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Bringing a Dog or Cat to New Zealand
New Zealand's new import rules took effect on 1 July 2026. From the mainland US and other Category 3 countries, a dog or cat needs a microchip checked by an official vet at least 6 months before shipment, a rabies vaccine (a first vaccination at least 6 months before shipment), a rabies antibody test of 0.5 IU/ml or more taken 3 to 12 months before shipment, an import permit, parasite treatments and tests in the last weeks, and at least 10 days in an approved quarantine facility after arrival.
Requirements at a glance
| Country category | 1: Australia. 2: rabies-free countries (Hawaii is one). 3: rabies absent or well-controlled (the mainland US is one). Check MPI's list for yours |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required; ISO recommended. Category 3: recorded at the rabies vaccine and the blood test, and checked by an official vet 6+ months before shipment |
| Rabies vaccine (Category 3) | At 12+ weeks old, valid until shipment; a first vaccination at least 6 months before shipment |
| Antibody test (Category 3) | 0.5 IU/ml or more, sample taken 3 to 12 months before shipment |
| Import permit | Categories 2 and 3; apply 8+ weeks ahead and allow 30 working days |
| Final weeks | Internal and external parasite treatments; for dogs, Babesia gibsoni tests and heartworm, leptospirosis, Leishmania and Brucella checks |
| Quarantine | At least 10 days in an MPI-approved facility for Categories 2 and 3 |
| Arrival | Manifested cargo only, into Auckland or Christchurch |
| Plan ahead | At least 7 months from Category 3 |
Step-by-step timeline
- 7+ months beforeFind your country's category. Category 3: microchip, then rabies vaccine at 12 weeks or older; a first vaccination must be at least 6 months before shipment. An official vet scans the microchip at least 6 months before shipment.
- 3 to 12 months beforeBlood sample for the rabies antibody test (RNATT) at an approved lab; the result must be 0.5 IU/ml or more. MPI recommends waiting 3 to 4 weeks after vaccination before the sample.
- 8+ weeks beforeBook a quarantine place, then apply for the import permit online with the vaccine records, test result and rabies certification form. Allow 30 working days.
- 30 to 44 days beforeDogs: Babesia gibsoni testing, then tests or declarations for Brucella canis, Leishmania, leptospirosis and heartworm. External parasite treatment: cats once in the last 16 days; dogs twice, the first at least 14 days before the Babesia blood sample and the last in the final 16 days.
- 5 days beforeSecond internal parasite treatment (the first falls in the last 30 days), and heartworm prevention for dogs.
- 2 days beforeVet inspection: healthy, fit to travel, no ticks or fleas. Official vet certificate, endorsed on every page.
- ArrivalAuckland or Christchurch as manifested cargo, then at least 10 days in quarantine.
Dogs vs cats
Dogs need far more tests than cats: Babesia gibsoni, Brucella canis for entire dogs, heartworm, Leishmania and leptospirosis. Banned dogs are the Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and American Pit Bull Terrier types. Bengal cats are allowed. MPI's guide says pets from Category 3 countries will be about 9 months old at the earliest.
Common mistakes
- Ticks or fleas found before or after the flight. Every pet in the shipment goes into quarantine and the Babesia tests are repeated.
- Skipping the official-vet microchip check. It is new in 2026 and must be done at least 6 months before shipment.
- Taking the antibody sample less than 3 months before shipment.
- Booking a cabin seat. Pets must fly to New Zealand as manifested cargo.
Official source: MPI: Import Health Standard, cats and dogs 2026 (PDF)
Other destinations
🇪🇺 EU🇬🇧 UK🇺🇸 US🇨🇦 Canada🇯🇵 Japan🇦🇺 Australia🌺 Hawaii🇸🇬 Singapore🇹🇭 Thailand🇵🇭 Philippines🇮🇩 Indonesia & Bali🇲🇽 Mexico🇨🇷 Costa Rica🇮🇪 Ireland🇰🇷 South Korea🇭🇰 Hong Kong🇦🇪 UAE🇨🇳 China🇮🇳 India
Frequently asked questions
How long is pet quarantine in New Zealand?
At least 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility for pets from Category 2 and 3 countries. Only pets from Australia and compliant assistance dogs avoid it.
How long does it take to bring a dog to New Zealand from the US?
At least 6 months, and in practice 7 or more: the first rabies vaccine and the official microchip check must be 6 months before shipment, and the antibody test 3 to 12 months before.
What changed in 2026?
A new import health standard took effect on 1 July 2026 and added an official-vet microchip check at least 6 months before shipment. The 2021 rules can still be used until 1 April 2027.
Is the UK or the EU in Category 2 or 3?
MPI publishes the country list in a separate document that we could not confirm for this page. Check it before you start, because the category decides the whole timeline.
Sources
- MPI: Import Health Standard, cats and dogs 2026 (PDF)
- MPI: bringing cats and dogs to New Zealand
- USDA APHIS: pet travel from the US to New Zealand
Rules change. Always confirm with the official source above and your vet before you travel or change a vaccine plan.