PetTravelPass

Bringing a dog or cat from Türkiye to New Zealand

New Zealand does not accept dogs or cats flown directly from Türkiye. Under its rules, Türkiye is in the group “Countries not in Category 1, 2 or 3”.

About 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.

Countries not in Category 1, 2 or 3 Quarantine

New Zealand accepts cats and dogs only from countries its Chief Technical Officer has approved. Pets cannot be imported directly from any other 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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fly my dog or cat directly from Türkiye to New Zealand?

New Zealand accepts cats and dogs only from countries its Chief Technical Officer has approved. Pets cannot be imported directly from any other 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.

Sources

Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: New Zealand pet import rules.

More destinations from Türkiye

Moving to New Zealand from somewhere else?