Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Australia → Northern Ireland (UK)
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
3 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
2 weeks
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Australia is in the group “Annex II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 — no titer test” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into Northern Ireland’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Northern Ireland (UK)
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit for some pets
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
What your dog needs
Dogs
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number). Under the EU rules the chip is implanted or read before the rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO standard, bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
“Prior to the rabies vaccination, the pet animal (dog, cat, or ferret) must be marked by the implantation of a microchip.”
“You must bring your own microchip reader when you travel if your pet’s microchip does not meet ISO standards.”
“Your pet must be microchipped. They do not need rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatment if you have a PTD.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
An authorised vet vaccinates your pet against rabies when it is at least 12 weeks old, after the microchip. Wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling (30 if the vaccine's datasheet says so); a booster given before the previous vaccination expires needs no wait.
Details and the official words
“the pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine is administered,”
“This must be at least 21 days after the primary vaccination is given.”
“(This wait does not apply to an annual or 3 yearly booster vaccination, provided the booster is administered before the original vaccination expires),”
Paperwork
Animal health certificate
An official vet in the country you travel from issues an animal health certificate. It is valid for 10 days from issue for entering Northern Ireland, then for 6 months of onward travel within the EU (after the endorsement on arrival).
Details and the official words
DAFF pre-export appointment: export permit and health certificate: At your pre-export appointment with DAFF's certifying veterinary officer (a pet transport company can go for you; some countries need DAFF to see your pet, in which case you bring it), DAFF checks all your documents and issues the export permit and health certificate. You pay at or before the appointment. Your pet must then leave Australia within 72 hours of the permit being issued.
“Animal Health Certificate (valid for 10 days from date of issue for entry into an EU Member State (including NI) and for 6 months onward travel within the EU)”
“This appointment must be before your appointment with our certifying veterinary officer.”
“Your animal must be exported from Australia within 72 hours after the permit is issued. This is a condition of the export permit.”
“Your export permit and health certificate will be issued when we are satisfied the:”
Treatment
Tapeworm treatment (dogs)
A vet treats your dog against tapeworm between 120 and 24 hours before it enters Northern Ireland, and records it. Not needed coming directly from Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway, or from Great Britain with a pet travel document.
Details and the official words
The window is in hours: check the treatment time against your arrival time.
“Tapeworm treatment must be administered not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before scheduled entry into the territory.”
“However please note when travelling between NI and the ROI tapeworm treatment is not required.”
“Dogs moving directly between any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) or Norway are exempted from the treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis”
Route
Enter through a travellers' point of entry
From a Part 2 listed or unlisted country, enter Northern Ireland through a travellers' point of entry: Belfast or Larne port, or Belfast International, Belfast City or City of Derry airport. Contact it before you arrive.
Details and the official words
“to enter EU (including NI) through a Travellers Point of Entry”
“Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport can be contacted at daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk .”
Notice
Submit a Notice of Intention (NOI) to Export
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.
Details and the official words
If your destination requires pre-export isolation, the 10 working days run to the start of isolation, not to departure. Check the importing country's requirements for the isolation dates.
NOI approval doesn't guarantee DAFF will issue the export permit and health certificate.
“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.”
Vet exam
Final health and welfare exam with your registered vet
Your registered vet examines your pet and you both sign the pre-export veterinary health and welfare declaration. It must be within 72 hours of departure (or the period the importing country sets), and before your DAFF appointment.
Details and the official words
If the importing country sets a shorter or longer period, that period applies instead; check its requirements.
“This must be within 72 hours of departure, or a period set by the importing country.”
Only in some cases
Notice · only in some cases
Flying in: tell DAERA in advance
Only if you arrive by air: email DAERA (daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk) before you travel: at least 10 working days ahead from Great Britain, at least 10 days ahead from elsewhere.
Details and the official words
“You must tell the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at least 10 working days before you travel.”
“If you will be arriving into Northern Ireland via air, you must contact daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk at least 10 days in advance of your intended date of travel to pre-notify your arrival.”
Good to know
- The wait after a first rabies vaccination is at least 21 days, but if the vaccine's datasheet says immunity only starts on day 30, you wait 30 days. Your vet records the date the vaccination is valid from.
- Arriving on an animal health certificate and travelling on to Ireland or another EU country? Report to the travellers' point of entry when you arrive so DAERA officials endorse the certificate. Without the endorsement it isn't valid for onward travel.
- DAFF says each country has its own health requirements, which can be complex and can change without notice. Get the importing country's requirements in writing (and an import permit if it needs one) and give them to your registered vet.
- Planning to bring your pet back to Australia? Contact DAFF's imports team before you export. Within 6 months of export, extra pre-export requirements may apply, and some animals can't be imported or returned under any circumstances.
- Your pet's crate must meet IATA standards, and your registered vet must inspect it before it is used. Some countries (including Fiji and Singapore) require the crate to be sealed; DAFF provides the seal.
- DAFF charges a fee to assess the Notice of Intention, a time-based fee to prepare the health certificate and a fee for the export permit. We don't show these amounts yet; see DAFF's charging guidelines.
What your cat needs
Cats
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number). Under the EU rules the chip is implanted or read before the rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO standard, bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
“Prior to the rabies vaccination, the pet animal (dog, cat, or ferret) must be marked by the implantation of a microchip.”
“You must bring your own microchip reader when you travel if your pet’s microchip does not meet ISO standards.”
“Your pet must be microchipped. They do not need rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatment if you have a PTD.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
An authorised vet vaccinates your pet against rabies when it is at least 12 weeks old, after the microchip. Wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling (30 if the vaccine's datasheet says so); a booster given before the previous vaccination expires needs no wait.
Details and the official words
“the pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine is administered,”
“This must be at least 21 days after the primary vaccination is given.”
“(This wait does not apply to an annual or 3 yearly booster vaccination, provided the booster is administered before the original vaccination expires),”
Paperwork
Animal health certificate
An official vet in the country you travel from issues an animal health certificate. It is valid for 10 days from issue for entering Northern Ireland, then for 6 months of onward travel within the EU (after the endorsement on arrival).
Details and the official words
DAFF pre-export appointment: export permit and health certificate: At your pre-export appointment with DAFF's certifying veterinary officer (a pet transport company can go for you; some countries need DAFF to see your pet, in which case you bring it), DAFF checks all your documents and issues the export permit and health certificate. You pay at or before the appointment. Your pet must then leave Australia within 72 hours of the permit being issued.
“Animal Health Certificate (valid for 10 days from date of issue for entry into an EU Member State (including NI) and for 6 months onward travel within the EU)”
“This appointment must be before your appointment with our certifying veterinary officer.”
“Your animal must be exported from Australia within 72 hours after the permit is issued. This is a condition of the export permit.”
“Your export permit and health certificate will be issued when we are satisfied the:”
Route
Enter through a travellers' point of entry
From a Part 2 listed or unlisted country, enter Northern Ireland through a travellers' point of entry: Belfast or Larne port, or Belfast International, Belfast City or City of Derry airport. Contact it before you arrive.
Details and the official words
“to enter EU (including NI) through a Travellers Point of Entry”
“Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport can be contacted at daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk .”
Notice
Submit a Notice of Intention (NOI) to Export
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.
Details and the official words
If your destination requires pre-export isolation, the 10 working days run to the start of isolation, not to departure. Check the importing country's requirements for the isolation dates.
NOI approval doesn't guarantee DAFF will issue the export permit and health certificate.
“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.”
Vet exam
Final health and welfare exam with your registered vet
Your registered vet examines your pet and you both sign the pre-export veterinary health and welfare declaration. It must be within 72 hours of departure (or the period the importing country sets), and before your DAFF appointment.
Details and the official words
If the importing country sets a shorter or longer period, that period applies instead; check its requirements.
“This must be within 72 hours of departure, or a period set by the importing country.”
Only in some cases
Notice · only in some cases
Flying in: tell DAERA in advance
Only if you arrive by air: email DAERA (daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk) before you travel: at least 10 working days ahead from Great Britain, at least 10 days ahead from elsewhere.
Details and the official words
“You must tell the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at least 10 working days before you travel.”
“If you will be arriving into Northern Ireland via air, you must contact daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk at least 10 days in advance of your intended date of travel to pre-notify your arrival.”
Good to know
- The wait after a first rabies vaccination is at least 21 days, but if the vaccine's datasheet says immunity only starts on day 30, you wait 30 days. Your vet records the date the vaccination is valid from.
- Arriving on an animal health certificate and travelling on to Ireland or another EU country? Report to the travellers' point of entry when you arrive so DAERA officials endorse the certificate. Without the endorsement it isn't valid for onward travel.
- DAFF says each country has its own health requirements, which can be complex and can change without notice. Get the importing country's requirements in writing (and an import permit if it needs one) and give them to your registered vet.
- Planning to bring your pet back to Australia? Contact DAFF's imports team before you export. Within 6 months of export, extra pre-export requirements may apply, and some animals can't be imported or returned under any circumstances.
- Your pet's crate must meet IATA standards, and your registered vet must inspect it before it is used. Some countries (including Fiji and Singapore) require the crate to be sealed; DAFF provides the seal.
- DAFF charges a fee to assess the Notice of Intention, a time-based fee to prepare the health certificate and a fee for the export permit. We don't show these amounts yet; see DAFF's charging guidelines.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Australia to Northern Ireland (UK)?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into Northern Ireland (UK)?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in Northern Ireland (UK)?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number).