fees.

• Dogs can only arrive into Australia through the following airports, unless prior approval is granted by the Department of Agriculture:
• • Sydney (New South Wales)
  • Melbourne (Victoria)
• Animals must complete quarantine in the first port of arrival (i.e. if they arrive in Sydney, they will need to complete quarantine at the Eastern Creek Quarantine Facility).
• Animals may travel unaccompanied to Australia. On arrival animals will be collected at the airport by a Quarantine Officer and transported directly to the quarantine facility.
• In general and wherever possible, flights should be booked to arrive in Australia between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
• Animals must not arrive on Australian public holidays or weekends as they cannot be collected from the airport.
• The department does not place any restrictions on the airline you choose. However, the animal must travel as “Manifested Cargo” (not in the cabin) and in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for dogs.
• IATA guidelines can be viewed at Traveller’s Pet Corner
• There are animal transport companies in most countries that can make arrangements on your behalf. Visit Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International, Inc. for a list of animal transport companies worldwide.
• The department accepts no responsibility for animals that escape en route, and all transport costs are at the importer’s expense.Transiting
• During transport to Australia dogs may transit (touch down but stay on the same plane) in all countries (approved or not).
  Transhipment
• You may require prior approval from the competent authority in the country of transhipment.

• Dogs exported from the USA must have a vaccination against canine influenza virus (CIV) administered between 12 months and 14 days before export.
• Vaccinations must be valid for the entire quarantine period in Australia.
• All vaccinations must be administered in an approved country.

• If the dog is desexed, no testing for Brucellosis is required (Note: Evidence of desexing may be requested by the Competent Authority in the exporting country or the Department of Agriculture).
  OR
• A blood sample must be taken by a Government Approved Veterinarian from the dog and tested with a negative result for Brucella canis using either serum agglutination test or indirect fluorescent antibody test within 45 days before export. The dog must also not be mated or artificially inseminated from at least 14 days before sample collection until export.

A Government Approved Veterinarian can either:

• fully vaccinate your dog against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola, according to manufacturers recommendations, at least 14 days before export and the vaccination is valid at the time of export
  OR
• test a blood sample from your dog with a negative result at (less than 50% agglutination) at a serum dilution of 1:100 using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT), once within 45 days before export.

• A Government Approved Veterinarian must treat the dog with a product that kills ticks and fleas on contact at least 21 days before blood collection for Ehrlichia canis. To maintain continuous protection from external parasites until the time of export, you may need to repeat treatment in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• You should discuss suitable external parasite treatments with the Government Approved Veterinarian.
• At each subsequent veterinary visit, the Government Approved Veterinarian should thoroughly examine the dog for external parasites. If any ticks are found from the time of treatment referred to above until export, they must be removed and the preparation must be restarted, including testing for Ehrlichia canis
• A blood sample collected at least 21 days after external parasite treatment starts and within 21 days before export must be tested for Ehrlichia canis infection by an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). The test must produce a negative result at a dilution of 1:40. Testing done using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test will not be accepted.

The Veterinary Health Certificate is located as Attachment A to your valid import permit. It must be completed by the Official Government Veterinarian.
The following documents must accompany the animal on arrival in Australia. Copies can be used, but all documents must bear the original signature of the Official Government Veterinarian and stamp of the Competent Authority on each page:

• A valid import permit
• A completed Veterinary Health Certificate (Attachment A of the import permit)
• Ehrlichia canis laboratory report
• Leishmania infantum laboratory report
• Brucella canis laboratory report (if not desexed)
• Leptospira canicola laboratory report (if not vaccinated)
• Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test laboratory report; and
• Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) Test Declaration.

[It is recommended that you retain a copy of each of these documents.]
Any corrections made to the Veterinary Health Certificate must be struck through, remain legible and be signed and stamped by the Official Government Veterinarian (NB: Correction fluid must not be used).

• The dog must be consigned to Australia in a container that meets the standard required in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulation Container Requirement 1.
• In most cases the animal will be checked in at the freight terminal, not the passenger terminal.
• The dog must arrive in Australia on, or after, 3 February 2014 and prior to the expiry date of the import permit.

• Staff from the department will collect your animal on arrival for transport directly to the Quarantine Facility.