Bringing a dog or cat to New Zealand
Strict but predictable. Pets from Australia arrive with no permit and no quarantine. Everyone else from an approved country needs an MPI permit and at least 10 days in an approved quarantine facility, and Category 3 pets also need a rabies vaccine and titer test at least 3 months before shipment. A new import standard (2026 IHS) took effect on 1 July 2026, and from 1 April 2027 it is the only one accepted.
Which rules apply to you
New Zealand sorts arriving pets by where they travel from. Find your group, then follow its steps.
| Arriving from | Titer test | Wait after sample | Permit | Quarantine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1: Australia (incl. Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands)Pets coming directly from Australia, Norfolk Island or the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
| Category 2: rabies-free countries and Pacific islandsPets that have lived in a Category 2 country since birth (or since direct import from NZ), or for at least 6 months before shipment. Hawaii (USA) and Saipan are also Category 2. They are not in the ISO2 list because Hawaii has no code of its own and Saipan shares MP with the Category 3 Northern Mariana Islands. | No | — | Yes | 10+ days |
| Category 3: rabies absent or well-controlled countriesPets exported from a Category 3 country, for example the UK, USA, Canada, most of the EU, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Malaysia counts only for Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Netherlands Antilles is mapped to CW, SX and BQ. | Yes | 3 months | Yes | 10+ days |
| Countries not in Category 1, 2 or 3Every other country (for example India, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and Turkey). | Yes | — | Yes | 10+ days |
Step by step
Microchip the pet
Use an ISO chip. A vet records the chip at every exam, test and treatment.
Do the dog tests
Dogs 7 months or older need a negative heartworm test within 30 days of shipment, plus heartworm prevention within 5 days (or an up-to-date sustained-release injection). Dogs also need Babesia gibsoni testing.
Treat for parasites
Give two internal (worming) treatments: the first within 30 days and at least 14 days before the second, which must be within 5 days of shipment. Give tick and flea treatment within 16 days of shipment.
Final vet exam and certificate
A vet examines the pet within 2 days before shipment and completes the Category 1 veterinary certificate, which the Australian government endorses.
Fly to Auckland or Christchurch
Air arrivals must land at Auckland or Christchurch airport. The pet is inspected and cleared at the border.
No quarantine by air; the pet is cleared at the border. By sea, it goes to a transitional facility until it is inspected on the next working day.
Microchip and official ID check
Implant an ISO chip. An official government vet must scan it at least 6 months before shipment (2026 IHS; required from 1 October 2026 for 2027 arrivals).
Book quarantine and apply for a permit
Book an MPI-approved quarantine facility and apply for an import permit at least 8 weeks ahead. Processing takes 30 working days once all documents are in.
Do the dog tests
Dogs need heartworm testing and prevention, Babesia gibsoni testing, and Leptospira and Brucella canis steps. Canine influenza requires vaccination or a test plus a 21-day declaration.
Treat for parasites
Give two internal treatments (the second within 5 days of shipment) and external treatment within 16 days of shipment.
Final exam, certificate and sealed crate
Hold the vet inspection within 2 days of shipment and have the government endorse the certificate. Category 2 pets travel in a government-sealed crate.
Arrive at Auckland or Christchurch
The pet goes straight into quarantine for at least 10 days.
At least 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility, longer if anything is out of order
Microchip and official ID scan
Implant an ISO chip. If the blood sample will be taken 6–12 months before shipment, an official vet scans the chip before sampling. If it will be taken less than 6 months before, scan once at least 6 months before shipment and again before sampling.
Vaccinate against rabies
Use an MPI-listed vaccine given at 12 weeks or older, at least 6 months before shipment. Keep it continuously valid.
Do the RNATT blood test
Wait 3–4 weeks after vaccination, then draw blood 3–12 months before shipment. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/mL. Get the Rabies Certification Form endorsed by an official vet.
Book quarantine and apply for a permit
Apply at least 8 weeks ahead with the vaccine records, RNATT result, Rabies Certification Form and quarantine booking. Processing takes 30 working days.
Do the dog tests and parasite treatments
Dogs need heartworm, Babesia gibsoni, Leptospira and Brucella canis steps, plus canine influenza vaccination or a test. All pets need internal and external parasite treatments timed before shipment.
Final exam and certificate within 2 days
A vet inspects the pet within 2 days of shipment and the government endorses the Category 3 certificate.
Arrive at Auckland or Christchurch
Transit only through Category 1–3 countries. The pet goes into quarantine for at least 10 days.
At least 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility
No direct import possible
New Zealand accepts cats and dogs only from countries its Chief Technical Officer has approved. Pets cannot be imported directly from any other country.
Move the pet to an approved country
Relocate the pet to a Category 2 or 3 country and complete that category's full preparation there. Category 2 requires 6 months' residence. Rabies steps for Category 3 must be done there.
Or wait for country approval
The country's own veterinary authority can ask MPI to assess it. This is slow and not guaranteed.
Same as the approved export country's category, once the pet qualifies
Good to know
- Cats
- Mostly the same as dogs: microchip, permit, quarantine, and rabies vaccine plus RNATT for Category 3. Cats skip the dog-only tests (heartworm, Babesia, Leptospira, Brucella, canine influenza), and their external parasite treatment is a single treatment within 16 days of shipment. Bengal cats are allowed; other hybrid cats generally need EPA approval as new organisms.
- Banned breeds
- Brazilian Fila (Fila Brasileiro), Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario, American Pit Bull Terrier type, Crosses of the above, Wolf-dog and wild-cat hybrids other than Bengal (need EPA approval)
- How many pets
- Not specified
- Parasite treatment
- Internal (nematodes + cestodes): two treatments, the first within 30 days and at least 14 days before the second, which must be within 5 days of shipment. External: cats get one treatment within 16 days. Dogs get two, the first at least 14 days before the Babesia sample and the last within 16 days. Dogs also need heartworm prevention within 5 days and Angiostrongylus treatment within 5 days.
- Arrival
- By air: Auckland or Christchurch only, usually as manifested cargo. Category 2 pets need a government-sealed crate. By sea: the place of first arrival must be named on the permit (Opua for yachts under the 2021 guidance). Transit only through Category 1–3 countries.
- Two standards run in parallel during the transition: the 2021 IHS is accepted until 1 April 2027, and the 2026 IHS has been in force since 1 July 2026. For 2027 arrivals, the 6-month pre-export ID check must be done from 1 October 2026.
- Pets must not be more than 42 days pregnant at shipment.
- Minimum ages (guidance): about 8 weeks (Category 1), 12 weeks (Category 2) and 9 months (Category 3, shown as 39 weeks).
- Dogs diagnosed with Babesia gibsoni or Brucella canis are not eligible.
- Quarantine space is limited; book early.
What we could not confirm
- The country lists come from MPI's October 2022 guidance (2021 IHS). Under the 2026 IHS, the official lists are in MPI-STD-SAA, which could not be fetched. Check them before publishing, especially Malaysia, Liechtenstein and newer EU members such as Romania.
- Category 1 includes the Cocos (Keeling) Islands according to the 2026 certificate template title. Category 1 details for cats were not checked separately.
- The RNATT window under the 2026 IHS (3–12 months before shipment) differs from the 2021 IHS (3–24 months). Owners preparing now should confirm which standard their export country is certifying against.
- advanceNoticeDays = 56 reflects the advice to apply for the permit at least 8 weeks ahead; it is not a formal notice rule.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) – Biosecurity New Zealand before booking.