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Australian rules on the importation of animals are very strict. There are controls on both the country where the animals come from and what types of animals you can import. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service http://www.aqis.gov.au is the government body that protects Australia's unique environment from unwanted pests and diseases. They inspect all incoming luggage, cargo, mail, animals and plants and their products, and provide inspection and certification for a range of exports. On their website under Import Conditions Search (ICON), you can access information about Australian import conditions for more than 20,000 animals, plants, microbial, mineral and human commodities. It can be used to determine if a commodity intended for import to Australia needs a quarantine permit and/or treatment or if there are any other quarantine prerequisites. The database is easy to navigate and is updated immediately when changes are made to the import information, providing a quick and easy way to stay in touch with Australian import requirements.

It is not easy to relocate a pet to Australia, and it is quite expensive. There are many conditions that a pet has to satisfy, from how long has it been resident in the country of origin, to having current vaccinations, being examined by a vet surgeon prior to shipment and having a microchip inserted on arrival. Conditions for importing dogs and cats vary depending on the country of origin and detailed information can be found on the AQIS website, under Animals and Reproductive Material>Importing animals and reproductive material>Importing Cats and Dogs. Some dogs are considered dangerous and are not eligible for importation in Australia.

Generally, dogs, cats and horses may be brought in from a number of countries, but are still subject to quarantine controls (minimum 30 days after arrival to maximum 120 days). Dogs and cats from New Zealand, Norfolk Island and the Cocos Islands are not subject to quarantine conditions. Pets must be shipped by air in an approved container and can only arrive at major airports in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. It is the owner's responsibility to pay fees and accommodation for their pet in quarantine. The fee is calculated after your pet arrives in Australia, and you will be invoiced for these services. The fee structure can also be checked on the AQIS website under Import>Fees and charges.

The Newcomers Network http://www.newcomersnetwork.com website provides more advice on this topic.

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Information courtesy of Sue Ellson, Founder of Newcomers Network and Dina Zavrski-Makaric, Sydney Representative of Newcomers Network and Personal Coach and Counsellor of Challenging Directions.

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