Pet import requirements for the Norfolk Island
What The Norfolk Island asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2025-04-21 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2026-02-05. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
The Norfolk Island at a glance
| Requirement | For Norfolk Island |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | Microchip required |
| Rabies | Not required |
| Rabies antibody test Required | AustraliaDogs - Heartworm: If your dog is over 6 months of age at the time of export, the dog must be tested and treated for canine heartworm within 30 days of the date of… |
| Import permit Required | There are two permits required before an animal can be imported into Norfolk Island: 1 |
| Quarantine | None on arrival |
| Minimum age to travel | 12 Weeks |
| Customs clearance | Strongly advised |
| Agent at destination | Strongly advised |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
*Norfolk Island* is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia. Because Norfolk Island is in Oceania, transit countries on the way can impose extra live-animal rules even when the destination file looks straightforward. 12 Weeks.
Import requirements
12 Weeks
- Valid Import Permits
- Veterinary Health Certificate
- Comply with pre-entry requirements.
Requirements remain the same.
Identification and microchip
Microchip required.
Rabies and vaccinations
Not required.
Australia and New Zealand:Dogs
The dog was fully vaccinated, in accordance with manufacturer directions, against canine, parvovirus, canine distemper and canine in fectious hepatitis and at least 14 days before the date of export.
Cats
The cat was fully vaccinated, in accordance with
manufacturer directions, against feline enteritis.
Tests and treatments
AustraliaDogs
- Heartworm: If your dog is over 6 months of age at the time of export, the dog must be tested and treated for canine heartworm within 30 days of the date of export, the dog must test negative with an antigen test.
- Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae: Must be tested for Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae with a negative result on a blood sample collected within 14 days prior to the date of export.
New ZealandDogs
- Heartworm: If your dog is over 6 months of age at the time of export, the dog must be tested and treated for canine heartworm within 30 days of the date of export, the dog must test negative with an antigen test.
- Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae: Must be tested for Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae with a negative result on a blood sample collected within 14 days prior to the date of export. Done via microscopic agglutination test (MAT).
If the dog which has not been continuously resident in New Zealand since birth, or since importation from Australia, the following testing is required after residing in New Zealand for at least 21 days:
- Ehrlichia Canis - Negative (at 1:40) to an in direct fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) – taken at least 21 days after the external parasite treatment started, and within 45 days of export.
- Leishmania Infantum - Negative to an in direct fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
In the case of the dog that may have ever resided in mainland Africa, the dog has been treated for Babesia canis with imidocarb dipropionate:
Either:
- One treatment at 7.5mg/kg bodyweight; or
- Two treatments at 6mg/kg bodyweight at an in terval of two (2) weeks
Australia and New Zealand
DOGS:
A registered veterinarian treated the dog for external parasites with a product that kills ticks and fleas on contact (i.e. not one that relies on the tick to bite) at least 21 days before blood collection for Ehrlichia canis testing. Treatments must be repeated to provide continuous protection (i.e. repeated in accordance with manufacturer’s directions, for example, a monthly product must be re-applied with no longer than 31 days between treatments) until the time of export
The dog was treated for canine heartworm by a registered veterinarian within 5 days prior to export with:
• Milbemycin at a rate of 0.5 mg/kg body weight, or
• Moxidectin at a rate of 2.0-4.0 mcg/kg body weight, or
• sustained release formulation moxidectin (Proheart SR12) at approved dose rate.
The dog was treated for in ternal parasites by a registered veterinarian with a product effective against nematodes (roundworms) and cestodes (tapeworms) within 5 days prior to export.
CATS:
The cat was treated for external parasites by a registered veterinarian with a product that effectively kills ticks and fleas on contact within 5 days of the scheduled time of export. The product must be protective for the entire period from treatment until export.
The cat was treated for in ternal parasites by a registered veterinarian with a product effective against nematodes (roundworms) and cestodes
- (tapeworms) within 5 days prior to export.
Health certificate and permits
Australia
A registered veterinarian must complete and sign a specific veterinary health certificate.
The health certificate confirms that the cat or dog:
- is not under quarantine restriction at the time of export
- was examined and found to be free from ticks, fleas and clinical signs of in fectious or contagious disease
- has a microchip that was scanned and matches the microchip number listed on the health certificate
- has been treated for external and in ternal parasites within 5 days of the scheduled time of export
- has received all required treatments and meets vaccination requirements.
A separate veterinary health certificate must be completed for each cat or dog and must accompany the animal during transportation to the island.
New Zealand
An of ficial veterinarian must complete and sign a zoosanitary certificate obtained from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
The zoosanitary certificate confirms that the cat or dog:
- is not under quarantine restriction at the time of export
- was examined and found to be free from ticks, fleas and clinical signs of in fectious or contagious disease
- has a microchip that was scanned and matches the microchip number listed on the health certificate
- has been treated for external and in ternal parasites within 5 days of the scheduled time of export
- has received all required treatments and meets vaccination requirements.
A separate zoosanitary certificate must be completed for each cat or dog and must accompany the animal during transportation to the island.
There are two permits required before an animal can be imported into Norfolk Island:
- Permit to Import Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods – External Territories – issued by Department of Agriculture and Water Resources under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Contact norfolk.island@agriculture.gov.au or telephone +672323933. This permit will state the import requirements for treatments, testing, etc.
- Application for Permit to Import Animal(s) – issued by Norfolk Island Regional Council under the Animals (Importation) Act 1983. This permit accesses the type of animal, whether the animal is desexed, where it will be housed on the island, the behavior of the dog if it is a restricted breed, etc.
Australia
Health Certificate – Dogs
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/norfolk-island-from-mainland-australia/health-certificate-dogs
Health Certificate – Cats
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/norfolk-island-from-mainland-australia/health-certificate-cats
New Zealand
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/cats-dogs-norfolk-island-new-zealand
Quarantine
No Quarantine required.
Restrictions and banned breeds
Australia and New Zealand. Pets must travel through Australia or NZ from all other countries prior to travelling to Norfolk Island.
a) The following dog breeds are not permitted:
- American Pit Bull (Terrier)
- Japanese Tosas
- Dogo Argentino
- Brazilian Fila
- Any cross breed of any of the above
b) The following breeds may be permitted if they meet the requirements in paragraph (c)
- Rottweiler
- German Shepherd (Alsatian)
- Bull Mastiff/Terrier
- Rhodesian Ridgebacks
- Doberman
- Queensland Cattle Dogs/Australian Cattle Dog/Blue, Red Heeler
- Any cross breed of any of the above.
c) The following must be satisfied that at the time of the application for a permit to import a member of a breed referred to in paragraph (b) the dog —
- is not less than 6 months old;
- has been spayed or castrated;
- has been owned by and cared for by the applicant since the age of at least 3 months; and
- has undergone obedience training and/or temperament testing under the auspice of the RSPCA, or similar body or of the Australian National Kennel Council or similar body satisfactory to the Administrator.
d) Notification required at least 3 days before pet arrival in Norfolk Island to Norfolk Island Department of Agriculture.
norfolk.island@agriculture.gov.au
e) A copy of the completed veterinary health certificate is to be emailed at least 24 hrs before the date of arrival on Norfolk Island.
norfolk.island@agriculture.gov.au
Customs, agents, and airports
Highly recommended due to the celerity of the laws governing importation.
Customs clearance is required upon arrival.
Yes and highly recommended to work with a broker or approved agent.
Norfolk Island Airport, is the only airport on Norfolk Island (NLK). The airport is on the west side of the island.Qantas or Air Chathams are the airlines that service it. The airport is connected to the rest of the island by Douglas Drive.
Transportation to and from the airport can be made by taxi, private car hires or local hotel shuttles.
Customs clearance is required upon arrival.
Export notes
Permit required from local council prior to arrival.
Animals must meet import requirements of the destination country.
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
On Norfolk Island, several species are considered banned or strictly controlled due to their in vasive nature, in cluding rats, cats, Argentine ants, and most non-native plant species; this is to protect the island's unique and threatened native wildlife.
Persons traveling to Norfolk Island are immigration cleared both on arrival and departure on mainland Australia and Norfolk Island. Therefore, they must have a multiple entry visa for return to mainland Australia.
Pre-Arrival Procedures for Yachts
Australian Border Force (ABF) reporting requirements for Norfolk Island are the same as those for mainland Australia whereby all vessels are required to provide an Advance Notice of Arrival at a minimum of 96 hours prior to landfall.
Helpful Resource: [This vet clinic in Australia may be helpful with the export process and assistance.](https://www.localvet.com.au/burwoodvetclinic/ExportDog to NorfolkIsland.aspx)
Official contacts
Norfolk Island Regional Council
PO Box 95
Norfolk Island 2899
Tel: +6 72 322-244
Local free call: 0100
Email: customercare@nirc.gov.nf
Norfolk Island Department of Agriculture
Phone: +6 72 323-933
Email: norfolk.island@agriculture.gov.au
Current as of April 2025
Disclaimer
Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-04-21.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: American Samoa · Australia · Cook Islands · all destinations
Official sources for the Norfolk Island
- Special Requirements agriculture.gov.au
- Export Requirements agriculture.gov.au
- Website norfolkisland.gov.nf
Questions about moving a pet to Norfolk Island
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for the Norfolk Island?
Microchip required
From the country profile, last verified 2025-04-21.
What rabies vaccination does the Norfolk Island require?
Not required
Is a rabies antibody (titer) test needed for the Norfolk Island?
AustraliaDogs - Heartworm: If your dog is over 6 months of age at the time of export, the dog must be tested and treated for canine heartworm within 30 days of the date of…
A titer test is the single most common reason a move takes months rather than weeks, because the waiting period runs from the blood draw.
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into the Norfolk Island?
There are two permits required before an animal can be imported into Norfolk Island: 1
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in the Norfolk Island?
None on arrival