Become a livestock exporter

You must apply to us for:

• a livestock export licence.
• approved arrangement (AA)
• approved export plan (AEP).

Complete the application forms

Use the forms to apply for all of these requirements.

You may be able to apply for an exemption to an AA or AEP. Find out if you are eligible to apply for an exemption. 

Prepare financial statements

You must include a financial statement in your application.

We require you to submit an audited statement of the applicant’s:

• assets and liabilities
• profit and loss account.

We look for evidence to show you are financially viable.

Get an AFP criminal history check

You must provide an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check (NPC) for:

• the applicant (if an individual)
• persons in a management role
• persons in control of the livestock export business.

The AFP check must be issued within 6 months of your application.

We require an AFP NPC if you renew or vary your livestock export licence.

Develop your proposed Approved Arrangement

Draft your AA. We provide guidelines and information to assist with drafting your approved arrangement.

Your AA must cover the relevant types of exports you propose to export to, including all:

• markets
• species
• classes of livestock
• modes of transport.

Develop your proposed Approved Export Program

Draft your AEP. We provide guidelines and information to assist with drafting your approved export program.

AEPs are specific to components of consignment, including the market, species and class.

The three core components of an AEP are:

• governance arrangements of the exporter, including exporter information and record keeping
• instructions for land-based AAV for pre-export activities
• instructions for an AAV accompanying a voyage by sea.

Submit

Complete and return the application for export licence, approved arrangement and approved export program forms.

Along with your application forms you must submit your:

• financial statement information
• AFP criminal history checks
• approved arrangement
• approved export program

Submit your application to livestockexp@agriculture.gov.au.

We will contact you if we require changes or more information.

Assessment

We will contact you if we need more information.

We assess applications in accordance with our client service standards. We will inform you of your application status if there are delays.

See our service standards.

We will notify you in writing as to the outcome of your application.

Initial Audit of your approved arrangement

Before we can approve a new AA, we will audit your business system. This audit will be on the procedures set out in your AA and AEP.

Export licence period

We will consider your application and determine the length of your licence, between 1 and 5 years.

We use the Tracking Animal Certification for Export (TRACE) system. It manages the application and approval processes for all livestock exported from Australia

Find out how to apply for a TRACE account.

You need an approved Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) before you can export feeder or slaughter livestock. ESCAS does not apply to breeder livestock.

Find out how to apply for, vary and maintain an approved ESCAS.

Once you complete these steps you can submit a consignment application through TRACE. This is known as a Notice of Intention to Export (NOI).

To continue to export livestock you need to meet certain requirements.

Find out how to maintain your:

• approved arrangement (AA)
• approved export program (AEP)
• export licence
• ESCAS.

Fees and charges apply for exporting livestock.

We apply fees and charges for consignments, licences and registrations.

We also apply an annual charge to export livestock under an AA. The amounts depend on whether you export by sea or air.

See more about our charging guidelines.