Migratory and pollination beekeeping

Running more hives, or moving them to follow flowers and crops, adds work and legal duties that a backyard apiary does not have. This page sets out the steps for getting ready, the rules for crossing borders, and what a pollination agreement should cover. Moving hives is also how pests and diseases travel, so the biosecurity side matters as much as the lifting.

Scaling up: what changes

The Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice (the Code) is published on BeeAware. It was revised in late 2025. Part B applies to every beekeeper, and Part C applies to beekeepers managing 20 or more hives. In some states, following the Code is a condition of registration; see Registering your hives.

BeeAware also says compliance checks put the emphasis on beekeepers who manage 20 or more hives, and that these beekeepers may be asked to certify compliance each year where the Code is legislated. Read the current Code itself, not a summary, before you pass 20 hives.

Practical points once you run several apiaries (sites):

• Keep a written record of every site and every move.
• Clean equipment between sites, and keep records of any chemicals used in the apiary.
• Check your state department for its record-keeping rules.

Before you move hives

1. Check the rules. Read the destination state’s rules (table below), and the rules for any state you pass through. Business Queensland says each jurisdiction has its own rules, including emergency provisions.
2. Inspect first. Inspect the hives and make sure they are free of pests and diseases before you move them (Business Queensland). If you see anything that could be a notifiable pest or disease, do not move the hives.
3. Check varroa. Test for varroa mite in line with your state’s advice before the move. See State-by-state rules and Varroa mite.
4. Plan the route. Use a direct route, avoid built-up areas where bright street lights and traffic signals can lead bees to escape, and plan fuel stops (Business Queensland).

Moving hives: the steps

Hives are moved with the entrances left open (the most common method, usually at dusk and overnight), closed with enough ventilation (short distances), or netted so the bees stay inside. Business Queensland describes all three.

1. Load at dusk or after dark, when the bees are in the hive.
2. Choose your method. If you close entrances, make sure the hive still has ventilation. If you net the load, secure the net so no bees can get out.
3. Secure the hives and boxes so nothing shifts.
4. Drive carefully and keep to the plan. Think about bee welfare, public safety and road laws.
5. Unload and open the hives at the new site, then check the hives are settled.
6. Clean equipment before it goes to a different hive or load.
7. Write the move down. Queensland requires a movement record before bees leave the property where they are normally kept; check the Business Queensland page for the form and how long to keep it. Other states have their own record rules, so ask your department.

Moving bees across borders: rules by state

Rules have changed several times since varroa mite was found in 2022, and official pages sometimes disagree. The table gives the headline for bees coming into each jurisdiction as at November 2026. Confirm it on the official page before every move. The wider picture is on State-by-state rules.

Destination	Permit or notice to bring bees in	Who to contact
NSW	NSW DPIRD says the Biosecurity Order (Permitted Activities) 2019 sets out when bees can enter. AHBIC lists no restrictions on healthy bees and hives.	NSW DPIRD
VIC	Agriculture Victoria says a health certificate is needed. AHBIC says permits are no longer required. Because they differ, confirm with Agriculture Victoria before you move bees in.	Agriculture Victoria
QLD	No permit needed, but your general biosecurity obligation still applies.	Business Queensland
SA	Written permission from the Chief Inspector of Stock, with an apiary health certificate.	PIRSA
WA	Illegal unless the import conditions are met (Quarantine WA requirement H02). AHBIC lists bees as not permitted except under an import permit.	DPIRD WA
TAS	Import of bees and used equipment is restricted by a General Biosecurity Direction (Emergency). AHBIC lists movement from other states as prohibited.	Biosecurity Tasmania
NT	Beehives, including used boxes, cannot be brought in. Other bees or bee products need a declared area movement permit and an endorsed health certificate.	NT Government
ACT	Not covered by the AHBIC guide. Ask ACT Biosecurity before moving bees in.	ACT Government

Moving bees within a state can also be controlled, especially inside areas where varroa is established. The state pages above are the place to check.

Varroa and movement

Varroa mite was first found near Newcastle, NSW, in June 2022. As at October 2026 it has also been detected in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT. Biosecurity Tasmania says Tasmania is still free. The National Varroa Mite Management Program ended on 6 February 2026, and state governments now give local advice.

Testing frequency differs by state: NSW and Queensland recommend monthly, Victoria four times a year (rising to four-weekly once varroa is established in the area), and South Australia every three to four weeks within 25 km of a detection. The full picture is on State-by-state rules.

Pollination agreements

BeeAware recommends a written pollination agreement. It protects both the grower and the beekeeper, and clears up what is being hired and supplied. BeeAware sets out what an agreement should cover; read its pollination agreements page before you draft one. In general, an agreement should name both parties and the crop location, say how many hives are supplied and what condition they must be in, set delivery and removal timing, and cover fees and payment, disputes and protection of hives from pesticides. Get legal advice when drafting an agreement.