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Pet Transport Thailand to New Zealand: 2026 Guide

If you are relocating a pet from Thailand to New Zealand, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. This is a middle of the road route, and about 16-22 weeks of …

16-22 wks
Preparation needed
10 days
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
16-22 weeks
Quarantine
10 days
Route complexity
Moderate
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must …
Rabies vaccinationCurrent rabies vaccination. Blood draw …
Rabies titre testRNATT titre test required. Minimum 0.5 …
Quarantine10-day mandatory quarantine at MPI Levin …
Import permitMPI import permit. Apply at least 30 …
Health certificateMPI-format health certificate within 14 …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from Thailand to New Zealand typically takes around 16-22 weeks. Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
5-6 months before intended travel.
Apply for MPI import permit at mpi.govt.nz (30 working days minimum).

Responsible: Owner or agent

2
3-4 months before travel. Allow 2-4 weeks for DLD permit.
DLD export permit application. Microchip confirmed. Rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Owner and DLD vet

3
28 days after vaccination. 3-month NZ wait starts from this date.
Blood draw for RNATT titre test at MPI-approved laboratory. At least 28 days after vaccination.

Responsible: DLD vet and approved laboratory

4
After blood draw. Book 4-6 weeks before travel.
Receive titre result (pass/fail). Confirm MPI permit. Book cargo flights.

Responsible: Owner

5
Within 14 days of departure.
DLD health certificate in MPI format issued within 14 days of travel.

Responsible: DLD vet

6
After 3 months from blood draw.
Travel BKK to SYD or SIN, then to AKL. MPI inspection and Levin quarantine.

Responsible: Airline and MPI

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. Must predate the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination. Blood draw at least 28 days after vaccination.
Rabies titre test
RNATT titre test required. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. MPI-approved laboratory. 3-month wait from blood draw before New Zealand entry. Result valid for up to 24 months. Source: MPI, mpi.govt.nz.
Quarantine
10-day mandatory quarantine at MPI Levin Quarantine Facility.
Import permit
MPI import permit. Apply at least 30 working days before travel.
Health certificate
MPI-format health certificate within 14 days of travel. DLD-endorsed.
Export permit
DLD export permit required. Apply through the local DLD office. Allow 2-4 weeks.
Health certificate
Health certificate from a Thai veterinarian endorsed by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD). Must comply with MPI New Zealand format.
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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.

Thai Airways (via Sydney)
Thai Airways operates Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Sydney (SYD). Thai Airways Cargo accepts pets. Connect from Sydney to Auckland on Air New Zealand SYD-AKL for the final sector.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines (via Singapore)
Singapore Airlines operates BKK to Singapore (SIN) and SIN to Auckland (AKL). Singapore Airlines Cargo handles live animals at Changi. Two-sector routing with strong live animal infrastructure at the transit hub.
Cargo Only
Air New Zealand (via Sydney)
Air New Zealand operates SYD to AKL and CHC. Connects from the Sydney hub to complete the New Zealand leg. Air New Zealand Cargo handles pets on this sector.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

DLD export permit and health certificate: THB 2,000-5,000
RNATT titre test: USD 100-200
MPI import permit: NZD 260 (approximately THB 5,200)
Levin quarantine (10 days): NZD 1,500-3,000
Air cargo BKK to AKL via SIN or SYD: USD 1,500-3,500
Total typical range: NZD 6,500-13,000

Critical points

The 3-month wait from blood draw is fixed. Build this into your departure date calculation first, then work backwards.

DLD processing takes 2-4 weeks. Start the export permit application early.

No direct flights from Thailand to New Zealand. Via Singapore (SIN-AKL) or via Sydney (SYD-AKL) are the standard options.

Levin quarantine is weekday arrivals only. Avoid Friday or weekend arrival routing.

The rules for bringing a pet into New Zealand

New Zealand keeps its requirements reasonable, though a few steps have fixed timing. Map those out first and the rest falls into place.

How to keep this move on track

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Pets can travel directly from Thailand to New Zealand (via a connection hub such as Singapore or Sydney) without any intermediate country staging requirement. This is different from the Australia pathway, where Thailand-origin pets require the 180-day approved country residency.
The absolute minimum is approximately 4 months: 28 days post-vaccination to the blood draw, then 3 months from blood draw. In practice, allow 5 to 6 months to include DLD processing, MPI permit time (30 working days), and flight booking.
MPI requires a DLD-endorsed health certificate in MPI’s specified format, confirming the pet’s microchip, rabies vaccination history, titre test result, and fitness to travel. Your Thai vet or a specialist agent can prepare this in the correct MPI format. The certificate must be issued within 14 days of travel.
Yes. MPI requirements apply equally to cats and dogs arriving from Thailand. The DLD export process, titre test, and Levin quarantine are all the same. Crate size (and therefore cargo cost) will be different for a cat versus a large dog.
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Airline guides
  • Thai Airways (via Sydney)
  • Singapore Airlines (via Singapore)
  • Air New Zealand (via Sydney)
Breed guides

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