New Zealand (NZ)
New Zealand is an English-speaking Pacific country known for high trust institutions, dramatic landscapes, outdoor life, and a pragmatic immigration system built around skills, family, study, and investment.
Bringing Pets to New Zealand
Requirements, costs and process for relocating with your pets.
Quarantine duration: Minimum 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility for many eligible cats and dogs, depending country category and arrival pathway.
Vaccinations
Restricted Breeds
💰 Costs
Often NZ$4,000-10,000+ for a cat or dog once vet tests, rabies timing, agent/broker, import permit, airline crate, freight, quarantine, domestic transport, and local registration are included. Large dogs and non-simple routes cost more.
🐕 Dog Tax / Registration
No national dog tax, but dogs must be registered annually with the local council. Fees, responsible-owner discounts, desexing discounts, leash areas, menacing/dangerous dog rules, and renewal dates vary by council.
Register with a local vet soon after arrival. Keep MPI import documents, microchip number, vaccination record, parasite treatment record, diet/medication notes, and insurance details handy.
📋 Relocation Process
Start with MPI country eligibility. Confirm your pet has only been in approved countries for the required period, microchip first, complete rabies vaccination and titre testing where needed, book an MPI-approved quarantine facility early, obtain import permit, complete pre-export vet checks and treatments exactly on schedule, fly through an accepted route, then clear MPI inspection and quarantine on arrival.
New Zealand has some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world. Cats and dogs from non-approved countries cannot simply fly direct; they may need to spend time in an approved country first. Quarantine facilities can book out, and one missed treatment date can delay travel by weeks or months. Some apartments and rentals restrict pets even after legal pet-bond changes, so confirm housing before shipping an animal.