Taking Pets to New Zealand
Bring your beloved dog or cat to New Zealand with confidence and care. At PetAir UK, we’re the UK’s most trusted, veterinary-led pet travel specialists – with 20+ years experience and over 33,000 pets flown safely worldwide. Moving your family – including four-legged members – is emotional and complex, so we handle every step: paperwork, vet checks, airline booking, aircraft-approved crates and quarantine compliance.
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What you need to know
Pet Travel to New Zealand – What You Need to Know
New Zealand’s biosecurity rules are strict (and for good reason). All cats and dogs travelling from the UK will need an import permit, approved veterinary certification, and a 10-day stay in an MPI-approved quarantine facility on arrival.
The essentials at a glance (UK to New Zealand)
- Microchip first: Your pet must be identified with a microchip, and it must be in place before (or at the same time as) rabies vaccination and testing.
- Rabies vaccination + blood test (RNATT):
– Primary rabies vaccine must be given at least 6 months and no more than 1 year before shipment (pet must be at least 3 months old at vaccination).
– Rabies antibody blood sample must be taken not less than 3 months and not more than 24 months before shipment, with a pass result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. - Import permit: You’ll need an import permit for entry. Permit applications require proof of rabies compliance and a confirmed quarantine booking, you will need to allow 30 working day for processing.
- Quarantine: Cats and dogs must complete a minimum of 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility. MPI vets inspect pets during quarantine and release can be delayed if issues are found.
- Parasite treatments and wider health checks: Cats and dogs must receive internal and external parasite treatments, and dogs require additional testing (for example, leptospirosis and other specified tests) according to the export health certification requirements.
Airline and routing reality (what most owners need to know)
Pets generally travel to New Zealand as manifested cargo under IATA rules, and are routed into New Zealand’s key international arrival points where animal processes and quarantine transfers can be managed. Sedation is not permitted for pets travelling by air – we’ll guide you on calmer, safer alternatives instead.
PetAir UK handles the paperwork, vet checks, scheduling, flight planning, and quarantine coordination – and we keep you updated at every step.
Why PetAir?
Why Choose PetAir UK for Pet Flights to New Zealand
- 100% vet-led team – overseeing wellbeing, planning and clinical details
- 33,000+ pets flown safely to 300+ destinations worldwide
- Custom-built IATA-compliant pet crates sized for comfort, ventilation and safe posture
- Dedicated travel coordinators managing every deadline, form and booking
- Transparent, all-inclusive quotes – no hidden costs.
- 1-to-1 veterinary support through our Vet-Led Travel Prep service.
- Flexible budgeting through Pet Travel Payment Plans.
- Extra reassurance with our Pet Travel Care Tags.
- Consistently high customer satisfaction, strong testimonials and global airline partnerships.
With PetAir UK, your pet’s safety and wellbeing always come first. To learn more about why you should choose PetAir, click here.
The PetAir Process
Step-by-Step – The PetAir Process (UK to New Zealand)
- Get a Quote – tell us about your pet, destination city, and ideal timeframe
- Consultation with our team – eligibility, welfare planning, timeline
- Travel prep and documentation – microchip checks, rabies schedule, RNATT, parasite plans, forms
- Pet cabin customisation – IATA-compliant sizing and comfort setup
- Flight day and tracking – calm handling, welfare-first processes, clear updates
- Arrival, quarantine and onward support – quarantine transfer coordination and next steps after release