New Zealand, like Australia, is rabies-free and guards it with a Category 3 import process for US pets. The unusual part is where the time goes: it's not a post-test waiting period but the rabies vaccination itself — a first (primary) vaccination must be at least 6 months old, and no more than 12 months old, on your travel date. Miss that window in either direction and you can't travel.
Inside that six months sits the RNATT titer test (drawn 3–4 weeks after vaccination, and at least 3 months before departure), the import permit (30 working days to process, and you must book quarantine before you can apply), and — for dogs — a cluster of disease tests packed into the final 16–30 days: heartworm, leptospirosis, Babesia, Brucella, plus paired parasite treatments. Every pet then does a minimum 10 days at an MPI-approved quarantine facility, entering only through Auckland or Christchurch.
The requirements, in order
Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.
- ISO microchip implanted & scannedISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted and scanned to verify identity BEFORE any vaccination, test or treatment for import. It anchors everything — each later step must be preceded by a chip scan.
- Rabies vaccination — the 6-month clockInactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine, given at 3 months of age or older, after the microchip. A primary (first) vaccination must be given no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months before travel — this is the single longest lead time in the whole process. A booster counts only if given before the previous shot expired.If your dog's rabies coverage ever lapsed, the next shot is a 'primary' again and restarts the 6-month clock. Keep vaccination continuous from the RNATT draw onward.
- RNATT blood draw (rabies titer test)Rabies antibody titre test (FAVN or RFFIT, result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml) at an approved lab. MPI recommends drawing 3–4 weeks after the primary vaccination. The sample must be taken no less than 3 months and no more than 24 months before departure (the 2021 standard; the 2026 standard narrows this to 12 months).A result below 0.5 IU/ml means re-vaccinate and re-test 3–4 weeks later. This sits inside the 6-month vaccine window, so it rarely drives the timeline.
- Book an MPI-approved quarantine facilityBook your pet's minimum-10-day stay at an approved facility in Auckland or Christchurch. You need the booking confirmation letter to apply for the import permit, and popular facilities fill up — book well ahead.
- Apply for the import permit (APIPS)Apply online once your quarantine booking is in hand and the Official Veterinarian Declaration is endorsed by USDA APHIS. MPI needs at least 30 working days (about 6 weeks) to process it, counted from when all documentation is correct.
- 21-day respiratory-disease clean period beginsFor at least the 21 days before shipment, your pet must show no clinical signs of infectious respiratory disease and not be kept where other cats/dogs show such signs. This is a declaration on the certificate — no lapses in the final three weeks.
- Heartworm test + preventive (dogs)Dogs 6 months or older need an ELISA heartworm test in the 30 days before shipment, and every dog must get a registered heartworm preventive within about 4 days of flying (or be current on a sustained-release injection).
- Leptospirosis: treat or test (dogs)Either a 14-consecutive-day doxycycline course (5–10 mg/kg) OR a negative MAT test in the 30 days before flying.
- Babesia gibsoni test (dogs)Negative IFAT or ELISA in the 16 days before flying (or PCR on two samples 30–37 days apart, the second within 16 days). A dog ever diagnosed with Babesia gibsoni is permanently ineligible.
- Brucella canis test (dogs)Negative RSAT, TAT or CPAg-AGID test in the 16 days before flying. A dog ever diagnosed with Brucella canis is permanently ineligible.
- External parasite treatment #1 (fleas & ticks)First of two treatments effective against fleas and ticks, given in the 30 days before flying and at least 14 days before the second.
- Internal parasite treatment #1 (worms)First of two treatments effective against nematodes and cestodes, given 30 days before flying and at least 14 days before the second.
- Internal parasite treatment #2 (worms)Second worming treatment, at least 14 days after the first and in the 4 days before flying.
- External parasite treatment #2 (fleas & ticks)Second flea/tick treatment, at least 14 days after the first and in the 2 days before flying — combined with the final vet exam.
- Final vet exam + Certificates A & BA veterinarian performs the final pre-export clinical exam in the 2 days before shipment (entire dogs are also checked for CTVT). Model Veterinary Certificate A (USDA-accredited vet) and Certificate B (endorsed by USDA APHIS via VEHCS) are completed here.
Quarantine and the two things you must do early
Two steps trip people up because they come earlier than expected. First, you must book an MPI-approved quarantine facility before applying for the import permit — the booking letter is part of the application, and facilities in Auckland and Christchurch fill up. Second, the permit needs at least 30 working days (about six weeks) once your paperwork is correct. Both run inside the six-month vaccine window, so starting them late is how an otherwise-fine timeline fails.
The dog-only final month
Cats have a clean run — microchip, rabies, titer, parasite treatments, quarantine. Dogs add heartworm testing and prevention, leptospirosis (a 14-day doxycycline course or a MAT test), and Babesia and Brucella blood tests, most within 16–30 days of the flight. Two of these — Babesia gibsoni and Brucella canis — permanently disqualify a dog that has ever tested positive, so don't leave them to the last minute. The planner sequences every window.
A rules change is underway
New Zealand's 2026 Import Health Standard took effect 1 July 2026, with both the 2021 and 2026 standards accepted until 1 April 2027. The main planning changes under the new standard: the RNATT sampling window narrows from 24 months to 12 months, and a new pre-export identity check by an official vet (at least 6 months before shipment) phases in from October 2026. This page is dated on the 2021 standard; for travel near or after April 2027, confirm the 2026 requirements — the "last verified" stamp tells you how current this is.
What it costs (rough US figures)
Like Australia, this is an expensive route: multiple vet visits, the RNATT, disease-test panel (dogs), the import permit (about NZD $268), manifested-cargo airfreight into Auckland or Christchurch, and the quarantine facility's daily rate. Budget several thousand dollars end-to-end, and confirm current fees with MPI and your vet.
Official sources
These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.
- MPI — Step-by-step guide to bringing cats and dogs to NZ (2021 process)
- MPI — Bringing your dog to New Zealand (Category 3 support document & checklist)
- MPI — Bringing your cat to New Zealand (Category 3 support document & checklist)
- USDA APHIS — Pet travel from the US to New Zealand
FAQ
- How long does it take to bring a dog from the US to New Zealand?
- About 6 months minimum, driven by the rule that a primary rabies vaccination must be 6–12 months old on your travel date — plus a 10-day quarantine after arrival. If your pet already has an unbroken vaccination history and a valid titer, the remaining work collapses to roughly the final month of tests plus permit processing plus quarantine. The planner computes your exact dates.
- Does my dog quarantine in New Zealand?
- Yes — a minimum of 10 days at an MPI-approved facility, entering via Auckland or Christchurch. Book it before you apply for the import permit; the stay can extend if fleas or ticks are found on arrival.
- Does the US need a rabies titer test for New Zealand?
- Yes. An RNATT (FAVN or RFFIT) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, drawn 3–4 weeks after vaccination and at least 3 months before departure. Unlike Japan or Australia there's no separate 180-day post-titer wait — the 3-month figure is contained within the 6-month vaccine window.
- Is it different for cats?
- Substantially easier. Cats skip every dog-only disease test — heartworm, leptospirosis, Babesia, Brucella — and keep only the shared steps: microchip, rabies, titer, paired parasite treatments, permit and quarantine. Use the cat toggle in the planner.
- What are the age and residency requirements?
- Your pet must be at least 9 months old on the travel date and have lived in an approved country for the 6 months before travel (or since birth), and must not be more than 42 days pregnant.
Other dog routes
- USA → Japan~7 months lead · 12-hour clearance if done right
- USA → Australia~7 months lead · 10–30 days quarantine
- USA → Spain (EU)3–4 weeks lead · no quarantine
- USA → France (EU)3–4 weeks lead · category-1 breed ban
- USA → Portugal (EU)3–4 weeks lead · 48h arrival notice
- USA → Germany (EU)3–4 weeks lead · breed import ban
- USA → Italy (EU)3–4 weeks lead · no breed bans
- USA → United Kingdom~3 weeks lead · no quarantine if compliant
- UK → Japan~7 months lead · 12-hour clearance if done right
- UK → Australia~7 months lead · 10–30 days quarantine
- UK → Spain (EU)3–4 weeks lead · AHC, not a passport
- Canada → USANo waiting period · just the CDC form + 6-month age
- Canada → Japan~7 months lead · 12-hour clearance if done right
- Canada → Australia~7 months lead · 10–30 days quarantine
- Canada → Spain (EU)3–4 weeks lead · AHC, not a passport
- USA → MexicoNo waiting period · screwworm cert for dogs (Aug 2026)
- USA → Dominican Republic~1 month lead · easy in, harder home for dogs
- USA → Brazil~3 weeks lead · easy in, harder home for dogs
- USA → Colombia~3 weeks lead · easy in, harder home for dogs
- USA → Argentina~3 weeks lead · no permit, no quarantine
- USA → Cayman Islands~3 months lead · titer test, no quarantine option