Taking your pets to New Zealand

Anyone considering a New Zealand visa application should be aware of the country's tight quarantine restrictions, similar to those encountered by applicants for Australia visas. To find out your exact rights during you New Zealand immigration, take our free assessment above.

Only domesticated dogs and cats may be imported. If you have a non-traditional pet (such as a bird, rabbit, ferret, hamster, guinea pig, rat, or mouse), it will not be able to accompany you to New Zealand.

Animals must be shipped in International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved transit kennels that allow the animal to stand up without touching the top of the box, lie down and turn around.

Cats and dogs must be shipped as manifest cargo and not as excess baggage. There is currently no quarantine for cats and dogs entering New Zealand, however they must be isolated at the owner's home for 30 days.

All animals must come through Auckland International Airport. They must have typically spent at least six months in their departure country and will require full vaccinations and a subcutaneous identity chip.

Certain breeds of dogs (including cross-breeds) are not eligible for importation. These include the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentine, Japanese Tosa and Brazilian Fila.

Vaccinations required for cats:

• Rabies
• Panleukopenia
• Rhinotrachetis
• Calicivirus
• Chlamydia Psittaci (optional)

To import cats or dogs to New Zealand the following is required:

• As from the July 1 2005 you no longer need an Import permit, however all animals must be identified with a microchip (approved ISO types only) or permanent tattoo.
• An Official Export Health Certificate, which must be applied for from DEFRA.
• On two occasions, 14 days apart, being within 30 days of export, faecal samples must be taken from the animal(s) and examined for hookworm eggs. Tests must be done by a Government or VI Laboratory.
• Treatment for internal parasites must be given within 21 days of export and again within 96 hours of export.
• Treatment with an insecticidal dip for external parasites must be given between 48 - 96 hours of export.
• In the case of dogs, blood tests/treatment for Brucella canis, Dirofilaria, Ehrlichia and Leptospirosis (or specific treatment with antibiotics) must be submitted to the relevant authority within 30 days of the flight with negative results (more tests will need to be done if any positive results are obtained).
• Babesia Gibsoni testing is now required, 2 tests need to be completed within 10 days of departure. They are, blood taken from the outer surface of the ear for smear testing and a PCR test.
• For dogs, two heartworm (Dirofilaria) tests, Antigerm Elisa Test and Microfilaria concentration test need to be done.
• The original clearance of notifiable diseases certificate from DEFRA. The vet at the airport must have this in order to sign the third section of the Health Certificate.
• The LVI doing the first two sections does not require this. A written declaration regarding residency, age and pregnancy as laid down in the regulation.

Importing Cats or Dogs to New Zealand 

Moving a pet to New Zealand can cost several thousand New Zealand dollars by the time you take into account vet costs before you leave and air transport.

Before you leave the UK a vet will need to implant a microchip into your pet (or arrange for a permanent tattoo) for identification purposes.

If coming to New Zealand from the UK, you should allow for around �100 for vet costs. To fly a cat or a small dog to New Zealand from the UK will cost around �1,000. Find out further information on our Emigrate to Northland page.