Emigrating to a new country is a great adventure which wouldn’t be complete, is you didn’t let your beloved pets join you. Moving pets to New Zealand is not as complicated as it sounds as long as you follow carefully set out guidelines and rules.
It’s important to note that if your pet hasn’t lived in any of the countries listed below for at least six months, it will not be allowed into New Zealand. The solution is to arrange for your pet to live in an approved country for 6 months and then apply for a permit.
Alternatively, you can apply for a special inclusion permit by submitting information from the government veterinary department regarding rabies and its control in that country.
1. Your pet must be microchipped.
2. You must apply for your pet import permit at least 6 weeks before the intended travel date. This applies to all countries except Australia.
3. Your pet must have a valid rabies vaccination which was administered AFTER it was microchipped.
4. Your pet must be at least 3 months old
5. Thirty days or less before travelling, your dog must be tested for leptospirosis and dogs older than 6 months must be tested and treated for heartworm.
6. All animals coming to New Zealand from a country not listed below must have a Rabies Titer Test within 3 months and 24 hours of entry.
7. 16 days or less before travelling, your dog must be tested for Babesia gibsoni. Dogs travelling from South Africa must also be tested for Babesia canis.
8. A Veterinary Certificate for New Zealand must be completed by the relevant body in your country, 10 days before departure.
9. 1 or 2 days before travelling, your pet must be treated for specific ticks and tapeworms.
10. A final health check must be completed 2 days before departure.
11. You must notify an official vet in New Zealand at least 5 days before your arrival from Australia and 3 days from any other country.
12. Pets will be quarantined (at your expense) for 10 days on arrival in New Zealand where they will undergo a full medical. This does not apply to pets coming from Australia.
Rabies Free Countries
Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Singapore and Vanuatu. The Pacific Islands of American Samoa, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Saipan, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna and Western Samoa.
Rabies Controlled Countries
United States & Canada, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Austria, Argentina, Bahamas, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah & Sarawak only), Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Netherland Antilles, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay and US Virgin Islands.
For more information on how John Mason International can help move your pet to New Zealand please visit our dedicated pet relocation page or email pets@johnmason.com and a member of our dedicated pet relocation team will get back to you, you can also read more on our ultimate guide to moving to New Zealand.
