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Australia: Summary information and requirements for importing cats and dogs from England, Wales and Scotland only.

For full and current information which is updated on a continual basis please see AQIS Bringing Cats and dogs to Australia

Final Veterinary Schedule

Dogs only (for Cats see below)

Step 5 - approximately 45 days prior to flight

Do first internal parasite treatment which must be maintained until export. First treatment must be done at least 14 days before second treatment. Second treatment has to be done within 5 days of export.

External parasite treatment for dogs - this has to be at least 21 days prior to the Ehrlichia blood test and maintained with no break in protection until export. We would advise that you check very carefully the retreatment period for the product that your vet has chosen for the initial treatment. Some products are licenced for 28 days and others for 1 month (ie 30 days). We are not allowed to display useful information like brand names or ingredients due to Google Adword policy.

At the same time ensure that all relevant vaccinations - see below - are current. If last vaccinations were done 11 months or more prior to flight date, do any necessary revaccinations at least 14 days prior to flight.

Our vets (RHVH at Egham - Official Airport Vets) have clarified the situation re Leptospirosis Canicola vaccination with DAFF in Australia.

If it is greater than 1 year from the previous Leptospirosis Canicola vaccination at the time of export then a primary vaccination course is required.

A primary course is two injections given, as per the data sheet for the product, but usually at least 2 weeks apart.

Travel date is at least 14 days after the second injection.

Our understanding is that previous lapses in vaccination history (where a primary course should have been started but was not) will require a primary course to comply.

Leptospirosis immunity drops off quickly after 1 year as detailed by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Rabies vaccination is valid for length of time recommended by the manufacturer.

Step 6 - at least 21 days after Step 5 and ideally about 21 days prior to flight

Check for external parasites. If any Ticks are found they must be removed and treatment must be started again. This will mean that your pets flight will have to be delayed. You would also need to rebook the quarantine.

If clear:

Do second external parasite treatment (must kill both fleas and ticks - We are not allowed to display useful information like brand names or ingredients due to Google Adwords policy) to keep unbroken protection.

Dogs only - do all required blood tests - see below.

Breeding dogs may not be mated or inseminated from 14 days before this point until export and may not be more than 30 days pregnant at time of export.

If dog has ever visited Africa then treatment for Babesia Canis must be given within 28 days of the flight.

Step 7

If required, retest or treat dog and retest if it failed on any of the blood tests or restart whole process if ticks have been found.

Step 8 - Between 5 and 0 days prior to flight

Owner to provide a written declaration for the vet, to support the export health certificate. Include description of the dog (breed), age, whether male or female, neutered or not, pregnancy status etc. Template is available.

Vet to do health check and final internal parasite treatment. Sign and Stamp the DEFRA Export Health certificate. Same OV Stamp used on DEFRA Certificate is to also appear on all supporting documentation

Cats only

Steps 1 to 4 - As for dogs

Vaccinations are for feline enteritis, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus showing vaccination at least 14 days before the flight and not more than 11 months beforehand.

No blood test requirements other than for rabies.

Steps 5 - Approximately 28 days prior to flight

Internal parasite treatment - First treatment must be done within 45 days of export and at least 14 days before second treatment. Second treatment has to be done within 5 days of export.

External parasite treatment for cats has to be done at least 21 days prior to the flight and maintained unbroken until export. Please note: some treatments for ticks are only valid for either 2 or 3 weeks dependent on brand.

Step 8 - Between 5 and 0 days prior to flight

Owner to provide a written declaration for the vet, to support the export health certificate. Include description of the cat (breed), age, whether male or female, neutered or not, pregnancy status etc. Template is available.

Vet to do health check and final internal parasite treatment. Sign and Stamp the DEFRA Export Health certificate. Same OV Stamp used on DEFRA Certificate is to also appear on all supporting documentation

Paperwork

Dogs and cats must be accompanied by the following paperwork. All supporting documents must show the correct microchip number and be signed and stamped (endorsed) by the OV completing the DEFRA Export Certificate except the Import Permit. DEFRA allows vets to OV stamp these non DEFRA documents

A) AQIS Import Permit (Health certificate attached to this does not need to be completed).

B) An Official Export Health Certificate (this must be applied for from DEFRA/APHA - see Step 4 for telephone number). This must be completed and certified by an OV within 5 days of the flight.

C) RNATT Lab test Serology Report for Rabies showing positive test result – blood sample date between 6 months and 2 years prior to flight.

D) RNAT Test Declaration

Dogs must also be accompanied by the following DEFRA/AHVLA/APHA Blood test laboratory reports:

Blood samples to be tested for:

1) Ehrlichia (IFAT test) Blood test within 45 days of the flight and also at least 21 days after first external parasite treatment.

2) Leishmania (IFAT test), Blood test within 45 days of the flight.

3) Brucella Canis (RSA test) Blood test within 45 days of the flight - only if dog is not neutered. Dogs must not be mated or artificially inseminated in the period from 14 days before the blood test until export. Dogs must also not be more than 30 days pregnant at time of export.

If the dog has been neutered then no blood test for Brucella Canis is required. However proof of neutering may be required.

4) Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola (MAT test - but only if dog is not vaccinated), Blood test within 45 days of the flight.

If the dog has been fully and continuously vaccinated against Leptospirosis then no blood test is required.

All blood tests must be submitted to the relevant authority (APHA, Weybridge, Surrey)

In order to make everyone’s life easier, ideally all should be done together, about 21 days before the flight and 21 days after first external parasite treatment. Negative results at the relevant titres must be obtained for all tests.

Blood tests and costs on following web page:AHVLA/APHA Blood Tests and costs

A blank blood test submission form LSW008 for the vet can be downloaded from AHVLA/APHA Blood Test Submission Form

If any positive results are obtained treatment will be required before re-testing.

The blood test results MUST accompany the Export Health Certificate. They must show the dog's microchip number and be endorsed by your vet.

The following documents must accompany the animal on arrival in Australia

The following documents must accompany the animal on arrival in Australia. All documents (apart from the Import Permit) must bear the original signature of the Official Government Veterinarian and OV stamp:

A valid import permit (Attachment A does not need to be completed)

A completed DEFRA/APHA Veterinary Export Health Certificate (This replaces Attachment A of the import permit)

Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test laboratory report; and

Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) Test Declaration.

For dogs only:

Ehrlichia canis laboratory report

Leishmania infantum laboratory report

Brucella canis laboratory report (only required if not desexed)

Leptospira canicola laboratory report (only if dog is not fully vaccinated)

[It is recommended that you retain a copy of each of these documents.]

Any corrections made to the Veterinary Health Certificate must be struck through, remain legible and be signed and stamped by the Official Government Veterinarian (NB: Correction fluid must not be used).

Vaccination Records are not actually required to travel with your pet, however we advise that they do and, ideally, all vaccination records should show the microchip number and be endorsed by your vet.

For dogs:

Vaccination card/certificate for Rabies showing vaccination(s) valid at time of export - immunisation validity can be from 1 to 3 years.

Vaccination record for distemper, infectious hepatitis, canine parvovirus, parainfluenza (D,H,P,Pi) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough KC).

Ideally vaccinations must have been given at least 14 days before the flight and still be valid on entry to Australia.

A full primary vaccination course for Leptospirosis is advisable so that the blood test for this is not required.

Please note that vaccinations for these diseases come in many different combinations and each component may be valid for different periods depending on the manufacturer. Some vaccinations are not always given routinely every year (as some may be valid up to 3 years), so it is advisable to check with your vet to ensure that each individual disease has been vaccinated against and will still be valid on entry to Australia.

For cats:

Vaccination card/certificate for Rabies showing vaccination(s) valid at time of export - immunisation validity can be from 1 to 3 years.

Vaccination record for feline enteritis, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus showing valid vaccination at least 14 days before the flight and still current on entry to Australia.

Last updated 30/05/2018

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