🇬🇧 How to go to Australia with cats or dogs

Some time ago I published here the many types of visas that Australia accepts. Unfortunately, the country is not so friendly to those who have pets and has numerous rules for accepting them, including not allowing them to be imported directly from some countries.

In the case of cats, some breeds are not allowed, regardless of the country of origin.  Among these, Savanah and Bengal, which come from crosses with wild animals.

Among dogs, mixtures of dogs and wolves and breeds such as the Brazilian Fila, the dogo Argentino, the Japanese Tosa, the pit bull terrier, the American pit bull terrier and the Presa Canario cannot enter the country, regardless of their country of origin.

Animals must have a microchip that can be read by Avid, Trovan, Destron, ISO or compatible readers. Microchips starting with 999 are not accepted. The traveler can send the microchip reader with the animal to make sure the chip can be read when his pet arrives in Australia. If the animal has 2 microchips, both must be included in the documentation.

If you travel to Australia with a cat from an approved country type 3, read the step by step in: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category-3-step-by-step-guide-for-cats 

If you live in an approved country type 2, you must follow the step by step available in https://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category2-step-by-step-guide-for-cats to travel with your cat.

For cats from unapproved countries, imported from an approved type 2 country, the guardian must move with the cat to the approved country, stay there for at least 6 months and then follow the steps for importing from an approved type 2 country.

Cat caretakers from unapproved countries choosing to start from a type 3 approved country must migrate with the cat to the approved country and follow the step by step to travel with the cat from an approved country type 3.

All cats arriving in Australia must have a valid import authorization. The absence of any conditions may result in the animal being kept in quarantine for longer, subjected to further health tests, exported or euthanized. 😱 And the one who pays the bill in all cases is the guardian. Couldn't they just keep the cat safely at home without access to the street receiving care of local veterinarians? I was horrified by the option of euthanasia.

The step-by-step guide for traveling with a dog from an approved countries type 3 can be read at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category-3-step-by-step-guide-for-dogs

Those who have dogs from unapproved countries imported from an approved country type 3 must migrate with the dog to the approved country and follow the step by step to travel with them from an approved type 3 country.

The step by step for dog owners traveling from approved countries type 2 can be read at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/step-by-step-guides/category-2-step-by-step-guide-for-dogs

If you want to travel with your dog from a non approved country starting the process in an approved country type 2, you must move to the approved country with the animal, stay there for at least six months, then follow the step by step for that country. 

Dogs that do not meet the conditions are also subject to further tests, export, longer stay in quarantine and euthanasia.

All animals must be quarantined in Melbourne for at least ten days in a location specified by the government.

To know what’s the category of your country, visit the page of the Australian department of agriculture, water and environment.

Have you traveled to Australia with your pet? Comment your experience!

Nycka, the nomad