If you intend to bring cats and dogs into Norfolk Island from mainland Australia, you will need to comply with:
- Norfolk Island Regional Council animal importation requirements
- conditions set by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 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 a registered veterinarian 5 days before you plan to leave mainland Australia. Some animals may require additional treatments started at an earlier date.
We recommend that you take this information to your registered veterinarian to ensure your cat or dog meets all requirements.
During your vet check, the registered veterinarian must perform all required tests and complete and sign our 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). The chosen product must protect the dog or cat against external parasites for the entire period from treatment until the time of export, therefore short-acting treatments may not be appropriate.
Check our table of acceptable parasite treatments for use in preparing cats and dogs for export to Australia. 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. The vaccination must be current when the cat is brought into Norfolk Island. Note: animals less than 12 weeks of age cannot be considered to be fully vaccinated.
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.
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. Note: animals less than 12 weeks of age cannot be considered to be fully vaccinated.
Health certificate
A registered veterinarian must complete and sign our veterinary health certificate.
The health 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 veterinary health certificate must be completed for each cat or dog and must accompany the animal during transportation to the island.
Download a copy for your vet to complete:
- Cats—Health certificate for cats exported from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
- Dogs—Health certificate for dogs exported from mainland Australia to Norfolk Island
Email a copy of the completed veterinary health certificate at least 24 hrs before the date of arrival on Norfolk Island.
Notice of arrival
You must notify us by emailat least 3 days before your cat or dog’s arrival in Norfolk Island.