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New Zealand

Moving to New Zealand with a Dog or Cat from the US

General information, not veterinary advice. Requirements are set by the destination authority and can change: confirm with the official authority, your accredited vet and your airline.

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) places the United States in Category 3: countries where rabies is absent or well controlled. Pets from Category 3 need an import permit, a rabies titer test, dog-specific tests and treatments, and at least 10 days in an approved quarantine facility. The rules are also in transition, and your travel date decides which set applies.

Which rules apply to your move

MPI issued a new Import Health Standard (IHS) for cats and dogs on 12 May 2026, in force from 1 July 2026. Here is how the changeover works:

  • Until 1 April 2027, you may comply with either the 2021 IHS or the 2026 IHS.
  • From 1 October 2026, official pre-export ID checks began. They are needed for eligibility to import from 1 April 2027.
  • From 1 April 2027, every cat and dog must meet the 2026 IHS, including an official ID check at least 6 months before export.

For US owners, USDA states that certificates for entries from 1 April 2027 "will be negotiated and posted." Entries before that date use the existing certificates. If you arrive after 1 April 2027, keep checking the USDA page. This guide follows the 2026 IHS.

Eligibility basics

  • Age. MPI guidance for Category 3: at least 9 months old at shipment.
  • Pregnancy. Not more than 42 days pregnant at shipment.
  • Breeds. New Zealand bans the Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and American Pit Bull Terrier type. MPI notes that hybrid cats other than Bengals are likely to need separate approval from the Environmental Protection Authority.
  • Microchip. Every pet must have one; MPI recommends an ISO 11784/11785 chip.

The USDA identity declaration

Under the 2026 IHS, the microchip check must happen before the rabies titer sample. USDA runs it as a three-part declaration:

  1. Parts 1 and 2 are completed by two different USDA-accredited vets at different clinics, each scanning the chip and taking photos. Both must be done at least 6 months before export.
  2. Part 3, the USDA identity declaration, is endorsed within 2 months of the second scan. USDA submits it directly to New Zealand.

A user fee applies to each part. A titer sample taken 3 to 6 months before shipment requires two full ID checks.

Rabies vaccination and titer test

Your pet needs a rabies vaccination from a vet at 12 weeks of age or older, with an approved vaccine type, kept continuously valid until shipment. The primary vaccination must be at least 6 months before shipment.

The titer test (FAVN or RFFIT) is done on a sample taken 3 to 12 months before shipment, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/mL. The lab must be USDA-approved, EU-approved for rabies serology, or a WOAH reference lab.

What dogs need in the last 30 days

Cats need only the ID check, rabies vaccination and titer, parasite treatments and an exam. Dogs have a longer list, timed back from the shipment date:

Requirement Timing before shipment
Babesia gibsoni test Within 30 days, at least 14 days after the first external parasite treatment (a three-PCR option also exists)
Brucella canis Within 30 days for entire dogs, or certified desexing
Leishmania infantum test Within 30 days
Leptospira Canicola Negative MAT or an approved treatment, within 30 days
Heartworm test Within 30 days, dogs 7 months and older
Canine influenza Full vaccination between 12 months and 14 days, or a negative test within 10 days
External parasite treatment Two treatments, the last within 16 days
Internal parasite treatment Two treatments, the second within 5 days
Heartworm and Angiostrongylus treatment Within 5 days
Clinical inspection Within 2 days

Canine influenza applies because the USA is on MPI's list of affected countries; all dogs also need a declaration covering the 21 days before shipment. For heartworm, a current sustained-release injection listed by MPI can replace the 5-day treatment.

Permit and paperwork

Apply for your MPI permit with the rabies vaccination records, titer result, the Rabies Certification Form (RCF) and a signed quarantine booking form. MPI guidance suggests applying at least 8 weeks before travel. The permit fee is NZD 268.24 including GST.

Your accredited vet completes Veterinary Certificate A and leaves Certificate B blank for APHIS. USDA must ink-sign and emboss the health certificate, the RCF and, for entries before 1 April 2027, the OVD; digital endorsement is not available for these.

Arrival and quarantine

Pets may only arrive by air at Auckland or Christchurch, then spend at least 10 days in the MPI-approved facility named on the permit. Facilities are privately run, and MPI does not publish their fees. MPI's border inspection fee for the first cat or dog is NZD 374.05 including GST.

At the time of writing, Delta's pet page lists New Zealand among destinations with no pets in the cabin, and American Airlines Cargo states it carries no warm-blooded animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more. Confirm the routing with your airline before booking.

Plan it with the kit

The USA to New Zealand kit organizes this process for US owners in a set of working files. It includes a user guide, a timeline workbook that computes every date from your flight date, a vet visit brief, a document and airline checklist, and letter templates.

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