Moving
Pets to New Zealand
If you have pets, be sure the airline you select is currently
accepting animals as cargo Some airlines have been known to stop
accepting them for certain periods of time.
Don't worry even though they're considered "cargo,"
animals are placed in a pressurised climate- controlled section
of the hold (usually in the tail) and get special treatment from
handlers.
All animals must come through Auckland International Airport
and most are subject to quarantine depending on the country they
are from. They must have typically spent at least 6 months freely
resident in their departure country, will require full vaccinations
and a subcutaneous identity chip. Pets from most countries (with
the notable exceptions of Australia and the UK) will also require
a rabies lab test at least three weeks after vaccination.
The rabies lab test results, which identifies the animal by it's
identity chip number must be at least 6 months old before the
animal will be eligible for importation. This is one of those
long lead-time items that needs to be handled early or you may
be forced to have your pet join you in NZ several months later.
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 unfortunately not be able to
accompany you.
Certain breeds (including cross-breeds) of dog are also not eligible
for
importation. These include the American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo
Argentine, Japanese Tosa and Brazilian Fila.
Required vaccinations for dogs:
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Hepatitis |
| |
Canine Cough (adenovirus 2, parainfluenza & bordetella) |
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Leptospirosis |
| |
Parvovirus |
Required vaccinations for cats:
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Rabies |
| |
Panleukopenia |
| |
Rhinotrachetis |
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Calicivirus |
|
Chlamydia Psittaci (optional) |
Quarantine periods
Typical quarantine periods and documentation requirements for
dogs and cats are summarised in the following table. Check with
MAF or your pet quarantine company for additional requirements.
| Origin |
Import Permit Required |
Quarantine Period |
Zoo Cert. |
Vet Cert.A |
Vet Cert. B |
| Australia |
No |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| United Kingdom |
Yes |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hawaii |
Yes |
None |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
30 days |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| South Africa |
Yes |
120 days |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Specified countries |
Yes |
30 days |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Further Information
Further information on New Zealand's immigration, healthcare,
transportation, housing, and education systems is available in
our Information Packs which can
be downloaded from our online store.
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