Which countries require quarantine for rabbits on arrival?

Several countries — including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan — impose mandatory quarantine periods of 10–30 days for imported rabbits regardless of health certificate status; check destination requirements at least 3 months before travel.

Why some countries require rabbit quarantine
Island nations and countries with disease-free status for myxomatosis or RHDV enforce strict border biosecurity to protect their wild and commercial rabbit populations. Australia and New Zealand have been largely free of myxomatosis (used as biological control in some jurisdictions), making import particularly controlled.

Country overview

Australia: Rabbits are classified as a biosecurity risk due to their status as an invasive pest species. Import of domestic rabbits is subject to extreme restriction — permits are extremely rare, quarantine at government facilities for minimum 30 days, and denial is common. In practical terms, importing a rabbit to Australia as a tourist is not feasible.

New Zealand: Similar restrictions to Australia. Government import permits required with lengthy advance applications.

Japan: Quarantine of 7–180 days depending on country of origin and documentation. Advance import notifications required.

UK (post-Brexit): No mandatory quarantine if documentation is complete (GB health certificate, microchip, advance APHA notification). Allow 4–6 weeks to arrange paperwork.

EU internal travel: No quarantine between EU member states if health certificate requirements are met.

USA: No specific quarantine for pet rabbits from most countries if documentation is complete, but USDA-endorsed health certificate required.

What happens during government quarantine
The rabbit is housed in a government-approved facility. Owners typically cannot visit. Care quality varies by country. Costs are borne by the owner and can be substantial (hundreds to thousands of euros per week).

Is the trip worth it?
For most destinations requiring quarantine, the welfare impact on the rabbit and the financial and logistical burden make travel inadvisable. Consider boarding or rehoming arrangements instead.

Planning international travel with your rabbit? Use Flovvi to store all compliance documents and track deadline dates for permits and certificate validity.