Residency:

Cats and dogs must have been continuously resident in New Zealand for 90 days immediately prior to export, or since direct importation from Australia or since birth.

Cats and dogs must not be under quarantine restrictions at the time of export.

Age:

Cats and dogs must be at least eight (8) weeks old at the time of export.

Pregnancy:

Cats and dogs must not be more than 40 days pregnant nor be suckling young at the time of export

Cat breeds:

In accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) cats that are derived from a cross with a wild cat species are not eligible for importation into Australia. This includes (but is not limited to) breeds such as the Savannah cat (which is a cat derived from crossbreeding a domestic cat (Felis catus) with a serval cat (Felis serval), the Safari cat (crossed with a Geoffroy cat, Leopardus geoffroyi) and the Chausie (crossed with the Jungle cat, Felis chaus). The only exception to this is the Bengal cat (Felis catus x Prionailurus bengalensis) which may continue to be imported provided it is five generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).

Dog breeds:

Under the legislation of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, dogs of the following pure–breeds are prohibited and are not eligible for importation into Australia:

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

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service can be contacted by phone: +61 2 6275 6666 or 1300 363 263 (within Australia) or by email customs information.

Hybrids:

Any domestic/non-domestic animal hybrids (e.g. Savannah cats or wolf-dog crosses) are not eligible for import. The only exception to this is the Bengal cat (Felis catus x Prionailurus bengalensis) which may continue to be imported provided it is five generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). Contact the Wildlife Trade Regulation Section, the Department of the Environment phone +61 6274 1111 or email.

An import permit is not required.

The exporter must sign a Statutory Declaration that:

• identifies the cat/dog by breed, sex and age;
• verifies that the cat/dog has been continually resident in New Zealand or Australia for the 90 days immediately preceding export to Australia, or since birth;
• verifies that the dog is not a pure–bred Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazileiro, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

The animal must be accompanied by a health certificate signed by a veterinarian approved to certify live cats and dogs to Australia by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) (formerly MAF). For further information see the MPI Biosecurity New Zealand website.

The health certificate must certify that:

• the animal must be identified by a microchip
• New Zealand is free from rabies
• the animal was examined within five (5) days prior to export and found to be fit to travel
• the animal was treated for internal and external parasites within five (5) days prior to export.

Dogs only:

• Canine brucellosis (Brucella canis), leptospirosis (Leptospira canicola) and indigenous cases of, and established populations of competent vectors for, canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis), and leishmaniasis have not been confirmed in New Zealand during the 12 months prior to export.
• Evidence that either the dog has been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth or since importation from Australia. If the dog has not lived all of its life in New Zealand or has not resided only in New Zealand since import from Australia, the following evidence of testing must be presented to the MPI (MAF) approved veterinarian:
  • a negative test (IFAT at 1:40) result for Ehrlichia canis and
  • a negative test (IFAT or ELISA) result for Leishmania infantum

These tests must be done after the dog has resided in New Zealand for a minimum of 21 days. This testing remains valid only if the dog is continuously resident in New Zealand from the sampling date until export to Australia.

• Babesiosis — dogs that have ever been in mainland AfricaThe dog must be treated as in Option 1 or Option 2 while resident in New Zealand or for the purpose of import into New Zealand/Australia. Where the dog is not treated in New Zealand a copy of the certification of the treatment as in Option 1 or Option 2 must be endorsed by MPI (MAF) and accompany the dog to Australia.
  • Option 1: A government approved veterinarian must treat your dog once with imidocarb dipropionate (Forray—65®, Hoechst or Imizol® by Coopers) at a rate of 7.5 mg per Kg body weight by subcutaneous injection
  • Option 2: A government approved veterinarian must treat your dog twice with imidocarb dipropionate (Forray—65®, Hoechst or Imizol® by Coopers) at a rate of 6.6 mg per Kg body weight by subcutaneous injection given two weeks apart.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 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 container (crate) for cats and dogs.

IATA guidelines can be viewed on the IATA website.

Strict compliance with crate specifications is vital for the safe and secure transport of your animal. Problems will occur if the animal can escape from its crate or if any part of its body (nose, limbs, or tail) can protrude. The IATA standards have been developed to prevent escape and injury during transportation.

For more details regarding IATA regulations contact the airline.

Assistance dogs may travel with their handler in the cabin, at the discretion of the airline.

1. Documentation must be provided as specified and all import requirements must be met. All health certification and relevant documentation must travel to Australia with the animal.
   
   
2. The department must be given at least three (3) days notice of the animal’s arrival in Australia. You must fax notification to the department office in the state in which your animal will first arrive in Australia.
   
   

   State Office	Phone	Email
   New South Wales	+61 2 8334 7434	CER Animal Imports
   Victoria	+61 3 83186767	Seanimal
   Queensland	+61 7 3246 8633 +61 7 3247 7749	QLD Live Animal Imports
   South Australia	+61 8 8201 6000	Import Assessment
   Western Australia	+61 8 93347132	WA Live Animal Imports

   
   
3. Your fax or email must include:
   • date and estimated time of arrival
   • flight number
   • air waybill number
   • a short description of your cat/dog
   • a phone number in New Zealand or Australia should the department need to contact you
   • the address at which the animal is to reside in Australia
   • whether the dog is a assistance dog
     
     
4. Cats and dogs imported to Australia from New Zealand must be cleared at the first port of arrival in Australia i.e. animals destined for Canberra must be cleared in Sydney.

   Allow at least one (1) hour for the animal to be released by airline cargo and cleared by the d epartment . Connecting flights must not leave within one hour of the animal’s arrival in Australia.

   If your animal is to connect with a domestic flight you will have to arrange for it to be moved from the international to the domestic terminal. Animal transport agencies can help you with this if required. A list of agents can be obtained from the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association website.
   
   
5. Please contact the relevant the state office to determine the fees involved with clearing your animal upon arrival in Australia.

Payment of fees is usually collected by the airline carrying your animal, prior to export from New Zealand. The payment should appear on the air waybill. The department then invoices the airline to recover the fees. If the air waybill has not incorporated these fees the department will require payment prior to releasing your animal.

Cats and dogs that do not meet the above requirements may be ordered into quarantine, subjected to additional testing or treatment, or returned to New Zealand at the importer’s expense.