5 Dog Breeds You Cannot Bring Into Australia (Plus Banned Cats)
Australia bans five dog breeds from import completely, including crossbreeds, and now bans Bengal and Savannah cats too. This covers exactly which breeds, why, what's still permitted, and what it costs to import a dog or cat that isn't banned. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 5 dog breeds
- 0:10 The 5 banned breeds
- 0:22 Customs (Prohibited Imports)
- 0:35 Savannah cats:
- 0:46 Bengal cats:
- 0:59 EPBC Act 1999:
- 1:10 Import ban vs state law:
- 1:21 Permitted pets:
- 1:32 $626 for one permit,
- 1:47 10 days at Mickleham:
- 2:00 Looks like a banned breed?
- 2:11 Where to read more
Transcript
Five dog breeds are banned from entering Australia, completely, with almost no exceptions.
The American pit bull terrier, dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa and Perro de Presa Canario cannot be imported, and neither can their crossbreeds.
The ban sits in the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. The only exception lets an authorised person approve import for scientific purposes — it isn't a pathway for pet owners.
Cats are covered by a separate ban. Savannah cats, crossed with a wild serval, have never been permitted to enter Australia, at any generation.
Bengal cats had a conditional exemption for cats five or more generations from the Asian leopard cat. As of 1 March 2026, that exemption ended, and no Bengal cat can be imported now.
The cat ban runs under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, protecting native wildlife rather than public safety.
The federal import ban is separate from state and territory law. A dog already living in Australia is governed by that state's own restricted-breed rules, not the import ban.
Dogs and cats that aren't banned can still enter Australia, but only from an approved country, with a valid import permit, and a stay in government quarantine at Mickleham in Victoria.
The import permit costs $626 for the first animal, made up of a $135 lodgement fee and a $491 assessment fee, plus $299 for each extra animal on the same application.
A 10-day stay at Mickleham costs around $1,974: a $282 reservation fee, $1,132 for importation, and $56 a day.
If a dog visibly displays characteristics of a banned breed, the burden of proof falls on the importer. A mixed-breed dog with no ancestry from the five is allowed in.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.
Talk it through with a registered agent
Every agent on Migratio is on the official OMARA register. Compare agents and their consultation fees.