Procedures for transporting pets to New Zealand should be carefully planned. However, being prepared in advance will save you time and make your pet more comfortable on the trip.
Given the breadth and complexity of the importing method, this article will provide an overview of key stages that may need guidance to execute. Learn more about isolating your pet, obtaining import permits, and other subjects so you may prepare for a smooth relocation.
What to Anticipate
Depending on the country of origin, importing a pet into New Zealand can be expensive and time-consuming. Paying for credentials, exams, import charges, and other costs may be necessary.
Animals may need to undergo a Special Entry Screening at a MAF-approved facility, and Permission to Import would be required. Some pets may be prohibited because of their specific protections.
Before applying for an import, you must arrange a booking at an isolation facility in New Zealand if your pet will require confinement. The authorization form is only complete with the acceptance letter from the confinement institution.
Requirements to Remember
Assuming the following instances:
- While you won’t need a visa to visit Australia, your pet will
- Importing from a country without the proper paperwork is illegal
- Upon presenting a veterinary certificate and proof that your pet has flown to an approved country, your pet will be then allowed to New Zealand
For more information, please check the list of requirements below.
Check Vaccine Requirements
A pet must be immunized and have a blood test before entering New Zealand. Every pet needs to be microchipped, given a rabies vaccine, tested for antibodies, and treated for internal and external infestations. However, dogs also need an array of supplementary lab tests and vaccines.
Dogs can be immunized against “Leptospira Interrogans Serovar Canicola” instead of undergoing testing for the disease. If you choose to bring a dog into the country, you must ensure they have been vaccinated against this disease at least 14 days before entry. The vaccination must continue to be effective at the designated location.
USDA Endorsements and Medical Certificates
A USDA-approved veterinarian must produce a health certificate for your pet’s destination country before you can travel with it overseas. The local USDA office has to see this certificate before permitting it.
When registering with the airport to reserve a space for your pet’s transportation crate for flights from the United States to New Zealand, a USDA official must be present. Doing so will ensure that neither your pet nor the other items in the container have been compromised.
Specific requirements for importing pets into New Zealand are written in Import Health Standards. You must follow the rules in these documents, which vary according to the mode of transit, the type of import, the destination country’s customs, and the country of export.
Pet Passports
New Zealand requires your pet to spend the previous six months in a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country. Puppies exported from New Zealand must have been born there and should not have left the country before exporting.
Container Training
To enter New Zealand, pets must be treated as registered cargo. Please do this as a matter of pet safety and accountability. This emphasizes the significance of starting crate training for your pet at an early age and maintaining it regularly.
Pet Goods and Products
All pet products, including pet food, heat-and-eat plates, and things produced from chicken feathers, must adhere to Import Health Standards. There is easy access to a wide variety of dog supplies for New Zealand pet owners, and those who want a less time-consuming shopping experience can even do it online.
Bringing a Service Dog or a Guide Dog
The process for bringing an assistance dog to New Zealand is quite similar to that in other countries, with the following differences:
- You’ll need to show proof that your dog meets the criteria for an aid animal
- In a slightly different way and with a different set of contact details, you must advise MPI of your arrival in New Zealand
- Service animals are required to stay at home
Conditions for Pet Export When Departing New Zealand
Bringing a pet into New Zealand is much more difficult than taking one out. Aside from following the import regulations of the country you’re headed to, you may also need to secure an exporting accreditation from MPI or an Animal Welfare Export Certificate.
Any New Zealand veterinarian can verify your pet’s health. However, Animal welfare endorsement certificates (AWECs) and exporting certifications are only issued by organizations recognized by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).
New Zealand is a Pet-friendly Country
Importing animals into New Zealand is difficult because of the extensive measures needed to protect the country’s unique ecologies. Traveling long distances has a significant impact on the human body, and it has an even greater impact on pets.
Dogs and cats are equally accepted in New Zealand. In actuality, there are more pets than individuals in this country. New Zealand is an excellent choice if you want a pet-friendly destination.
