Moving a dog from Great Britain to Australia

Last verified: 2026-08-25

What is different for a dog

Everything on the Great Britain corridor page applies. Three things are dog-specific.

1. Certificate 2580, and four laboratory reports

The export health certificate for dogs is EHC 2580. These documents must be attached to it:

Two of those tests have an exemption. A desexed, leptospirosis-vaccinated dog needs only the Leishmania test alongside the RNATT — materially fewer appointments and fees than a dog needing all three.

Who signs what depends on where the work was done. If the dog is fully prepared in the United Kingdom, the laboratory reports may be signed and stamped by an Official Veterinarian. If part of the preparation happened in another DAFF-approved country and documents were issued on the basis of that work, those documents must not be signed and stamped by the OV — they are attached to the EHC and fan-stamped with it. Getting this backwards is a certification error, not a formatting one.

2. Breeds Australia will not admit

Five pure breeds are prohibited: dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa, American pit bull terrier (or pit bull terrier), Perro de Presa Canario (or Presa Canario).

Four wolfdog hybrids are prohibited: Czechoslovakian wolfdog (Vlcak), Saarloos wolfdog, Lupo Italiano, Kunming wolfdog.

Note that the British and Australian lists are not the same instrument. A dog that is legal in the UK can still be inadmissible to Australia, and a dog identified after arrival as possibly a prohibited breed may be investigated by the Department of Home Affairs. Settle this before you spend anything.

3. Age, pregnancy and nursing

The rabies vaccine counts only if given at 84 days of age or later. At export the dog must not be under quarantine restrictions, more than 30 days pregnant, or nursing puppies.

The order, for a British dog

1. Microchip verified — ISO compliant.
2. Two OV66 identity checks, by OVs at different unassociated practices, each emailing their declaration to DAFF. Both dates at least 180 days before export, and both before the RNATT blood is drawn.
3. Rabies vaccination.
4. RNATT blood sample — collected by an OV66-authorised OV where you are preparing for 10-day quarantine — with the sampling date between 180 days and 12 months before export.
5. 180 days from the sample’s arrival at the laboratory.
6. Leishmania, and Brucella and Leptospira where they apply.
7. Import permit through BICON — AUD 626 for the first animal.
8. Quarantine booking at Mickleham.
9. External parasite treatment from at least 30 days before export (dogs; cats are 21); internal treatment twice in the final 45 days.
10. EHC 2580, applied for through the online service, signed, dated and stamped on every page in day/month/year format.
11. Travel as manifest cargo, direct to Melbourne.

Where British dogs most often come unstuck

• No OV66 vet nearby, discovered after the rabies work has started — see OV66: what to do with no vet nearby.
• The identity check skipped or done late, which cannot be repaired without restarting.
• The wrong signing treatment for laboratory reports where preparation was split across countries.
• A missed booster, which restarts the 180 days.

What this page does not cover

• Which UK laboratories are approved for each test.
• What a positive result means — a veterinary and departmental question.
• Airline breed restrictions, which are stricter than the government’s for many snub-nosed breeds.
• Assistance dogs, which the certificate covers but which may have additional arrangements.