Traveling to different countries could be lonesome, especially when you are not with your family. So most passengers consider bringing their pet dogs with them whenever they need to travel outside their country for a long time. Their dogs will be their travel buddy and prevent them from feeling homesick when away with loved ones.
But certain countries have policies and regulations for bringing pets in, while others would not even allow passengers to bring a pet. So how about in Australia? Can you get a dog with you in Australia? Do they allow to bring any dog breed in their country? Of course, an Australian Cattle Dog will not be a problem exporting, but that is not the only dog breed worldwide you can have as a pet.
General Requirements for Eligibility
Only cats and dogs are allowed to be exported in Australia. Other pets are not allowed to enter. But if you are from New Zealand, you can bring a particular bird species and rabbits to Australia. Also, dogs or cats coming from New Zealand should have lived in that country since their birth and have aged to at least ninety days before the date of export; otherwise, they will not be allowed to enter. And more importantly, dogs or cats should not be under quarantine at the time of shipping to be eligible.
Country Category
- Category One. These are rabies-free countries that have a mutual agreement with Australia. These countries are New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Cocos Island.
- Category Two. These are rabies-free countries that do not have any reported cases of rabies from animals. These countries are American Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Christmas Island, Cook Island, Falkland Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, Mauritius, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis, and Futuna.
- Category Three. These are rabies-controlled countries with or low incidence of rabies. They also have strict countermeasures to prevent the spread of rabies in their area. These countries are found across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
- Category Four. These are countries with a high incidence of rabies or high-risk countries. It means that animals, whether in the wild or domesticated, have cases of rabies infection. All countries not indicated under Categories One, Two, or Three are automatically categorized under four. If you live in a country under Category Four, you may transfer first to a country under Category Two or Three for six months before your dog or cat can be eligible to travel in Australia.
Specific Requirements
- Microchip. All dogs or cats entering Australia must be implanted with an ISO-certified microchip. This is considered as their legal identity and files before being allowed to enter.
- Rabies Vaccinated. If your dog is from a rabies-free country, they won’t be needing a rabies vaccine certificate to be eligible. However, if they will be coming from a rabies-controlled country, they need to have a vaccine certificate and approval from an official government veterinarian before being exported.
- Health Certificate. Within five days of exporting, the pet will undergo a pre-clinical test conducted by a government official vet. This is to check for parasites and infectious diseases from your pet before they are shipped.
- Quarantine Certificate. Pets would undergo a ten-day quarantine in a vet facility after arriving in Australia unless they came from a rabies-free country. Then before the pets are released, they need to pass first all vet requirements. After this, your dog or cat can freely travel and enjoy Australia with your loving pet.
Conclusion
Dogs are man’s best friends. That is why if you are planning to visit or migrate to Australia, bringing your beloved dog is the best practice to accompany you in your travels. However, bringing your dog to Australia is not as easy as it seems, considering you need to follow various guidelines to prevent problems in the future. Interestingly, following the steps above could help you avoid such problems on your visit to Australia.