In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to New Zealand
typically takes around 20-32 weeks.
Expect 10 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
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Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
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Overview
Getting a pet from United Kingdom to New Zealand is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Plan for approximately 20-32 weeks. This is a rigorous route with little room to compress the schedule. Plan for 10 days of quarantine on arrival.
This route requires a rabies titre test with a set waiting period, so do not leave it late. Start with the step by step process below and build your plan from there.
Step by step
The United Kingdom to New Zealand process
1
Verify now.
Confirm microchip pre-dates rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
2
Several months ahead. The permit sets out all tests and timing.
Apply for MPI import permit and review the testing regime
Responsible: Owner or agent
3
Per the permit schedule, with specific timing windows before travel.
Complete the required tests (titre, plus dog-specific disease screening)
Responsible: Vet and approved laboratories
4
Before departure. Spaces are limited.
Pre-book MPI-approved quarantine facility
Responsible: Owner or agent
5
6-8 weeks ahead.
Book cargo space on UK to New Zealand route
Responsible: Owner or agent
6
Close to travel.
APHA-endorsed health certificate matching the permit
Responsible: APHA-authorised vet, then APHA
7
On travel date. Minimum 10 days at the MPI facility before collection.
Travel to New Zealand as cargo, then 10-day quarantine
Responsible: Airline cargo, then MPI quarantine facility
Checklist
New Zealand: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO standard microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required from most countries. The UK is a rabies-free approved country; MPI specifies the exact vaccination and testing conditions in the permit.
Rabies titre test
Required where specified by MPI. Rabies antibody titre and other disease tests (such as leptospirosis and brucellosis screening for dogs) per the permit.
Quarantine
Minimum 10 days at an MPI-approved quarantine facility on arrival. Must be pre-booked before departure.
Import permit
Import permit required from MPI before travel. Apply well in advance; the testing regime must be planned around it.
Health certificate
APHA-endorsed health certificate matching the MPI permit conditions, issued close to travel.
No formal UK export permit. The endorsed health certificate covers export documentation.
Health certificate
APHA-endorsed health certificate in the format required by New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), matching the import permit conditions.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
MPI import permit fee: several hundred NZD
2
Quarantine facility fee: NZD 2,000 to NZD 4,000 for the minimum 10-day stay
3
Cargo airline fee: £1,800 to £4,000 from Heathrow to Auckland depending on crate size
4
Testing (titre and dog-specific disease screening): £200 to £500
5
APHA health certificate and endorsement: £150 to £400
6
Pet transport agent fee: £800 to £2,500
7
IATA-compliant travel crate: £80 to £400
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ New Zealand has a strict testing regime beyond rabies, including disease screening for dogs (such as leptospirosis and brucellosis) with specific timing windows. Plan around the MPI permit conditions exactly.
⚠ A minimum 10-day quarantine at an MPI-approved facility is mandatory and must be pre-booked before departure. Spaces are limited.
⚠ The import permit must be in place before travel and the health certificate must match it exactly.
⚠ Microchip must pre-date the rabies vaccination.
⚠ New Zealand prohibits certain breeds including Pit Bull Terrier types, Dogo Argentino, Brazilian Fila and Japanese Tosa.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Air New Zealand
Operates UK to New Zealand routes via hubs. Cargo pet service. Primary national carrier.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines
Via Singapore hub. Heathrow to Auckland with cargo pet service. Common routing.
Cargo Only
Qantas
Via Australia. Note: transiting Australia with a pet has its own biosecurity considerations.
Cargo Only
New Zealand import rules, explained
New Zealand takes biosecurity seriously, and the requirements reflect that. The paperwork is exacting, so accuracy matters as much as timing.
Practical tips for this move
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
Allow 20-32 weeks. The main time factors are the MPI testing regime (which includes rabies titre and dog-specific disease screening, each with timing windows), obtaining the import permit, and pre-booking the quarantine facility. New Zealand’s process is comparable to Australia’s in complexity. Start the process as early as possible once you confirm the move.
Similar in concept. New Zealand requires a minimum 10-day quarantine at an MPI-approved facility on arrival, which must be pre-booked before departure. Like Australia, owners cannot visit during quarantine and pay all costs. The main difference is the specific testing regime, which you must follow exactly per your MPI import permit. Both countries protect their rabies-free, high-biosecurity status rigorously.
New Zealand’s MPI typically requires a rabies titre test plus disease screening for dogs, which can include conditions such as leptospirosis and brucellosis, each with specific timing windows relative to travel. The exact tests and timing are set out in your MPI import permit. This is more extensive than most routes, so work with a vet experienced in New Zealand exports and follow the permit schedule precisely.
Yes. New Zealand prohibits the import of certain breeds including Pit Bull Terrier types, Dogo Argentino, Brazilian Fila and Japanese Tosa. These are import bans. If your dog is one of these breeds or a confirmed mix, it cannot be imported. Check the MPI breed rules before beginning the process, as the testing and permit work is substantial and should not be started for a dog that cannot enter.
Airline guides
Air New Zealand
Singapore Airlines
Qantas
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.