Amber Heard, the wife of Hollywood actor Johnny Depp, will face a four-day hearing in April on charges of illegally importing the couple's dogs into Australia.

The actress allegedly smuggled the couple's Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo into Australia on a private jet in May.

Depp was filming the latest instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise on the Gold Coast when authorities sniffed out the potential quarantine breach.

Heard is facing two charges of illegal importation of an animal and one count of producing a false document.

The summary hearing begins on April 18 and Heard's appearance will be required.

Twelve witnesses are listed to give evidence and it is not known whether Depp is one of those witnesses.