The Competition Bylaws outline the requirements for Import Players in Section 15.10.

A Club wishing to field an Import Player during the current Winter Season must notify Hockey WA at least 7 days prior to the Import Player's first game. This can be done by email and is required for each season.

A player who is an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident may be an Import if they have played for another national team (other than Australia) or for another State in a National U21 or Hockey One championships without permission from Hockey WA.

A Player who does not have Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency will be classified as an Import Player if they have played in the top-level hockey competition or National team in the top 20 countries, or the top two levels in the top 10 countries listed in the table below, within the two previous calendar years.

A player who is an International Import Player who has played in either of the top-level hockey competition, national U/21, or national Open team in the top 20 countries must only play in a Club's highest-ranked Team (Bylaw 15.9). A Player who has not played in a national U/21 or Open team and has played no higher than the second-level competition in the top 10 countries will be an Import Player, but they can play in a lower-ranked team at the club.

The table will be updated from the FIH World Rankings at the end of each Winter Season, and the revised table will apply to the following Winter Season, regardless of any changes made to the table during that season.

All International Players must complete this survey, which will provide Hockey WA with information to ascertain whether they are an Import Player or not. Hockey WA may request further information to clarify their status. An International Player who is not classified as an Import can play in any team and does not need to provide a photo ID.

All new Import Players must identify themselves to Hockey WA by providing a photo of themselves holding a photo ID that clearly shows their face and name. This can be a driver's licence or a similar document. International players who are classified as Imports must provide a photo of themselves holding a passport.

Once an Import Player has identified themselves to Hockey WA, they do not need to do so again for the following Winter Seasons. 

Import Players in Premier 1 Women and Premier 1 & 2 Men must have played at least 5 Fixture Weeks for that Club by the end of the 15th game of the season to be eligible to play in the latter part of the current Winter Season. 

Import Players in Premier 2 & 3 Women and Premier 3 Men must have played at least 4 Fixture Weeks for that Club by the end of the 12th game of the season to be eligible to play in the latter part of the current Winter Season.

In 2026, that is by the mid-year break in July. 

FILL OUT THE INTERNATIONAL PLAYER FORM

To assist in planning, the table of the top 20 countries for the 2026 Season is below.

For comparison, the table of the top 20 countries for the 2025 Season is below.