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Department of Agriculture

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  3. Bringing cats and dogs to Australia
  4. Bringing cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from New Zealand

Sidebar first - Cats and Dogs

  • Bringing Cats and Dogs to Australia
    • How to import a cat or dog
      • Step-by-step guides
        • Group 1: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
        • Group 1: New Zealand
        • Group 1: Norfolk Island
        • Group 2: step by step guide for cats
        • Group 2: step by step guide for dogs
        • Group 3: step by step guide for cats
        • Group 3: step by step guide for dogs
        • How to import frozen dog semen to Australia from New Zealand
        • How to import frozen dog semen to Australia from a listed country
      • Import permits
      • Rabies vaccination and tests
    • Quarantine in Australia
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      • Our facility
    • Cats and dogs returning to Australia
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    • Norfolk Island
      • Bringing cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from mainland Australia
        • Health certificate for cats brought from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
        • Health certificate for dogs brought from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
      • Bringing cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from New Zealand
    • Other live animals and reproductive material
    • Unique or exotic pets
    • Cats and dogs frequently asked questions
      • Glossary of terms

Bringing cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from New Zealand

On 1 March 2023 we will be implementing revised import conditions for dogs and cats. See more about changes to rabies virus requirements for live dog and cat imports.

If you intend to import cats, dogs or frozen canine semen into Australia you must comply with our import conditions.

We provide step-by-step guides to help you understand the import requirements. You can find links to these guides under each country group. Use them as a guide only. Your import permit will contain the definitive import conditions.

If your country of export does not appear in the list of Group 1, 2, or 3 countries, you’ll need to move your animal to a Group 2 or 3 country and prepare them using the step-by-step guide for that approved country. From 1 March 2023 the non-approved via Group 2 or 3 country pathway will no longer be available for the import of cats and dogs to Australia.

If you intend to bring cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from New Zealand, you will need to comply with:

  • Norfolk Island Regional Council animal importation requirements
  • conditions set by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to manage biosecurity risks.

Make sure you have met these conditions before you bring your cat or dog to Norfolk Island.

Vet check

All dogs and cats must be examined and treated by an official veterinarian 5 days before you plan to leave New Zealand. Some animals may require additional treatments started at an earlier date.

We recommend that you take this information to your official veterinarian to ensure your cat or dog meets all requirements.

During your vet check, the official veterinarian must perform all required tests and complete and sign the mandatory health certificate.

Treatments and vaccination requirements

Some treatments your vet must perform are required for all cats and dogs, including parasite treatments.

Parasite treatment must be effective against internal (e.g. nematodes and cestodes) and external parasites, and must kill ticks and fleas on contact (not rely on them biting the cat/dog).

Check our table of acceptable parasite treatments for use in preparing cats and dogs for export. The list is not exhaustive. If you want to use an unlisted product, contact us first to check that it will be appropriate.

Cats

Your cat must be fully vaccinated, according to the manufacturer’s directions, against Feline enteritis at least 14 days prior to export. The vaccination must be current when the cat is brought into Norfolk Island.

Dogs

If your dog is over 6 months of age at the time of export, the dog must be tested and treated for canine heartworm:

  • within 30 days of the date of export, the dog must test negative with an antigen test
  • within 5 days of the date of export the dog must be treated with either:
    • Milbemycin at 0.5/kg
    • Moxidectin at 2-4mcg/kg
    • Sustained release formulation moxidectin (Proheart SR-12) at approved dose rate.

Your dog must be tested for Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae with a negative result on a blood sample collected within 14 days prior to the date of export.

In the case of the dog which has not been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth, or since importation from Australia, has undergone the following testing after residing in New Zealand for at least 21 days:

  • The dog tested negative (at 1:40) to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for Ehrlichia canis; and
  • The dog tested negative to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Leishmania infantum

In the case of the dog that may have ever resided in mainland Africa, the dog has been treated for Babesia canis with imidocarb dipropionate:

Either:

  • One treatment at 7.5mg/kg bodyweight; or
  • Two treatments at 6mg/kg bodyweight at an interval of two (2) weeks

All dogs must also be fully vaccinated, according to the manufacturer’s directions, against Canine parvovirus, Canine distemper and Canine hepatitis. The vaccination must be current when the dog is brought into Norfolk Island.

Health certificate

An official veterinarian must complete and sign a zoosanitary certificate obtained from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.

The zoosanitary certificate confirms that the cat or dog:

  • is not under quarantine restriction at the time of export
  • was examined and found to be free from ticks, fleas and clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease
  • has a microchip that was scanned and matches the microchip number listed on the health certificate
  • has been treated for external and internal parasites within 5 days of the scheduled time of export
  • has received all required treatments and meets vaccination requirements.

A separate zoosanitary certificate must be completed for each cat or dog and must accompany the animal during transportation to the island.

Download a copy of the veterinary health certificate (note that this will take you to the NZ MPI website):

  • Zoosanitary certificate for cats and dogs exported from New Zealand to Norfolk Island

Email a copy of the completed veterinary health certificate at least 24 hrs before the date of arrival on Norfolk Island to norfolk.island@aff.gov.au.

Notice of arrival

You must notify us by email​ at least 3 days before your cat or dog’s arrival in Norfolk Island.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

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Page last updated: 13 January 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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