It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the animal meets the French Polynesian import requirements.

An import permit is required and may be obtained from the French Polynesian Ministry of Agriculture.

Email

secretariat@biosecurite.gov.pf

It is the responsibility of the exporter to use the appropriate health certificate and ensure that this and any accompanying declarations are in English and French.

Note

Where an importing country issues an import permit, the exporter must ensure the animal meets any requirements in the permit.

All dogs and cats exported to French Polynesia from Australia can only travel under the health certificate provided below in a bilingual format:

• Health certificate – September 2024 (DOCX 47KB | PDF 224 KB)

Health Certificates

Dogs and cats exported to French Polynesia from Australia must be accompanied by:

1. A completed Part A health certificate as detailed in the entry below. Part A is to be completed by registered veterinarian preparing the animal for export, and signed at the bottom of the pages where indicated.
   
   The completed Part A must then be presented to the Department Veterinary Officer at the final export appointment, for endorsement.
   
   
2. A completed Part B health certificate as detailed in the entry below. Part B is completed by the Department Veterinary Officer at the final export appointment.

Notes for registered veterinarians for completion of Part A Health Certificate

Clause IV 1

If the dog or cat for export does not need to undergo a period in a secure commercial premises between treatment and export as per Option B below, the entire clause can be struck through.

Clause IV 2

Strike out "four days" if Option A is used. Strike out "twenty four hours" if Option B is used.

Clause IV 7

Dogs are required​ to undergo either;

• - Testing by an indirect fluorescent antibody test or an ELISA test to detect antibodies against Canine Leishmania sp. with a negative result within 30 days of export to French Polynesia, or
• - Vaccination against Canine leishmaniasis with a serological test showing the difference between vaccine antibodies and infection antibodies with a negative result for infection antibodies.​

Clause V 11

The registered veterinarians must seal the crate before they can sign the Part A Health Certificate.

Sealing of crates

French Polynesia has strict requirements with respect to external parasites on dogs and cats. As such the French Polynesian authority requires that the crates in which the animals are to be exported are sealed immediately after the registered veterinarian's final examination. Removal of the seals will render the pre-export preparations invalid.

The typical processes for export are outlined below. Most exports will use option A.

Option A: final treatments and examination by the registered veterinarian and sealing of the export crate, Department export appointment, and export of the animal all occur within 24 hours of export.

Option B: the registered veterinarian treatments and examination may take place up to 4 days prior to export. Between the time of external parasite treatment and export, the animal must be held in a secure commercial premises used for holding animals, and not owned or operated by the owner of the animal destined for export. It must be constructed such that the animal destined for export has no direct contact with any animals of an inferior health status. Then just prior to export, the registered veterinarian must conduct a further examination of the animal and crate, and seal the crate and complete documents prior to the Department export appointment.

Other notes

1. 'Objects' in the crate as per Clause 10 of Part A certificate includes any pet accessories that travel with the animal in the crate (toys, mattress…).
2. The Department Veterinary Officer must sign, date and stamp each page of the veterinary certificate and, where applicable, all documents (e.g. laboratory reports) that form part of the extended health certification.

If your animal is returning to Australia, you should make yourself familiar with the Department's requirements for importing live animals into Australia. This is important as your animal may have been exposed to diseases that do not occur in Australia.

Based on an agreed Health certificate of September 2024.

Entry last reviewed 16 ​October ​2024.