Bringing Pets into New Zealand

The headline first: mainland China is not on MPI’s approved origin list: cats and dogs cannot fly directly from China to New Zealand. They must first live in an approved country for 6 months. Once that is accepted, the rest is a strict but well-defined sequence. Budget 8–14 months and thousands to tens of thousands of NZD before committing.

Country categories: your starting point

MPI classifies origins by rabies risk:

• Category 1: Australia (incl. Norfolk Island): no quarantine, no permit, simplest;
• Category 2: rabies-free countries/territories: Japan, Singapore, Fiji, Iceland, etc.;
• Category 3: rabies-controlled: the UK, mainland US, Canada, most of the EU;
• Not listed: mainland China, India, most of Africa and South America: no direct import. The pet must live continuously in a Category 1/2/3 country for at least 6 months (counted from arrival in the approved country) and meet that country’s requirements before shipment to NZ.

In practice, Chinese pet families often route via Singapore or Japan (Category 2: close, with mature pet-import systems), or via the UK/US when the family moves there first. The transit country’s own import rules (e.g. Singapore’s rabies titre and quarantine requirements) need their own planning.

The full timeline (China via a third country)

1. ISO microchip: implant an ISO 11784/11785 15-digit chip: before the rabies vaccine; the chip number must match across every later document;
2. Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine);
3. RNATT blood test: drawn at least 1 month after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml; the draw date must fall 3–24 months before shipment to NZ;
4. 6 months in the third country: keep residence evidence (vet records, entry/exit documents);
5. Quarantine booking: all origins except Australia face a mandatory 10-day quarantine: a confirmed booking is required before you can apply for the permit;
6. MPI import permit: apply online; processing about 30 working days (allow 8 weeks); third-party cost ~$220–280; the permit is valid 6 months;
7. Pre-export health certificate: signed by an official veterinarian within 2 days of departure and endorsed;
8. Cargo shipment: manifest cargo only (no cabin), arriving at Auckland or Christchurch airports only;
9. 10-day quarantine at an MPI-approved facility (third-party cost ~$1,500–2,500), then home.

Red lines

• Prohibited breeds: Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario, American Pit Bull Terrier;
• Hybrid cats are banned; Bengals with 5+ generations of documented domestic ancestry are the exception;
• No shipment beyond 42 days of pregnancy;
• Incomplete paperwork on arrival: quarantine at your expense, reshipment, and in serious cases destruction: there is no “sort it out on arrival”.

The 2026 rule changes

The new Cats and Dogs IHS took effect 1 July 2026; the 2021 standard remains usable until 1 April 2027:

• New: an official veterinarian in the export country must verify the microchip at least 6 months before shipment;
• Some disease tests (Brucella canis, Babesia) and transit rules are tightened: transit via non-approved countries is no longer allowed;
• If your dates span the transition, confirm which standard the exporting authority will certify.

4 common mistakes

1. Thinking a rabies shot is enough. China isn’t an approved origin: vaccination is one link in a long chain. The 6-month third-country residence is the hard gate; settle the transit-country plan before setting any timeline.
2. Booking flights before the permit. The order is reversed: the RNATT window, quarantine booking and import permit all precede the ticket. Quarantine space is tight in peak season and must be confirmed with the permit application.
3. Assuming cabin or checked-baggage travel. New Zealand accepts manifest cargo only, at two ports. The pet’s “ticket” costs far more than yours.
4. Underestimating the total cost. Permit + vet testing + 6 months of third-country care + freight + quarantine commonly totals thousands to tens of thousands of NZD: convert to RMB with the currency converter before deciding.

Related tools

• NZD currency converter: budget conversion
• Cost of living calculator: fold pet costs into the post-arrival budget