A common point of confusion: you've had your pet vaccinated against rabies by your regular vet, and now you're reading about 'government-approved' or 'accredited' vets being required. Does the rabies vaccine need to be redone?
Almost certainly not. The rabies vaccination can be given by any licensed veterinarian - it does not need to be administered by a government-accredited vet.
Where the accreditation requirement applies
The accreditation requirement applies to specific steps in the process, not the vaccination itself. In the US, a USDA-accredited vet is needed for the identity verification visits and the RNATT blood draw. In the UK, an OV66-authorised Official Veterinarian handles the identity checks and blood draw. In Canada, a CFIA official handles the identity verification. But none of these requirements extend to who can give the rabies jab.
What does need to be on the vaccination certificate
The documentation matters more than who administered the vaccine. The rabies vaccination certificate must show:
- Your pet's microchip number - this is why the microchip must be implanted before vaccination
- The vaccine brand and product name
- The batch (lot) number
- The expiry date of the vaccine
- The date of administration
- The administering vet's details
If your certificate has all of these, your regular vet's vaccination is valid. If the microchip number is missing - for example because the chip was implanted after vaccination - that's the problem, not the vet's accreditation status.
One important rule
The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. If vaccination came first and the chip was added later, the vaccination is considered invalid for the purposes of Australian import and will need to be repeated. This is a hard rule with no exceptions.
If you're uncertain about your specific situation, email DAFF at imports@aff.gov.au - they respond to direct queries and it's always better to confirm before assuming.