Are Parrots Legal In Australia?

As time goes on, more people are becoming interested in adopting a parrot of their own than ever before.

After all, parrots are incredibly charming and charismatic creatures that make them such an ideal pet to have.

Still, there are a lot of legal questions regarding parrots depending on where you live.

With this in mind, are parrots legal in Australia?

To answer this question…yes, parrots are legal in Australia, but it’s illegal to import parrots into the country since 1995 because of a ban that occurred due to a fear of spreading an avian disease. Nowadays, the only parrots that can be imported are from New Zealand, if their owners are moving to the country. Aside from that, parrots that are already in the country that are bred and up for adoption, can be adopted.

Although it might seem confusing about the importation of parrots into Australia, you have to remember that Australia is naturally filled with a lot of parrots.

Aside from the country being many parrots’ natural habitat, breeders have been around for a long time as well.

Nevertheless, we’re going to discuss a lot of information related to parrots and them being legal in Australia.

Let’s take a look!

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Are parrots legal to own in Australia?

Each state and territory vary with their own restrictions for owning a parrot, but realize that owning a parrot is legal in the country, depending on the breed, of course.

The best way to find out is to look up the specific rules of where you live in Australia, as that will help you determine if you can own a certain parrot or not.

For the most part, if you hope to adopt a reasonably standard parrot in Australia, you shouldn’t run into any issues in that regard.

Again, just be mindful of the local legality regarding the matter and if there’s anything extra you have to do.

As long as you’re diligent in the matter, you should be fine.

Are parrots legal to breed in Australia?

Seeing as parrot importation is banned mainly throughout the country, it’s easy to assume that breeding would make up a large portion of the breeding process in Australia.

If you assumed this, realize you’re largely correct, and that breeding is legal in Australia.

Still, it has some extra strings attached to it than solely adopting a parrot.

Adopting a parrot is one thing, but actually breeding and putting parrots up for adoption is an entire other process.

Thus, there are usually some extra steps in formally breeding and putting parrots up for adoption.

Either way, be aware of what the process entails and what this means to your situation.

Do you need a license to own a parrot in Australia?

As touched upon earlier, license requirements largely depend on the parrot you’re talking about.

If you hope to adopt a more common parrot such as a parakeet, then you typically won’t need a license at all.

Whereas, if you want a Macaw or any rare parrot species, expect to require a license in the matter.

Also, realize that every state and province in Australia varies with its rules and regulations, meaning you might need a license in one state while another state doesn’t require one at all.

Either way, you can’t go out in the wild and trap a parrot for yourself.

You have to actually go to a breeder or pet store to file the proper paperwork.

Are Quaker Parrots legal in Australia?

Quaker Parrots typically have the most legality issues surrounding them, most commonly in the United States.

This is primarily since Quaker Parrots are regarded as an environmental hazard because of how easy it is for them to multiply.

However, they’re not illegal in every country.

Under law, Quaker Parrots are legal to adopt in Australia as long as each individual promises to fulfill their general biosecurity obligation (GBO).

This takes thoughtful and reasonable steps to reduce the risks connected with invasive plants and animals under their control.

However, these rules do vary depending on where you live in Australia.

Are African Greys legal in Australia?

African Greys are some of the most sought-after parrots in the entire world because of their high level of intelligence and ability to communicate.

Seeing as communication is such an outstanding feature to have in a parrot, it makes perfect sense why so many people are interested in adopting an African Grey of their own.

As of the last few years, African Greys are entirely legal in Australia, but they do require a special license to own one.

As long as you can apply and get the license, you should find no issue with adopting an African Grey of your own.

Keep in mind, African Greys can be expensive, so be aware of the funds you’ll need to adopt one.

Are Conures legal in Australia?

Conures are incredibly colorful and luscious parrots that so many people have become interested in in recent memory.

Plus, Conures have a number of species that fall under their umbrella, meaning there are a lot of options to consider.

As for being legal in Australia, Conures are legal to adopt in the country, with there being an abundance of breeders to select from.

Are Lovebirds legal in Australia?

Lovebirds are some of the cutest creatures in the entire world, causing many people to wonder how they can get their hands on a Lovebird.

As great as Lovebirds are, they unfortunately haven’t been imported in Australia since the 1950s.

However, this doesn’t make the species totally illegal as there are a few options to look for when trying to adopt a Lovebird in the country.

Are Macaws legal in Australia?

Macaws are arguably the biggest parrot species size-wise, prompting many people to wonder how they can adopt a Macaw of their own.

Unfortunately, Macaws have also not been imported into the country since the 1950s, but there still are a select few of Macaw species that have been bred and are available for adoption.

Definitely take a close examination at what species are available to see which Macaw is best for you.