How to bring your dog to Australia from a Group 3 country

Importing a dog to Australia is a complex process. It will take at least 6 months to complete. You will need to make sure your dog meets a range of import conditions. This includes multiple veterinary visits, checks and treatments.

Seek help from a pet transport agent with experience in importing dogs to Australia.They will help guide you through the import process.

To find a pet transport agent or shipper you can:

• search online (use terms like ‘pet transport agent Australia’)
• check the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA).

We cannot recommend one agent over another. We have no influence over any fees or charges an agent may require for their services.

This step-by-step guide is for dogs exported from Group 3 countries. These are approved countries of origin for dog imports into Australia. Group 3 countries have rabies present, but it is well controlled

Check the list of Group 3 countries to make sure this is the right guide for you.

You must import your dog to Australia from an approved country (includes Group 3 countries).

To be eligible, dogs residing in a Group 3 country must:

• have lived in an approved country for at least 180 days before export (from the date the RNATT sample arrives at the laboratory) 
• meet specific conditions related to rabies vaccination and testing. 

We cannot give advice on treatments for diseases. Seek advice from a veterinarian if your dog tests positive to an infectious disease.

When you plan to export your dog, it must NOT be:

• under quarantine restrictions
• more than 30 days pregnant
• nursing puppies.

Hybrid dogs NOT allowed into Australia include:

• Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak
• Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound
• Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog
• Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog.

Contact the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water at Exotic.Species@dcceew.gov.au. They can provide more advice on hybrid animals.

Pure breed dogs banned from Australia include:

• dogo Argentino
• fila Brasileiro
• Japanese tosa
• American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
• Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.

Contact the Department of Home Affairs on +61 2 6264 1111 or 131 881 (within Australia) for more on prohibited dog breeds.

If your dog is sick or old

We do not recommend importing sick or very old animals. International travel can cause them to de-stabilise and rapidly deteriorate. Even dogs with well-managed chronic diseases can arrive in distress and poor health.

Animals may be unable to get medication during transport. As a pet owner, you must consider if it’s in your pet’s best interests to travel the long distance and stay in quarantine.

All pre-export veterinary procedures must be completed:

• by a government approved veterinarian
• in an approved country
• before departing for Australia.

This process ensures your dog doesn’t bring diseases to Australia.

When you talk to the competent authority in your country, they will let you know:

• any local procedures or requirements you must meet before you export your dog
• how to find approved laboratories for pre-export testing.

We rely on the competent authority to identify which vets can prepare dogs for export in their jurisdiction. In many countries, this may simply be a registered veterinarian. In some countries, it may be specific vets. Contact the competent authority to check local requirements.

We recommend you read this whole guide before you start the import process.

This guide details important actions you must take. This includes applying for and being issued with an import permit. Your import permit outlines the exact preparations required for your dog. You must meet all these conditions before you bring your dog to Australia.

Share this guide and your import permit with your approved veterinarian and pet transport company. They will help you meet all conditions.

Microchips are the only approved identification method. The competent authority in the export country will use the microchip to verify your dog’s identity.

A government approved veterinarian must scan the microchip:

• at each visit
• before any pre-export blood sampling.

They will check that the microchip number is recorded on all documentation.

Your dog must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant. Generally, microchips with 10 or 15 digits are ISO compliant.

Microsoft numbers starting with 999 are not accepted because they are not unique.

If your dog has 2 compliant microchips

Both compliant microchip numbers must be included on:

• the import permit application
• all laboratory reports
• the veterinary health certificate
• the RNATT declaration
• the identity check (if performed).

Both microchips must be scanned and recorded at each veterinary visit. They must match all import documents.

If your dog has a compliant microchip and a non-compliant microchip, we will only use the compliant microchip.

If your dog’s microchip stops working

The veterinarian should try multiple microchip scanners to read the microchip. An X-ray can be used to locate the microchip if it has moved from the implant site.

Your dog’s identity can only be verified by the competent authority in an approved country, before any other pre-export preparations. Ask them to verify your dog’s identity so you can import your dog to Australia. Most countries have a specific template.

Do this before having blood taken for the Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre test (RNATT). An identity check cannot be done at the same vet visit as the RNATT. The identity check document is provided by an official veterinarian only and provided directly to us.

A pet passport, vaccination card or microchip certificate are not accepted as equivalent.

Identity declarations are valid for as long as the animal:

• can be identified by the verified microchip on the declaration, and
• resides in an approved country.

All veterinary preparations must be done by a government approved veterinarian.

To find an approved veterinarian or laboratory, contact the competent authority in the export country. This is the government veterinary service or equivalent.

Any testing must also be done by a laboratory approved by the competent authority in the country of export. Your vet can help you with this.

The government approved veterinarian must use an approved rabies vaccine. This vaccine must be:

• given when the dog was at least 84 days old
• valid continuously from the RNATT (step 4.3) up to and including the date of export
• approved for use in dogs by the competent authority of the country of export.

Rabies vaccines that are valid for 3 years are acceptable if given according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

See more on rabies vaccination.

The RNATT is a blood test that checks if your dog has developed protection against rabies from the vaccinations it was given. This means it must be completed after rabies vaccination.

A government approved veterinarian must:

• scan the dog’s microchip
• collect the blood sample for the RNATT.

This must be done in an approved country.

Your dog’s microchip number must be written accurately on the blood tube and the laboratory submission form.

See more on rabies testing.

About the test

The RNATT blood sample can be taken in an approved country and tested at a recognised laboratory in another approved country.

The testing laboratory must use either:

• fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation (FAVN) test, or
• a rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).

A result of 0.5 IU/ml or more is acceptable.

A result of less than 0.5 IU/ml is not acceptable. You must re-vaccinate and repeat the RNATT.

See more on rabies testing.

Laboratory report

You must have a laboratory report showing the results of the RNATT.

The laboratory report must be in English and completed on the testing laboratory’s letterhead. It must include:

• your dog’s microchip number
• blood sampling date and location
• signature of the person issuing the laboratory report
• test type
• test result.

RNATT laboratory reports with an e-signature and QR code are acceptable. 

Request an RNATT declaration from the competent authority in your country of export.

Most countries have a specific template that the official government veterinarian will be able to provide you. The department will only accept the country-specific RNATT declaration negotiated with approved trading partners.

An official government veterinarian must complete, sign, and stamp the RNATT declaration.

You will need to submit to them:

• rabies vaccination certificate
• RNATT laboratory report

The microchip number, test result and blood sampling date must be the same on the RNATT laboratory report and RNATT declaration. Even a one number difference could cause delays in the import process.

Make sure that the RNATT laboratory report and RNATT declaration state the name of the testing laboratory, not the submitting laboratory. Ask your vet if you are unsure.

See more on rabies vaccine and testing requirements.

When you apply for an import permit, you must provide:

• a copy of the RNATT laboratory report issued by the testing laboratory
• the corresponding RNATT declaration, endorsed by the official government veterinarian employed by the competent authority.

How to apply

Apply for your import permit through our Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON).

Be aware that applying for an import permit does not guarantee you will be issued with one.

How to apply for a permit.

Import permits are valid until the Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) expires. This is 12 months from when the blood sample was collected.

If your permit is issued, you must make sure you meet all your import permit conditions.

The conditions will be specified on the permit. This includes specific pre-export veterinary procedures required for your dog. These conditions are mandatory.

Make sure you read all import permit conditions and understand what you need to do.

If you fail to comply with your permit conditions, your dog may be:

• held longer in post entry quarantine
• subject to additional testing
• exported
• euthanised.

You will be liable for any costs involved.

Dogs must spend at least 30 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility. Our quarantine facility is designed to comfortably accommodate dogs and meet their needs.

This period of quarantine can be reduced to at least 10 days if:

• an official government veterinarian verified your dog’s identity before taking blood for the RNATT (see Step 3.2), or
• your dog originated in Australia and has evidence of their identity on their Australian-issued export certification.

See more about our quarantine facility and how to book.

We have specific rules for travel that include stops in other countries.

These rules depend on whether your dog will:

• remain on the plane (transiting)
• be unloaded from the plane and moved to another plane (transhipping).

Make sure you understand these rules when choosing flights. 

Transiting

During transport to Australia dogs may transit in all countries. This means the plane can touch down in a country, but your dog must stay on the plane on international side of the airport.

Transhipping

Your dog may tranship (change aircraft) in any approved country on their way to Australia.

Your dog must not leave the international side of the airport. It must stay under the supervision of the competent authority in the country of transhipment. It must be in a place that restricts contact with other animals.

It is your responsibility as the importer to contact the competent authority in the country of transhipment. You will need to find out:

• whether they allow animals to tranship
• whether they have a facility to hold animals during transhipment
• how long the animals can be held
• if additional conditions apply.

Your dog must arrive directly to Melbourne International airport. We do not permit domestic transfers (e.g. arrival into Sydney airport and domestic flight to Melbourne).

Your dog must travel:

• as manifested cargo (not in the cabin)
• in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate.

We are not responsible for your dog while they are under the care of the aircraft operator.

All veterinary preparations must be done by a government approved veterinarian.

Any testing must also be done by a laboratory approved by the competent authority in the country of export.

You can use the same government approved vet that completed your dog’s rabies testing and vaccinations.

We cannot give advice on treatments for diseases. Seek advice from a veterinarian if your dog tests positive to an infectious disease listed in the import conditions.

We recommend you share this step-by-step guide and your import permit with your approved vet.

Your vet will help you make sure you meet all import conditions. This information is also useful to share with pet transport companies.

Vaccination requirements vary depending on the country your dog is coming from.

Leptospira canicola (leptospirosis) vaccination or testing

All dogs coming to Australia from a group 3 country require either: 

• to be vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola OR
• tested negative for Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola (leptospirosis). See Step 7.3 for advice on the test option.

If you choose to vaccinate, your dog must be fully vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola, according to manufacturer’s recommendations. This is usually:

• a course of 2 vaccines, 2-4 weeks apart
• yearly boosters administered at the interval specified by the manufacturer to maintain immunity.

The vaccination must be valid in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions at the time of export.

The annual revaccination (booster) or final vaccination of the primary course must be administered between 12 months and 14 days before export to Australia.

For USA and South Korea only

Dogs from the United States of America (USA), the Republic of South Korea must be fully vaccinated against Canine influenza (CIV) for import to Australia.

Make sure your vet uses a CIV vaccine that is:

• registered for use in dogs in the country of export
• effective against the CIV virus strains in the area where the dog has been living.

For Canada only

Dogs coming from Canada to Australia must:

• be fully vaccinated against CIV, or
• undergo isolation and testing for CIV.

If a dog undergoes isolation and testing, they must have:

• A health certificate from the government approved veterinarian that states: 
  ‘I have no reason to doubt the declaration provided by the owner/exporter, that the dog described in this certificate has been isolated from other dogs and has not had direct contact with other dogs (unless those dogs are part of the same export shipment) for the 10 days immediately preceding the date of export to Australia.’
• a negative test for CIV by polymerase chain reaction on a nasal or deep pharyngeal swab collected within 7 days prior to export
• an examination within 48 hours of export and found to be free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease.

Recommended vaccinations

This is an optional step.

We recommend that your dog is vaccinated against:

• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Parvovirus
• Para-influenza
• Bordetella bronchiseptica.

These diseases exist in Australia. Vaccination is not mandatory.

This step only applies if your dog is not vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola. See Step 7.2 for advice on the vaccine option.

An approved veterinarian must:

• scan and verify your dog’s microchip
• collect and test a blood sample using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT).

The test must produce a negative result.

If your dog returns a positive result, you must contact us for advice. Further testing and treatment may be required. This may delay your dog’s export.

This step only applies if your dog is not desexed.

To be considered desexed:

• female dogs must have undergone surgical ovariohysterectomy
• male dogs must have undergone bilateral surgical castration or gonadectomy.

Evidence of desexing may be requested by the competent authority in the country of export. We may also request evidence.

If your dog is not desexed, a government approved veterinarian must scan and verify the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample to test for Brucella canis.

The blood sample must be tested using 1 of these methods:

• a rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), or
• a tube agglutination test (TAT), or
• an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).

The test must produce a negative result.

Some laboratories refer to the TAT as a serum agglutination test (SAT). This test type is also accepted.

A government approved veterinarian must scan and verify your dog’s microchip. They must collect and test a blood sample using 1 of these methods:

• an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), or
• an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The test must produce a negative result.

A government approved veterinarian must treat your dog with an acceptable product that kills ticks and fleas on contact. The chosen product must remain effective against new flea and tick infestations until the date of export to Australia.

The veterinarian may need to repeat to maintain protection until export. They must follow the manufacturer’s directions.

At each visit after the treatment has started, the veterinarian must examine the dog for external parasites. If fleas or ticks are found they must be removed, and the treatment restarted.

See acceptable external parasite treatments.

A government approved veterinarian must treat your dog for nematodes and cestodes (internal parasites).

See acceptable internal parasite treatments.

If your dog has visited mainland Africa

If your dog has ever visited mainland Africa, a government approved veterinarian must treat your dog internally with imidocarb dipropionate.

Dosages are either:

• a single dose at 7.5 mg/kg body weight, or
• 2 doses at 6.0 mg/kg body weight given 14 days apart.

Treatments must be given by subcutaneous injection.

Your dog must be examined for external parasites and clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease. A government approved veterinarian or official government veterinarian must do this. 

You must bring these documents to the examination:

• a valid import permit
• RNATT laboratory report
• Leishmania infantum laboratory report
• Brucella canis laboratory report (if not desexed)
• Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola laboratory report or vaccination certificate
• Canine influenza virus vaccination certificate (if required)
• a copy of the veterinary health certificate for the government approved vet to complete at this visit. You’ll need to get a blank copy from the competent authority in the country of export.

The veterinary health certificate is an agreed document between the department and your competent authority. You will need to get a blank copy from your competent authority. 

The approved vet completing your dog’s preparations will then complete the certificate.

An official government veterinarian must:

• complete, sign and stamp all pages of the veterinary health certificate (endorsement)
• sign and stamp each document as required on your permit that is travelling with your pet (e.g. RNATT laboratory report).

Any corrections to the veterinary health certificate must be struck through. Corrections must be legible and signed and stamped by the official government veterinarian. Do not use correction fluid.

An official government veterinarian must also sign and stamp every page of the:

• RNATT laboratory report
• Leishmania infantum laboratory report
• Brucella canis laboratory report (if not desexed)
• Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola laboratory report (if not vaccinated).

Your dog must arrive in Australia with these documents:

• a valid import permit
• a veterinary health certificate
• laboratory test reports and vaccination certificates relevant to each import requirement
• RNATT declaration.

The health certificate must be an original document. Copies will not be accepted.

Each page of the veterinary health certificate and laboratory reports must bear the original (‘wet ink’) stamp of the competent authority. It must also be signed and dated by the endorsing official government veterinarian of the competent authority.

Only the first page of the import permit needs to be endorsed.

Your dog must arrive in Australia before your import permit expires (when your RNATT expires).

On the day of travel:

• Place your dog in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for dogs.
• Do not place any items, including toys, medication or items of value, in the crate (these will be destroyed as biosecurity waste upon arrival).
• Pet transport agents can assist you with how to prepare the crate, for example how to attach water containers.

In most cases, you will check your dog in at the freight terminal, not the passenger terminal.

One of our biosecurity officers will collect your dog on arrival. They will transport your dog to the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility.

You will be notified via email that your animal has arrived safely, within 24 hours of arrival. We will contact you immediately if there is an issue with your animal on arrival.

We’ll help your dog settle in and get comfortable after its flight. We will check your dog to make sure they’re healthy and free from diseases or pests of biosecurity concern. We’ll assess your dog’s import documents to check your dog complies with our import conditions.

Your dog will be housed in a large, individual, climate-controlled enclosure. They’ll be fed quality food and provided with enrichment. We will give you updates on your dog’s health and wellbeing via email.

Read more about our state-of-the-art quarantine facility.

If your dog does not comply with the permit conditions, further tests, treatments or quarantine may apply.

You are responsible for meeting any local requirements for dogs in Australia.

Contact your local Australian council or government. They can tell you what you must do. This might include registering your dog and their microchip and paying yearly fees.