It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the animal meets the importing country requirements.

An import permit, health certificate and owner declaration are required.

Contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Forests and Fisheries (MAFFF) for information about the process required to import animals into the Kingdom of Tonga from Australia.

Address

Department of Agriculture
PO Box 14
Nuku'alofa
KINGDOM OF TONGA

Email

info@mafff.gov.to

Note

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

The following conditions were provided in a permit issued by the authorities of the Kingdom of Tonga in May 2019.

1. For the importation of cats the presentation of an international animal health certificate is required attesting that the animals:

1. a) Were examined within 24 hours of shipment, found to be in good health and showed no sign of any infectious disease;


2. b) Have been effectively vaccinated against feline panleucopaenia at least one month and not more than twelve months prior to shipment, and feline viral rhinotracheitis/ calici virus at least one month and not more than three months before shipment;


3. c) Have been effectively treated against echinoccosis-hydatidosis within three days of shipment;


4. d) Have been effectively treated against round, hook and whipworms within three days of shipment;


5. e) Have been effectively treated against, and found on examination to be visibly free of, all ectoparasites within three days of shipment;


6. f) 1. Showed no clinical sign of rabies on the day of shipment, and were kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment in the exporting country during the two years immediately preceding the importation of the animals concerned.
   

Supplementary conditions for the importation of cats:

Pre and post arrival quarantine requirements

2. As soon as the animals arrive in Tonga they shall immediately be taken under the control of a veterinary officer to a quarantine ground or other premise approved by the Director, where the animals shall remain until they are released by a veterinary officer.

General conditions of permit to import live animals:

Document requirements

d) All importations of animals are to be accompanied by

1. The import permit issued for the importation


2. A declaration signed by the owner or exporter of the animals providing such information and guarantees as may require regarding the identification, history and origin of the animals.


3. An international animal health certificate signed and stamped by an official veterinary officer of the exporting country certifying the state of good health of the animals and giving particulars, where applicable of the biological tests to which the animal have been subjected, the vaccination carried out on the animal which are the subject of the certificate and any measures taken to prevent the spread of disease.

Transport requirements

e) Unless special provision has been made on the import permit, animals must be transported directly to Tonga without transhipment, offloading or contact with animals not subject to the same import permit or animals not of equivalent certified health status from the port of departure to the port of arrival in Tonga.

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 a permit issued in May 2019 and importing country website and information.

Entry last reviewed 31 August 2021.