Dogs & Cats
Dogs and cats can be imported to Australia under strict conditions designed to manage biosecurity risks. The Department of Agriculture used to have quarantine facilities in various capital cities, but now there is only one in Melbourne, where overseas flights need to land. Australia only allows the import of dogs and cats strictly from approved countries falling into group categories 1, 2, and 3. Alternatively, if a dog or cat has been in a group 4 country, they must spend a minimum of 180 days in countries of groups 1 and 2 before being imported to Australia.
Although Bahrain falls into the group 2 category, importing pets from there still requires a significant amount of time and arrangements. Our relocation specialists can guide you through the process and assist you with the move from start to finish
Bahrain to Australia Dogs
GENERAL
Since BAHRAIN falls in group 2 country category, these countries are considered as approved rabies-free and dogs exported to Australia from these countries require an import permit to be able to enter Australia.
Time frame: Minimum 50 days
On arrival, dogs must be quarantined minimum of 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility where the space of your pet is pre-booked and confirmed by your pet shipper. Rest assured, staff at the Michleham quarantine facility are great care takers and will provide food as instructed and medications if needed
MICROCHIP & VACCINATIONS
Microchip must be read by an Avid, Trovan, Destron or other ISO compatible readers and has to be verified or implanted before any pre-export testing or treatments, the Microchip numbers starting with 999 are not acceptable because they are not unique, the government approved veterinarian must scan microchip during each treatment and or during blood withdrawal visit while recording the reader on all documents.
Vaccination:
Leptospirosis – dogs may be vaccinated against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola as an alternative to testing at least 14 days prior to export, and if not, testing will be required.
All current L. Canicola vaccinations and booster due dates must also be recorded.
Recommended vaccinations for dogs and to be valid during the entire quarantine stay:
Distemper
Hepatitis
Parvovirus
Para-influenza
Bordatella bronchiseptica
VETERINARY TREATMENTS AND BLOOD TESTS
An approved veterinarian must administer the dog with a topical product that kills ticks and fleas on contact at least 21 days before blood sampling for Ehrlichia canis antibody testing with a continuous treatment until time of export to Australia.
An approved veterinarian must administer the dog with a product for Internal parasite treatments against nematodes and cestodes Ehrlichia canis: An approved veterinarian must collect a blood sample at least 21 days after the start of external parasite treatment and not longer than 45 days before the date of travel. The sample must be tested for Ehrlichia canis by an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) for the detection of IgG antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or an IFAT for the detection of IgM antibodies are not accepted.
Brucella Canis or Brucellosis: applies only if the animal is not desexed, while evidence of desexing might be required Leishmania infantum or Leishmaniosis: For no longer than 45 days from the date of travel, dogs must be tested for Leishmaniosis using either an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or (ELISA) and the test must be negative Leptospira canicola or Leptospirosis: only if dog is not vaccinated for Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola Babesia canis: only if dog has ever visited mainland Africa
VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATES APPENDIX 1
Your pre-issued import permit Health Certificate is Appendix 1 has to be completed and endorsed by Government Veterinarian of Bahrain that also must verify:
A Crate seal must accompany the crate together with a seal certificate and the number of the seal to be added to Appendix 1
No corrections can be made to any of the issued and endorsed certificates unless signed and stamped near each correction
The veterinarian official has to stamp and sign all treatment documents, tests and any other related health documents as mentioned on the import permit and on Appendix 1
QUARANTINE
Dogs entering Australia must spend 10 days at the Mickleham Quarantine Station in Melbourne, located in 35 Donnybrook Rd, Mickleham VIC 3064, Australia, is known to be one of the nicest quarantine facilities in the world with an investment of 380 million AUS dollars, it’s made up of sleek, modern buildings for each type of animal, kennels and catteries are equipped with floor heating and plenty of space for exercise in addition to private veterinary rooms.
If your pet is under certain medication, you need to mention this on the import permit, the Mikcleham Quarantine Station staff are great care takers and will strictly follow all feeding and medication instructions.
Many clients ask if they can transport their dog themselves to the Mickleham Quarantine Station after landing in MEL, but this is not possible. The experience quarantine staff will do this with their well equipped vehicles.
BANNED BREEDS
Domestic or non-domestic animal hybrids (wolf-dog crosses) cannot be imported to Australia and this includes:
Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak
Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound
Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog
Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog
Dogs of the following breeds cannot be imported to Australia
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brasileiro
Japanese tosa
American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier
Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.
CRATE COMFORT & CRATE TRAINING:
When you chose our relocation specialist to manage your dog move to Australia, there is only one single thing you can do to help retrieve the stress of your pet especially with long travel journeys.
Our sister company BahrainK9Academy have put together an easy step by step guide for crate training tips and techniques.
Bahrain to Australia Cats
GENERAL
Since BAHRAIN falls in group 2 country category, these countries are considered as approved rabies-free and cats exported to Australia from these countries require an import permit to be able to enter Australia.
Time frame: Minimum 50 days
Cats coming from Bahrain to Australia have to be accompanied with a valid import permit. On arrival, cats must be quarantined minimum of 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility where the space of your pet is pre-booked and confirmed by your pet shipper. Rest assured, staff at the Michleham quarantine facility are great care takers and will provide food as instructed and medications if needed
MICROCHIP & VACCINATIONS
Whether verifying an existing microchip or implanting a new one, make sure that the chip being used can be read by an Avid, Trovan, Destron or other ISO compatible reader, the government approved veterinarian must scan microchip during each treatment and or during blood withdrawal visit while recording the reader on all documents.
Microchip has to be verified or implanted before any pre-export testing or treatments.
Microchip numbers starting with 999 are not acceptable because they are not unique.
Vaccination
Its highly recommended that your cat receives a vaccination that protects against feline enteritis (also known as feline panleucopenia or feline distemper), rhinotracheitis and calicivirus and is valid for the entire post entry quarantine period.
VETERINARY TREATMENTS
An approved veterinarian must administer the cat with a topical product twice that kills ticks and fleas on contact at least 21 days before the date of export.
Continuous protection from external parasites must be maintained until the time of export and treatments may need to be repeated by the veterinarian in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions In order to calculate the 21 days properly, count the day of the treatment as day 0 At each s veterinary visit, approved veterinarian should examine the cat for external parasites while scanning microchip, If fleas or ticks are found they must be removed and treatments starts all over again. Treatments against nematodes and cestodes
a government approved veterinarian must administer with two internal parasite treatments effective against nematodes and cestodes, these treatments must be given at least 14 days apart and within 45 days before the date of travel. The second treatment must be given within 5 days of the date of travel.
VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATES APPENDIX 1 Your pre-issued import permit Health Certificate is Appendix 1 has to be completed and endorsed by Government Veterinarian of Bahrain that also must verify:
A Crate seal must accompany the crate together with a seal certificate and the number of the seal to be added to Appendix 1
No corrections can be made to any of the issued and endorsed certificates unless signed and stamped near each correction
The veterinarian official has to stamp and sign all treatment documents, tests and any other related health documents as mentioned on the import permit and on Appendix 1
The cat must be examined by an official government veterinarian that endorses all documents and found the cat to be free from external parasites and clinical signs of infectious and contagious disease within 5 days before travel date
QUARANTINE
Cats entering Australia must spend 10 days at the Mickleham Quarantine Station in Melbourne, located in 35 Donnybrook Rd, Mickleham VIC 3064, Australia, is known to be one of the nicest quarantine facilities in the world with an investment of 380 million AUS dollars, it’s made up of sleek, modern buildings for each type of animal, kennels and catteries are equipped with floor heating and plenty of space for exercise in addition to private veterinary rooms.
If your pet is under certain medication, you need to mention this on the import permit, the Mikcleham Quarantine Station staff are great care takers and will strictly follow all feeding and medication instructions
Many clients ask if they can transport their dog themselves to the Mickleham Quarantine Station after landing in MEL, but this is not possible. The experience quarantine staff will do this with their well equipped vehicles
BANNED BREEDS
As per the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, domestic/non domestic animal hybrids are not accepted for importation to Australia. Hybrid cats include:
Chausie, domestic cat crossed with Jungle cat Bengal cat, domestic cat crossed with Asian leopard cat Safari cat, domestic cat crossed with Geoffroy cat
Savannah cat, derived from crossbreeding domestic cat with serval cat
Note – Its still possible to import Bengal cats to Australia if the cat is proven to be five generations or more removed from wild ancestors, proves such as pedigrees are required (check with your breeder for the pedigree of your cat) our relocation specialist can get confirmation in advance from the Department of Agriculture before applying for the import permit.
Attention: The above are general guidelines, regulations and requirements can change and may not be updated. Contact your relocation specialist for further assistance.