Bringing Your Pet to New Zealand
Complete requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering New Zealand from the United States. Verified against official sources.
New Zealand requires quarantine on arrival. Careful preparation can minimize the stay — here's the complete process.
Step-by-step timeline
What it costs
Realistic all-in costs for an already-healthy pet. Does not include airline pet fees.
| Microchip (if not chipped) | $40 – $80 |
| All vaccines (rabies, canine flu, DHPP, etc.) | $150 – $350 |
| Rabies titer test (FAVN/RFFIT) + shipping to approved US lab | $200 – $400 |
| Additional testing (Brucella canis for intact dogs, etc.) | $150 – $400 |
| Parasite treatments (multiple rounds) | $100 – $250 |
| MPI Veterinary Certificates A & B + USDA endorsement | $300 – $600 |
| MPI import permit fee | $180 – $220 |
| 10-day quarantine at approved facility | $1200 – $2500 |
| Airline cargo to Auckland (manifest) | $1500 – $3500 |
| Typical all-in | $3500 – $7000 |
Common mistakes that cause denied entry
- Letting the rabies vaccine expire partway through the process. The vaccine must remain valid from titer test through export and quarantine — if it lapses, you start over.
- Booking quarantine too late. MPI-approved facilities near Auckland and Christchurch fill months in advance. Book quarantine BEFORE applying for the import permit — the booking confirmation is required with the permit application.
- Missing the Brucella canis testing requirement for intact dogs. As of MPI's updated rules, 2ME-RSAT is no longer accepted; use RSAT, TAT, CPAg-AGID, or IFAT instead.
- Skipping canine influenza vaccination. US dogs are required to be vaccinated against canine flu — often overlooked because most US vaccines don't include it by default.
- Applying for the permit less than 30 working days out. MPI needs at least 30 working days (6+ weeks) to process. Applications submitted later will miss your flight date.
- Flying into Wellington or other airports. Only Auckland (AKL) and Christchurch (CHC) accept pet imports — all other airports will result in denial of entry.
Airline notes
All pets must travel as manifest cargo (except certified assistance dogs). Air New Zealand, Qantas, United, and American Airlines fly pets to Auckland — typically via Sydney, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Routing rules are strict: the pet must be on a flight booked by an approved pet exporter for most airlines. Transit through countries where rabies is present may require additional permits. Summer flights (Dec-Feb, NZ summer) may have heat embargoes for brachycephalic breeds.
Frequently asked questions
Why does New Zealand require quarantine even with a titer test?
New Zealand is rabies-free and maintains strict biosecurity to protect its unique native wildlife, which has no evolutionary defenses against introduced diseases. Unlike EU countries, which waive quarantine after a successful titer test, New Zealand requires a minimum 10-day post-entry quarantine regardless. The quarantine allows MPI to verify documentation, monitor for illness, and confirm parasite-free status. Only pets from Australia (Category 1) skip quarantine entirely. Even with perfect paperwork, you cannot home-quarantine in New Zealand.
How does New Zealand compare to Australia for pet import?
Similar rigor, some differences. Both require import permits, titer tests, and post-entry quarantine. New Zealand's minimum quarantine is 10 days (vs Australia's 10-30 days depending on identity verification). NZ prep takes roughly 6 months vs Australia's 7-8 months. Both require arrival at specific airports (NZ: Auckland or Christchurch; Australia: Melbourne only). NZ allows Bengal cats 5th-generation or later, which Australia banned entirely as of March 2026. Costs are comparable, $3,500-7,000 for NZ vs $4,500-8,500 for Australia.
What is the 180-day wait rule and does NZ have one?
Australia requires 180 days after the titer blood draw before export. New Zealand does NOT have this rule — the titer test can be closer to travel. However, the titer must be done at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. This is a significant timeline advantage over Australia; NZ prep can typically complete in 6 months vs Australia's 7-8 months.
Why must my pet be vaccinated against canine influenza for NZ?
New Zealand requires canine influenza vaccination for dogs originating from the United States and Canada because of documented outbreaks in these countries. This is unusual — most destination countries don't require canine flu vaccines. Many US vets don't automatically include it, so you must explicitly ask. Plan this into your pre-travel vet schedule and verify the vaccine is recorded in the MPI Veterinary Certificate.
Are any dog or cat breeds banned from New Zealand?
Yes. Five dog breeds are prohibited: American Pit Bull Terrier, Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, and Perro de Presa Canario. This prohibition is enforced based on physical appearance and pedigree — a pit-type dog without papers cannot enter NZ. Bengal and Savannah cats must be 5th generation or later from wild ancestors. Wolf hybrids are not eligible.
Which quarantine facility should I choose?
MPI maintains a list of approved quarantine facilities near Auckland and Christchurch. Popular options include the Qualified Pet Services facility (Auckland) and Canterbury Quarantine (Christchurch). Factors to compare: location relative to your final destination, daily rate ($120-250 NZD per day), pet handling practices, visitation policies, and availability during your target travel window. Book directly with the facility; they'll provide a confirmation letter for your MPI permit application.
What's the total realistic cost and time?
Total cost: NZD $5,500-10,000 (approximately USD $3,500-7,000). Breakdown: vet prep and paperwork $800-1,500, MPI import permit $270-350, quarantine 10 days $1,500-2,500, airline cargo $2,500-5,000. Time: 6 months of preparation from first rabies booster through export. If using a pet relocation service (recommended for NZ's complexity), add $500-2,000 USD. NZ is cheaper than Australia but still one of the most expensive pet destinations in the world.
Can I bring my dog from NZ to Australia afterward?
Yes, but with a 180-day waiting period. MPI notes that dogs imported into NZ require Leishmania infantum testing before export to Australia, and pre-entry NZ tests cannot be used for Australia certification. The Leishmania test must be done after your dog has lived in NZ for at least 21 days, and dogs cannot be sent to Australia until they have lived in NZ for more than 180 days. Plan accordingly if you're using NZ as a stepping stone.
- Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) — Bringing cats and dogs to NZ · last checked 2026-04-19
- USDA APHIS — Pet Travel to New Zealand · last checked 2026-04-19
- New Zealand Government — Bringing pets into New Zealand · last checked 2026-04-19
Related destinations
/country/new-zealand.json (structured data) or /country/new-zealand.md (markdown mirror). Full schema at /agents.md.