Requirement
Advance notice for pet travel: what it is and who requires it
Telling the authority before you arrive or leave. What a advance notice is, why authorities require it, and the exact requirement in every country we cover, quoted from the official source.
Updated 2026-10-12
Some authorities want to know your plans before you travel: Japan expects a notification before arrival, Norway asks to be told before arrival, Australia and Japan want a notice or application days before an export, and Hong Kong asks for notice to its duty officer.
What to watch for
- The notice period is a hard deadline in your plan. The planner counts it back from your travel date.
Who requires it, and exactly how
Each entry below is taken from the country’s rule file and links to the page it comes from. Where a rule only applies to some pets or origins, the condition is shown.
- Leaving
Submit a Notice of Intention (NOI) to Export
For every pet
Complete the NOI to Export Live Animals (other than Livestock) form with your supporting documents and email it to DAFF's regional office in your state or territory, at least 10 working days before departure (or before any pre-export isolation starts). Use the same form to book your pre-export appointment, and book the final vet exam at the same time. If the destination needs an import permit, send it with the NOI.
“Email the NOI and documents to the regional office in the state or territory of departure. Do this at least 10 working days before the departure date or start of isolation.”
- Leaving
Contact your Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before you travel
You do not travel to any EU country, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City
Contact your Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before the trip so it can certify the documents. The department may not be able to sign your pet's documents if you contact it later.
“make sure you plan well in advance and contact the Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months in advance of travel to ensure that necessary documentation can be certified by department officials”
- Leaving
Apply for export inspection (NACCS)
For every pet
Once your travel is confirmed, apply to the Animal Quarantine Service through NACCS (or by email to the AQS where you want the inspection), at least 14 days before the date you want. Attach the certificates from your vet clinic, fill in your preferred date and time in the remarks, and wait for AQS to reply: you cannot reserve a time before you have applied.
“at least 14 days before the desired date of inspection”
- Leaving
Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before you leave
For every pet
The law requires the owner of an animal to inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of exit from Qatar.
“The owners of the animal consignments shall inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival or exit from the country.”
- Leaving
Tell the official vet of your regional office at least 3 working days before you travel
You do not travel to any EU country, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City
If a certificate sample already exists and matches the destination's conditions, you must announce the shipment to the competent official vet of your regional office (OU) at least three working days before the planned trip, using the form 'Najava odpreme pošiljke za izvoz'.
“Če vzorec spričevala že obstaja in je skladen s pogoji tretje države, mora lastnik odpremo živali najaviti najmanj tri delovne dni pred predvidenim potovanjem pristojnemu uradnemu veterinarju OU.”
- Entering
Notify AFCD before arrival
For every pet
Tell the AFCD Duty Officer (Import & Export Section) at least 24 hours before your pet's expected arrival time.
“You should notify the Duty Officer of the Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before your dog/cat’s anticipated arrival time in Hong Kong.”
- Entering
Advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service
For every pet
Notify the Animal Quarantine Service at your port of arrival at least 40 days before you arrive (online via NACCS or by email). They issue an 'Approval of Import Inspection'.
“Applicants must notify Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry not less than 40 days before arrival in Japan.”
- Entering
Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival
For every pet
The law requires the owner of an animal to inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival.
“The owners of the animal consignments shall inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival or exit from the country.”
- Entering
Tell Mattilsynet you're coming (recommended)
The country you travel from is in the group: Listed third country — no titer; enter through Oslo Airport or Storskog, Australia and Malaysia — listed, plus extra certificate requirements (Hendra / Nipah virus), Any other third country — rabies antibody titer test needed or Svalbard — treated as a third country (titer needed); extra entry points
Notify Mattilsynet at your entry point at least 48 hours before you arrive, so you don't wait long for the check. Oslo Airport: +47 22 77 79 00, bipg@mattilsynet.no.
“The Norwegian Food Safety Authority should be notified at least 48 hours before arrival in order to avoid a long waiting time before the check can be carried out.”