Group 1: Norfolk Island

• Contact the Norfolk Island Regional Council to find out which veterinarians are approved to prepare your cat or dog for export
• The department recommends that you take this information to your veterinarian or pet transport agent to help you understand the requirements.

• Cats and dogs must have been continuously resident on Norfolk Island since birth or since direct importation from Australia or New Zealand.
• Cats and dogs must not be under quarantine restrictions at the time of export.
• Cats and dogs must not be more than 40 days pregnant nor be suckling young at the time of export.
• Cats and dogs must be at least eight (8) weeks old at the time of export.

Cat breeds

• In accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, domestic/non domestic animal hybrids are not eligible for import to Australia. Hybrid cats include, but are not limited to:
   
  • Savannah cat, derived from crossbreeding domestic cat (Felis catus) with serval cat (Felis serval)
  • Safari cat, domestic cat crossed with Geoffroy cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi)
  • Chausie, domestic cat crossed with Jungle cat (Felis chaus)
  • Bengal cat, domestic cat crossed with Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis).

Note – in certain circumstances, the Department may permit the import of Bengal cats that are five generations or more removed from their wild ancestor. If you plan to import a Bengal cat, please contact the department’s Environmental Biosecurity Office to confirm your cat satisfies the requirements before you apply for an import permit.

Dog breeds

• 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, the following pure breeds cannot be imported to Australia:
  • dogo Argentino
  • fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull
  • 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) or visit their website.

• Cats and dogs must be identified by a microchip that can be read by an Avid, Trovan, Destron or other ISO compatible reader.
• A registered veterinarian must scan the microchip at each veterinary visit. The veterinarian must also check that the scanned microchip number is correctly recorded on all documentation.
• If the microchip cannot be read or is recorded incorrectly in the animal's documentation, the animal cannot be imported to Australia
• 9 digit microchips are not acceptable as they are not ISO compatible or ISO compliant.
• Microchip numbers starting with 999 are not acceptable because they are not unique.

Cats and dogs must be given a topical external parasite treatment by a registered veterinarian, which kills ticks and fleas on contact within five (5) days before the date of export.

Further information on acceptable treatment products.

Cats and dogs must be given an internal parasite treatment, by a registered veterinarian, effective against nematodes and cestodes within five (5) days before the date of export.

Further information on acceptable treatment products.

The cat or dog must be examined by a registered veterinarian and found to be free from ticks and fleas, and signs of infectious or contagious disease within five (5) days before the date of export.

• The required import certification DOCX [84 KB, 2 pages] must be completed and signed by the owner/representative (declaration), registered veterinarian preparing the cat or dog for export (veterinary health certificate) and a government officer of Norfolk Island (endorsement).
• The animal must be accompanied by a declaration that is completed and signed by the cat or dog’s owner/representative certifying:
  • the animal’s name, breed, sex and age
  • the animal’s microchip number
  • the animal has been continuously resident on Norfolk Island since birth or since direct importation from Australia or New Zealand.
  • the animal was not under quarantine restrictions at the time of export
  • the animal is not a prohibited breed or a domestic/non-domestic hybrid
• The cat or dog must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate DOCX [84 KB, 2 pages] that is completed and signed by a registered veterinarian of Norfolk Island certifying:
  • the animal was examined within 5 days before the date of export and found to be free from ticks and clinical signs of infectious and contagious disease and fit to travel
  • the animal was treated for internal and external parasites within 5 days before the date of export
• The cat or dog must be accompanied by an endorsement that is completed and signed by a registered government officer of Norfolk Island certifying that:
  • in the 12 months before the date of export, Norfolk Island has had no cases of:
    • rabies
    • canine brucellosis
    • canine leishmaniasis
    • canine leptospirosis
  • no animals have been imported into Norfolk Island except from Australia and New Zealand in the five (5) years before the date of export.

• Cats and dogs may travel by either sea or air but must travel directly to mainland Australia.
• No cats or dogs except those for import to Australia or New Zealand may be carried on the voyage/flight without prior approval by the department.
• If travelling by air, cats and dogs must travel as manifested cargo (not in the cabin) in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for cats or dogs. IATA guidelines can be viewed on the IATA website.
• The department accepts no responsibility for cats or dogs that escape en route.
• All transport costs are at the importer’s expense.
• Assistance dogs may travel with their handler in the cabin, at the discretion of the airline.

• All import conditions must be met.
• The import certification and any other relevant documentation must travel to Australia with the cat or dog.
• Notify the department at least three (3) days before the animal arrives in mainland Australia by emailing the regional office in the state/territory in which the cat or dog will first arrive in mainland Australia.

General inquiry: 1800 900 090 or + 61 3 8318 6700 (from outside Australia)

For more office locations visit: Office locations

• Your email must include:
  • the date and estimated time of arrival
  • the flight number
  • the air waybill number
  • a short description of your cat or dog
  • a contact phone number in Australia
  • the address at which the cat or dog will stay in mainland Australia
  • whether the animal is an assistance dog.
• Cats and dogs must be cleared at the first port of arrival in mainland Australia.
• Allow at least 1 hour for the cat or dog to be released by airline cargo and cleared by the department. Connecting flights must not leave within one (1) hour of the animal arriving in mainland Australia.
• If your cat or dog is to connect with a domestic flight you will have to arrange for it to be moved from the international to the domestic terminal. Animal transport agents/pet shippers can help you with this. A list of agents can be obtained from the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association website.
• You will be charged for the time taken to assess the documentation that accompanies your animal to Australia. Details of the department’s fees can be found in the charging guidelines.
• Please contact the relevant regional office to determine the fees for clearing your cat or dog.
• Fees are usually collected by the airline carrying your animal, prior to export from Norfolk Island. The payment should appear on the air waybill. The department then invoices the airline to recover the fees. If the air waybill has not incorporated these fees the department will require payment before releasing your animal.

• A biosecurity officer will check the cat or dog to verify all details match the import certification.
• If acceptable, the animal will be released from biosecurity control. If not, additional documents may be requested and/or the animal may be subject to quarantine, treatment, export or euthanasia.