Johnny Depp is currently in Australia, shooting the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie. And, like many globally mobile professionals, he misses his pets. Last month, Depp arranged to have his Yorkshire terriers, Boo and Pistol, flown into the country via private jet. But the dogs returned home a few days later after Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatened their euthanization, as well as a fine and imprisonment for their owner.
Had the award-winning actor consulted Living Abroad’s International Relocation Center before trying to reunite with his furry friends, he would have learned that relocating pets to Australia is a complicated, lengthy process. However, he would also have discovered a number of resources to make it easier. The Department of Agriculture provides comprehensive information about pet importation online, not only for cats and dogs, but other pets as well. If they provide a few pieces of information, cat and dog owners can even obtain a customized calendar that outlines the entire importation process, and provides key dates.
In fact, the Australian government provides a wealth of online information for its visitors. Other highly useful sites include:
Tourism Australia’s directory of annual events and festivals throughout Australia:
http://www.tourism.australia.com/story-ideas/2015-australian-events-2015-city-calendar.aspx
The Australia.gov directory of all government smartphone apps: http://www.australia.gov.au/news-and-media/apps
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection website, where visitors can determine their visa type and apply for it online: http://www.immi.gov.au/
The National Public Toilet Map, which provides comprehensive information on 16,000 publicly available restrooms throughout Australia: https://toiletmap.gov.au/
Now that several weeks have passed since Boo and Pistol’s return to the United States, entertainment news headlines suggest Mr. Depp’s stay in Australia is pleasant again. But if he decides to bring his other pet to Australia, we hope he’s now aware that there’s more to the importation process than coaxing a horse named Goldeneye onto a private jet.
By Erin Fitzgerald, GMS, International Product Manager
