Permits for pest animals in Victoria

It's illegal to bring into, keep, sell or release declared pest animals in Victoria without permission. These activities are regulated by the the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act).

In some instances, activities involving pest animals can be conducted in a manner that minimises the threat they pose. Under the CaLP Act, we can grant permits to bring into Victoria, keep, sell or release declared pest animals for specific purposes and under particular conditions, such as:

• research and education
• animal display and exhibition
• primary production
• limited commercial purposes.

Pest animal permit types

There are five permit types:

• pest animal approved collections (zoo) permit
• pest animal approved collections (animal exhibition) permit
• pest animal research/education collections permit
• pest animal private collections permit
• pest animal special collections permit.

Permit conditions

Please note the following:

• A pest animal permit will only be issued in exceptional circumstances and only where public benefit can be demonstrated. Permits will only be granted to applicants who provide evidence of competency and adequate resources to care for and contain the species.
• A person applying for a pest animal permit to bring into Victoria, keep or sell a pest animal must complete the relevant application form and pay the non-refundable fee.
• On receipt of a completed application, Agriculture Victoria will assess the proposed arrangements. Agriculture Victoria undertakes a comprehensive assessment of all applications, including species, number and reproductive status of animals, location of where the animals are to be kept (authorised premises), competency of the applicant and persons responsible for the animals, risk mitigation measures, containment, contingency planning and animal welfare.
• A permit application can be refused. The permit application fee is non-refundable.
• A permit, if issued, will be for a limited period of time. A permit holder wishing to continue permitted arrangements must re-apply for a pest animal permit and pay the relevant application fee, before the existing permit expires.
• It is an offence under the CaLP Act to fail to comply with the conditions of a pest animal permit.

Pest animal approved collections (zoo) permit

A person wanting to use declared pest animals for the purpose of their public exhibition in a high-security, static, non-statutory collection in Victoria must apply for, and be granted a pest animal approved collections (zoo) permit.

Download the guidance note:

• Pest animal approved collections (zoo) permit guidance note (PDF - 190.1 KB)
• Pest animal approved collections (zoo) permit guidance note (accessible) (WORD - 44.5 KB)

Pest animal approved collections (animal exhibition) permit

A person wanting to use declared pest animals in mobile or traveling collections (for example, circus) in Victoria must apply for, and be granted a pest animal approved collections (animal exhibition) permit.

Download the guidance note:

• Pest animal approved collections (animal exhibition) permit guidance note (PDF - 156.2 KB)
• Pest animal approved collections (animal exhibition) permit guidance note (accessible) (WORD - 44.0 KB)

Pest animal research/education collections permit

A person wanting to use pest animals for medical, veterinary or biological research or education purposes in Victoria must apply for, and be granted a pest animal research/education collection permit.

Download the guidance note:

• Pest animal research/education collections permit guidance note (PDF - 162.3 KB)
• Pest animal research/education collections permit guidance note (accessible) (WORD - 46.2 KB)

Pest animal private collections permit

A person wanting to use regulated pest animals for primary production purposes must apply for, and be granted a pest animal private collections permit.

Download the guidance note:

• Pest animal private collections permit guidance note (PDF - 207.9 KB)
• Pest animal private collections permit guidance note (accessible) (WORD - 40.2 KB)

Pest animal special collections permit

In exceptional circumstances, where the purpose of keeping doesn't align with the pest animal permits described above (for example, use in film and television), a person must apply for and be granted a pest animal special collections permit.

Download the guidance note:

• Pest animal special collections permit guidance note (PDF - 153.9 KB)
• Pest animal special collections permit guidance note (accessible) (WORD - 31.9 KB)

More information

Please note: the pest animal permit applications forms are currently being updated. To obtain a copy please email the pest animal permit administrator.

Please forward any queries regarding pest animal permits to the pest animal permit administrator:

Phone: 136 186
Email: pestanimal.permit@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Or write to:

Pest animal permit administrator
Agriculture Victoria
475 Mickleham Road
Attwood Victoria 3049