Bringing your dog or cat to New Zealand is a complicated procedure because of the country’s strict bio-security laws. New Zealand is a rabies-free country and has several regulations to protect the native flora and fauna from exotic diseases. Only pets that are healthy and have met all import regulations are allowed permission to enter the country.

If you are planning to fly to New Zealand with your pet, there are several steps to the process. The Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand has put in place a series of vaccinations that your pet must be given to be eligible to fly into the country. These vaccinations are mandatory and are only a part of the entire process that includes microchipping, health tests, documentation and more.

Know your country category

The rules for importing a pet cat or dog to New Zealand depend on the country the pet is flying from. There are three groups of countries and pets from only the countries that fall in these categories are allowed to travel to New Zealand.

• Category 1: Australia and Norfolk Island
• Category 2: Rabies-free countries and territories that include Bahrain, French Polynesia, Iceland, New Caledonia, Barbados, Guam, Japan, Singapore, Falk Islands, Hawaii, Mauritius, Vanuatu, Fiji, American Samoa, Christmas Island, Cook Island, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Saipan, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, and Western Samoa.
• Category 3: Countries and territories where rabies is absent or well-controlled: Antigua and Barbuda, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Aruba, Denmark, Macau, Slovenia, Austria, Finland, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah & Sarawak only), South Africa, Argentina, France, Malta, South Korea, Bahamas, Germany, Monaco, Spain, Balearic Islands, Gibraltar, Montenegro, St Kitt and Nevis, Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, St Lucia, Bermuda, Greenland, St Vincent and the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Northern Mariana Islands, Sweden, Brunei, Hungary, Norway, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Taiwan, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Canary Islands, Isle of Man, Puerto Rico, United Arab Emirates, Cayman Islands, Israel, Qatar, United Kingdom, Chanel Islands, Jamaica, Reunion, USA, Chile, Kuwait, Serbia, Uruguay, Croatia, Republic of Latvia, Seychelles, Virgin Islands, Cyprus, and Lithuania.

If your pet is travelling from a country that does not fall in any of the above categories, he or she cannot enter New Zealand. Your pet must move to an approved country and take residence there for a minimum of six months before becoming eligible to fly to New Zealand.

Vaccinations required for dogs travelling to New Zealand

Pet dogs flying into New Zealand are required to have the following immunisations.

• Canine distemper
• Infectious canine hepatitis
• Canine parvovirus
• Canine parainfluenza
• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Canine influenza
• Leptospirosis

Pet dogs flying in from Category 3 countries must be vaccinated against rabies no less than six months and no more than 12 months before the date of travel. Your dog must be treated with an inactivated rabies vaccine or recombinant vaccine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Dogs flying in from Category 3 countries will need a rabies titre test (RNATT) to confirm that your pet is adequately protected against rabies.

Vaccinations required for cats flying to New Zealand

Pet cats travelling to New Zealand must be vaccinated against the following:

• Feline panleukopenia (enteritis)
• Feline rhinotracheitis
• Feline calicivirus

Cats flying from Category 3 countries must be vaccinated against rabies not less than six months and not more than 12 months before the flight. The primary rabies certificate must be provided as proof of vaccination. An inactivated rabies vaccine or a recombinant vaccine must be administered according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cats from Category 3 countries also need to undergo a rabies titre test (RNATT) to show that they are protected against the disease.

Pet travel to New Zealand?

New Zealand’s biosecurity laws can be complicated and difficult to understand for the layperson. The Ministry of Primary Industries recommends the assistance of a certified and accredited pet travel agency to facilitate pet transport to New Zealand. If you are planning to travel to New Zealand with your pet dog or cat, get in touch with the team at Petraveller for more information.