Group 3: step by step guide for dogs

• Contact the competent authority in the country of export to find out:
  • which veterinarians and laboratories are approved to prepare your dog for export (all veterinary procedures and testing must be done in an approved country and testing must be done in a laboratory recognised by the competent authority of the approved exporting country)
  • if the country of export has any requirements in addition to those stated on this webpage
  • if the country of export has an agreed veterinary health certificate to use instead of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment standard veterinary health certificate.
• The department recommends that you take this information to your government approved veterinarian or pet transport agent to help you understand the requirements.
  
  Further guidance for government approved veterinarians preparing dogs and cats to Australia:
  Guidance for government approved veterinarians preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia PDF [295 KB]
  Guidance for government approved veterinarians preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia DOC [120 KB]

• Dogs
  • can only be exported to Australia from an approved country.
  • can only be exported to Australia after 180 days from the date the blood sample for the rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT) arrives at the testing laboratory – step 4 and 5
  • must not be under quarantine restrictions at the time of export.
  • must not be more than 30 days pregnant nor be suckling young at the time of export.
• Domestic/non-domestic animal hybrids (e.g. wolf-dog crosses) are not eligible for import. This includes, but not limited to:
  • Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak
  • Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound
  • Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog
  • Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog.

Please contact the department’s Environmental Biosecurity Office for more information on hybrid animals and reproductive material/specimens.

• In accordance with the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, dogs of the following pure breeds cannot be imported to Australia:
  • dogo Argentino
  • fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa
  • American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
  • Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

For more information on prohibited dog breeds, contact the Department of Home Affairs on +61 2 6264 1111 or 131 881 (within Australia).

• 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 recorded incorrectly in the dog's documentation, the dog cannot be imported to Australia.
• Microchip numbers starting with 999 are not acceptable because they are not unique.

Your dog must be vaccinated with an inactivated rabies vaccine that:

• was given in an approved country when the dog was at least 90 days old
• is valid, in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions, at the time of export
• is approved for use in dogs by the competent authority of the country of export

Rabies vaccinations with a three (3) year validity are acceptable if given in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

• Wait 3-4 weeks between the rabies vaccination and blood sample collection for the RNAT test, but if the dog has a history of regular rabies vaccinations it may be possible to collect the blood sample sooner.
• The RNAT test must meet the following requirements:
  • A government approved veterinarian must scan the dog’s microchip and collect the blood sample for the RNAT test in an approved country.
  • The dog’s microchip number must be written accurately 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 an approved country and test it at a laboratory in a different approved country.
  • The testing laboratory must use either a fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation (FAVN) test or a rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).
  • The laboratory report must be in English and completed on the testing laboratory’s letterhead. It must include:
    • the dog’s microchip number
    • the blood sampling date and location
    • the signature of the person issuing the laboratory report
    • the test type 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 must re-vaccinate and repeat the testing process.
• The RNAT test is valid for 24 months from the date of blood sampling. If the RNAT test is more than 24 months old at the time of export it is not valid and you cannot export the dog to Australia. You must have your dog retested.
• The dog is not eligible for export to Australia until at least one hundred and eighty (180) days after the blood sample arrives at the lab for this RNAT test (with a satisfactory result). There is no requirement for the dog to stay in an approved country during this period.

Note: There are no exceptions or dispensations available for this mandatory 180 day waiting period.

• An official government veterinarian (not the government approved veterinarian) in the country of export must:
  • check the RNAT test laboratory report and rabies vaccination certificate
  • complete, sign and stamp the RNAT test declaration.
• The microchip number, test result and blood sampling date must be consistent between the RNAT test laboratory report and RNAT test declaration.
• Ensure the completed RNAT test declaration states the name of the testing laboratory, not the submitting laboratory.

• Submit your import permit application, including full payment and all supporting documentation, online through our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).
• Supporting documentation (original documents are not required) must include:
  • Rabies vaccination and RNAT test declaration.
  • RNAT test laboratory report.
• Additional charges may apply if information is missing, incorrect or if an application is put on hold.
• As of 1 March 2021, the import permit will be valid for 12 months or until the Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test expires, whichever occurs first.

Dogs must spend at least 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility. See the Australian post entry quarantine facilities webpage for further information.

Where a biosecurity officer deems necessary, diagnostic samples may be collected from animals in PEQ, including to verify that the import conditions continue to manage the biosecurity risks associated with the import of animals to Australia.

Travel arrangements:

• The department does not place any restrictions on the airline you choose. But the dog must arrive direct into Melbourne International Airport. Domestic transfers from an Australian city to Melbourne are not permitted.
• The dog must travel as manifested cargo (not in the cabin), in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for dogs. IATA guidelines can be viewed at Traveler's Pet Corner.
• There are animal transport companies in most countries that can make arrangements for you. Visit the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association for a list of animal transport companies worldwide.
• The department accepts no responsibility for animals that escape en route.
• All transport costs are at the importer’s expense.

Transit/Transhipment

• The dog may transit (touch down but stay on the same plane) or tranship (change aircraft) in any country en route to Australia.
• Dogs transhipped through international airports in non-approved countries must not leave the international side of the airport.
• It is the importer’s responsibility to contact the competent authority in the country of transhipment to find out:
  • whether they allow animals to tranship
  • whether they have a facility to accommodate animals during transhipment
  • how long the animals can be held
  • if any additional conditions apply.

Dogs may be vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola as an alternative to the testing outlined in Step 14. If you choose to do this, dogs must be fully vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola, according to manufacturer’s recommendations (usually an initial course of two vaccines 2-4 weeks apart followed by yearly boosters), at least 14 days before export. The vaccination must be valid at the time of export.

Further guidance relating to Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola vaccination for veterinarians preparing dogs for export to Australia is available:
Leptospira interrogans sv. Canicola vaccination guidance for veterinarians preparing dogs for export to Australia PDF [441 KB]
Leptospira interrogans sv. Canicola vaccination guidance for veterinarians preparing dogs for export to Australia DOCX [26 KB]

The department recommends that your dog receives a vaccination that protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Para-influenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica and is valid for the entire post entry quarantine period.

USA and Singapore only: Dogs exported from the USA and Singapore must be fully vaccinated against canine influenza virus (CIV).

• Use any CIV vaccine registered in the exporting country for use in dogs.
• Use a vaccine that is effective against the particular CIV virus strain(s) prevalent in the area in which the dog has been living.
• Vaccinations must be given between 12 months and 14 days before export.
• Previously unvaccinated animals must receive a primary course in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

Canada and Republic of Korea: Dogs exported on or after 2 December 2019 from Canada and Republic of Korea must be fully vaccinated against canine influenza virus (CIV).

• Use any CIV vaccine registered in the exporting country for use in dogs.
• Use a vaccine that is effective against the particular CIV virus strain(s) prevalent in the area in which the dog has been living.
• Vaccinations must be given between 12 months and 14 days before export.
• Previously unvaccinated animals must receive a primary course in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

• 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 antibody testing. Continuous protection from external parasites must be maintained until the time of export and treatments may need to be repeated by the veterinarian in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• To calculate 21 days after initial external parasite treatment, count the day the treatment is applied as day 0. For example, if treatment is given 1 January then the blood sample cannot be collected until 22 January.
• At each subsequent veterinary visit, the Government approved veterinarian should thoroughly check the dog for external parasites. If fleas or ticks are found they must be removed, the treatment restarted and the dog tested for Ehrlichia canis antibodies 21 days later.
• See the department’s webpage for further information on acceptable treatments.

• A government approved veterinarian must scan and verify the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample at least 21 days after external parasite treatment starts (Step 10) and within 45 days before export. The sample must be tested for Ehrlichia canis infection by an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) for the detection of IgG antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or an IFAT for the detection of IgM antibodies are not accepted.
• The test must produce a negative result at a dilution of 1:40.
• If external parasite treatments do not provide continuous protection from at least 21 days before the date of blood sampling for the Ehrlichia canis testing until export, the test result will be invalidated and steps 10 and 11 must be repeated.

• If the dog is desexed it doesn’t need testing for Brucellosis (evidence of desexing may be requested by the competent authority in the exporting country or the department).
  
  OR
• If the dog is not desexed, a government approved veterinarian must scan and verify the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample to be tested for Brucella canis using a rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), a tube agglutination test (TAT) or an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) within 45 days before the date of export.
• The test must produce a negative result.
• The dog must not be mated or artificially inseminated from 14 days before blood sampling until export.

• A government approved veterinarian must scan and verify the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample to be tested for Leishmania infantum using either an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) within 45 days before the date of export.
• The test must produce a negative result.

This step only applies if the dog has not been vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola as per Step 9.

• A government approved veterinarian must scan and verify the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample to be tested for Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) within 45 days before the date of export.
• The test must produce a negative result (less than 50% agglutination) at a serum dilution of 1:100.

If your dog has ever visited mainland Africa, a government approved veterinarian must treat it with a single dose of imidocarb dipropionate at a rate of 7.5mg/kg body weight, or two doses at a rate of 6.0 mg/kg body weight given at least 14 days apart. Treatments must be by subcutaneous injection and given within 28 days before export.

A government approved veterinarian must treat the dog twice with an internal parasite treatment effective against internal parasites (nematodes and cestodes). The two treatments must be administered at least 14 days apart and within 45 days before export. The second treatment must be given within five (5) days before export.

See the department’s webpage for further information on acceptable treatments.

The dog must be examined by a government approved veterinarian or an official government veterinarian and found to be free from external parasites and clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease within five (5) days before export. You must bring all documents to this examination.

• The veterinary health certificate is Appendix 1 of your import permit.
• A valid import permit, with a veterinary health certificate completed by an official government veterinarian in the country of export must accompany the dog on arrival in Australia.
• An official government veterinarian must complete, sign and stamp all pages of the veterinary health certificate
• Any corrections made to the veterinary health certificate must be struck through, remain legible and be signed and stamped by the official government veterinarian (correction fluid must not be used).
• An official government veterinarian must also sign and stamp every page of the:
  • Ehrlichia canis laboratory report.
  • Leishmania infantum laboratory report.
  • Brucella canis laboratory report (if not desexed).
  • Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola laboratory report (if not vaccinated).
  • RNATT declaration
  • RNATT laboratory report.
• Copies can be used, but they must bear the original signature of the official government veterinarian and stamp of the competent authority on every page.
• It is recommended that you also keep a copy of every document.

For further guidance for official government veterinarians preparing dogs and cats to Australia:
Guidance for official government veterinarians preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia PDF [364 KB]
Guidance for official government veterinarians preparing dogs and cats for export to Australia DOCX [37 KB]

• The dog must travel in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for dogs (see Step 8).
• Do not place any items, including toys, medication or items of value, in the crate as they will be destroyed after arrival in Australia as biosecurity waste.
• In most cases the dog will be checked in at the freight terminal, not the passenger terminal.
• The dog must arrive in Australia before the import permit expires.

• Departmental staff will collect your dog on arrival for transport directly to the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility.
• Dogs must stay at Mickleham for a minimum of 10 days. Any issues that increase biosecurity risk may result in a longer stay.
• Where a biosecurity officer deems necessary, diagnostic samples may be collected from animals in PEQ, including to verify that the import conditions continue to manage the biosecurity risks associated with the import of animals to Australia.