Horses that meet Australia's strict import conditions can be imported into Australia from approved countries. A valid import permit from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) is required, and all import conditions must be met before horses are eligible for import into Australia.
What you need know
To import horses into Australia you need to know about:
Import conditions define the biosecurity requirements which must be met for your import. They are applied to imports to reduce the risk of pests and diseases entering our country. The Australian import conditions for horses can be found in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) database.
To look up the relevant import conditions:
- Go to our BICON database.
- Enter ‘horses’ into the quick search bar.
- Select ‘Horses, donkeys and mules’.
- Select 'skip to import conditions' to see a list of approved countries. Each approved country has a 'see conditions' link.
- Select the import conditions relevant to that country by clicking on 'veterinary certification requirements' in the box titled 'warnings and information notices' near the top of the page. The certificates detail the pre-export testing and isolation requirements.
Some countries may not have import conditions because they are not approved for the import of horses into Australia. Horses from countries that are not approved need to spend at least 60 days residency in an approved country prior before export. In some cases, horses may need to spend more than 60 days in the approved country to meet the Australian import conditions.
As horse imports into Australia are very complicated, they are facilitated by horse import agents. There are 3 horse import agents currently operating. They will help with the entire import process, including:
- applying for an import permit
- arranging pre-export quarantine and post-arrival quarantine
- all testing and vaccination requirements
- arranging travel routes
- advice on fees and charges.
You can find Australian horse import agents on the internet. Please contact the department at horses@agriculture.gov.au if you need assistance identifying horse import agents.
In addition to meeting the minimum residency requirement in an approved country, horses must complete pre-export quarantine at a department approved pre-export quarantine facility. The only exception to this is horses from New Zealand and New Caledonia.
Pre-export quarantine takes place immediately prior to export and involves:
- 14 days isolation from other horses not of equivalent health status (or 21 days isolation for horses from the United Arab Emirates)
- monitoring for signs of illness
- testing for diseases of biosecurity concern (with acceptable results)
- oversight and certification from an official government veterinarian in the exporting country.
After the official government veterinarian in the exporting country certifies that all test results were acceptable and all pre-export conditions were met, the horse is permitted to travel to Australia.
It is important to note that not all approved countries have a pre-export quarantine facility. Horse import agents will help you to determine residency requirements and where horses may complete their pre-export quarantine.
Refer to BICON for the comprehensive pre-export quarantine conditions that must be met.
All horses arriving in Australia must quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. The only exceptions are horses imported from New Zealand and New Caledonia.
Most horses will complete their post-arrival quarantine at the government post-entry quarantine facility at Mickleham, Victoria.
The department also has Approved Arrangements in place with some industry partners who provide their own post-arrival quarantine facility with equivalent quarantine services to the government’s facility. Racehorses in full training for an upcoming event complete their quarantine requirements at these facilities.
All horses (except those from New Zealand and New Caledonia) must meet the post-arrival quarantine conditions, including:
- complete a minimum 14-day quarantine period
- monitoring for signs of illness
- testing for diseases of biosecurity concern (with acceptable results)
- meet all import conditions in full.
The department may extend the quarantine period if necessary.
When cleared by a departmental veterinary officer, horses may be transported anywhere within Australia, subject to any state or territory requirements for entry.
Horses from New Zealand and New Caledonia must have an import permit and satisfy the requirements of the veterinary health certificate which includes pre-export isolation. An official government veterinarian of the exporting country issues the health certificate attesting to the horses meeting all of Australia’s import conditions.
A departmental veterinary officer will examine the horses and their health certification on arrival at an Australian port.
Horses imported from New Zealand and New Caledonia do not need to complete post-arrival quarantine because both countries are considered low risk. These countries are free from equine influenza and other diseases of biosecurity concern.
Additional information
Policies for the safe importation of horses are based on our import risk analyses (IRAs). We finalised the first horse IRA in 2010. This was in response to an enquiry into the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia. We reviewed the IRA in 2013. Both IRAs can be found on the horse import risk analyses webpage.
The department publishes information for import agents and horse industry stakeholders on importing horses to Australia. This includes:
- Notices to Industry
- forms related to the import of horses
- forms for transit or transhipment of horses.
The Horse Industry Consultative Committee (HICC) engages with industry on equine biosecurity, quarantine and market access issues, and related animal health and welfare matters.
Email horses@agriculture.gov.au to ask further questions.