Pet Transport from Iceland to New Zealand

A move from Iceland to New Zealand with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Expect around 9-12 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and …

9-12 wks

Preparation needed

10 days

Quarantine on arrival

High

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

9-12 weeks

Quarantine

10 days

Route complexity

High

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Iceland to New Zealand typically takes around 9-12 weeks. Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

Start of planning.

Confirm the ISO microchip is fitted, and raise the rabies vaccination question with the vet immediately if the pet has never had one.

Responsible: Icelandic vet

As early as possible; allow at least 6 weeks for processing.

Apply for the MPI import permit online.

Responsible: You or your agent

As soon as a target date is known; slots are limited.

Book quarantine space at an MPI-approved facility near Auckland or Christchurch.

Responsible: You or your agent

Final week before travel.

Complete the two topical tick and flea treatments, the second within 2 days of departure.

Responsible: Icelandic vet

Close to departure, within MPI's specified window.

Get MPI's rabies-free-country certificate completed and endorsed by MAST.

Responsible: MAST-accredited vet, endorsed by MAST

Day of travel.

Fly Keflavik to a European hub, then on to Auckland or Christchurch via Singapore Airlines or Emirates.

Responsible: Cargo handlers at each leg

Immediately after arrival.

10 days minimum at the MPI-approved quarantine facility before release.

Responsible: MPI quarantine staff

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before any vaccination and confirmed by the certifying vet. Source: MPI, mpi.govt.nz, checked July 2026.

Rabies vaccination

A current rabies vaccination is generally expected on the health certificate, even though the titre test itself does not apply. Many Icelandic pets have never been vaccinated against rabies at all, since MAST's own border quarantine substitutes for a domestic vaccination programme, so this is worth raising with an Icelandic vet early rather than assuming the pet is already covered.

Rabies titre test

Not required. MPI places Iceland on its recognised list of rabies-free countries, the same group covering Japan, Singapore and Hawaii, which skips the FAVN titre test and the 180-day wait that applies to most European countries, Germany and the UK included. Source: MPI, mpi.govt.nz, cross-checked against independent pet transport industry sources, July 2026.

Quarantine

Mandatory minimum 10 days at an MPI-approved quarantine facility. Pets must arrive at Auckland International Airport (AKL) or Christchurch Airport (CHC). Source: MPI, mpi.govt.nz, checked July 2026.

Import permit

MPI import permit required before travel, applied for online. Allow at least 6 weeks for processing. Source: MPI, mpi.govt.nz, checked July 2026.

Health certificate

MPI's model certificate for rabies-free-recognised countries, completed by a MAST-accredited vet and endorsed by MAST. Issued close to the travel date.

Export permit

No separate export permit. MAST's endorsement of the health certificate is the export step, the same as any Icelandic departure.

Health certificate

Not the standard EU-form certificate used on Iceland's European routes. MPI publishes its own model certificate for cats and dogs from countries it recognises as rabies-free, and this is the form a MAST-accredited vet must complete, then have endorsed by MAST. Source: MAST, mast.is; MPI model certificate, mpi.govt.nz, checked July 2026.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Iceland to New Zealand move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Icelandair

Covers the first leg out of Keflavik to a European hub such as London Heathrow or Copenhagen. Since 1 November 2024, Icelandair no longer accepts pets as checked or excess baggage, so this sector moves as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo.

Cargo Only

Singapore Airlines

A workable onward option from a European hub to Auckland via Singapore Changi, with established live animal cargo capacity on the final Singapore-Auckland sector.

Cargo Only

Emirates

An alternative onward routing via Dubai to Auckland. Confirm summer temperature embargo dates at the Dubai end before booking, since Emirates SkyCargo restricts acceptance during the hottest months.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

Vet check, microchip confirmation and any rabies vaccination needed: ISK 15,000-40,000 (roughly EUR 100-270)

MAST certificate endorsement fee: around ISK 6,600 (roughly EUR 44)

MPI import permit: NZD 300 upwards

MPI-approved quarantine, 10 days: NZD 1,500-2,500 or more

IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 60-250

Cargo, Keflavik to Auckland or Christchurch via a hub: EUR 2,000-4,000 depending on crate size and season

Agent fees, given the multi-leg routing: EUR 400-900

Total typical range: NZD 7,000-14,000 (roughly EUR 4,000-8,000)

Critical points

MPI's rabies-free recognition removes the FAVN titre test and the 180-day wait, not the quarantine or the import permit. Owners moving from a Category 1-style origin sometimes assume the whole process is light. It is not, though it is considerably shorter than the 36 to 44 weeks quoted for a Germany-to-New Zealand move on this site.

Many Icelandic pets have no rabies vaccination history at all, since domestic vaccination is rarely needed inside Iceland's own border controls. Confirm with the vet at the very first appointment whether one is genuinely required for MPI's certificate, and do not assume it is already in place.

No airline flies Keflavik direct to Auckland or Christchurch. Every routing runs through at least one hub, and since 1 November 2024 Icelandair carries pets only as manifested cargo on every sector it operates.

Pets must land at Auckland or Christchurch specifically. No other New Zealand airport is approved for an international pet arrival, whatever your final destination in the country.

What New Zealand requires

Bringing a pet into New Zealand involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.

Avoiding the common mistakes

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

FAQ

Common questions

No. MPI places Iceland on its list of recognised rabies-free countries, the same tier as Japan, Singapore and Hawaii, which skips the FAVN test and the 180-day wait most European countries face. Iceland still needs a microchip, an import permit, parasite treatments and quarantine on arrival.

Germany sits outside MPI’s recognised rabies-free list, so it needs the full FAVN titre test and a fixed 180-day wait from the blood draw, pushing that route to 36 to 44 weeks. Iceland’s place on the recognised list removes both requirements, cutting the realistic timeline to roughly 9 to 12 weeks.

Not necessarily. Many pets living in Iceland have never been vaccinated against rabies, because the country’s own border quarantine, not domestic vaccination, keeps it rabies-free. MPI’s certificate for recognised rabies-free countries still generally expects a current rabies vaccination, so confirm this with the vet early rather than assuming it is already done.

A minimum of 10 days at an MPI-approved facility, with arrival required at Auckland International Airport or Christchurch Airport. This applies regardless of Iceland’s recognised rabies-free status.

No. No airline flies Keflavik direct to Auckland or Christchurch. A realistic routing connects Icelandair Cargo out of Keflavik to a European hub, then an onward carrier such as Singapore Airlines or Emirates into New Zealand, meaning at least two separate cargo bookings.

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Airline guides

Icelandair
Singapore Airlines
Emirates

Breed guides

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Pet Transport from Iceland to New Zealand

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

What New Zealand requires

Avoiding the common mistakes

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote