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Bringing a cat from Australia to New Zealand

Yes — the trans-Tasman Category 1 arrangement makes this the simplest version of the New Zealand move. Australia is the only Category 1 origin country: no import permit, no quarantine, no blood tests and no rabies steps for cats, and a compliant cat is cleared by MPI on arrival. What remains is a parasite treatment sequence in the final month, a final vet inspection within 2 days of travel, DAFF-endorsed Model Veterinary Certificates A and B, and at least 5 working days' notice to MPI. Air arrivals are Auckland or Christchurch only.
0
Quarantine days
Category 1 cats are cleared on arrival — no quarantine
0
Permit and blood tests
Neither is required for cats from Australia
5 days
Notify MPI ahead
Veterinary inspection application at least 5 working days before arrival
2
Internal parasite rounds
Two worming treatments in the final month — the second within 5 days of travel

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · Australia → New Zealand
StepWhat to doWhen
Start the export processBook a DAFF-registered export vet and lodge the DAFF Notice of Intention; the vet verifies and records the microchip at each treatment and examination 30+ days out
Parasite treatmentsExternal parasites: one vet treatment within 16 days of shipment, with protection kept continuous, and your cat certified free of fleas and ticks. Internal parasites: two worming treatments — the first within 30 days of shipment and at least 14 days before the second, the second within 5 days of shipment 30 to 5 days out
Notify MPIEmail the Application for Veterinary Inspection to [email protected] 5+ working days out
Final inspection and certificatesPre-export vet inspection within 2 days of shipment; Model Veterinary Certificate A completed by your vet and Certificate B endorsed by a DAFF official veterinarian; DAFF issues the export permit — fly within 72 hours of the permit Final 2 days
Fly directArrive at Auckland or Christchurch for the MPI border inspection Travel day

Your preparation timeline

  1. 15 weeks out — Book the export vet and plan the treatment sequence backwards from the flight date.
  2. 230 days out — First internal parasite treatment (at least 14 days before the second).
  3. 316 to 5 days out — External parasite treatment within 16 days; second internal treatment within the final 5 days.
  4. 45 working days out — MPI veterinary inspection application sent.
  5. 5Final 2 days — Final inspection, DAFF-endorsed certificates and export permit.
  6. 6Arrival — MPI inspection at Auckland or Christchurch; a compliant cat is released the same day.
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Assuming 'no blood tests' means 'no timetable'. The two internal parasite treatments must be at least 14 days apart, the second must fall inside the final 5 days, and the external treatment inside the final 16 days — so the sequence has to be booked backwards from the flight, not squeezed into the last week. And MPI still needs its 5 working days' notice even though no permit is required; turning up unannounced is the easiest way to have a compliant cat held at the border. Note MPI's Import Health Standard was reissued in 2026 (in force from 1 July 2026; the 2021 standard is accepted during a transition until 1 April 2027).

Costs you can plan for

MPI charges no import permit fee for Australian cats and dogs. The border inspection costs NZ$374.05 (including GST) for the first pet and NZ$124.68 for each additional pet; if your cat is directed to a facility, veterinary inspection time is charged at NZ$249.37 per hour. Add DAFF export fees in Australia, the registered vet's treatment and certification fees, and air freight.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Does my cat need any blood tests or a rabies vaccination for New Zealand?

No. For Category 1 cats from Australia there are no disease blood tests and no rabies steps at all — the requirements are the microchip, the parasite treatment sequence, the final inspection and the endorsed certificates.

How old must a kitten be to travel?

MPI guidance is at least 8 weeks old and weaned on the date of shipment, and cats more than 42 days pregnant cannot be shipped. Hybrid cats (offspring of a domestic cat crossed with a wild species) are not eligible as domestic cats.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-12

Official sources for this page

We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.

Want a professional to run this route for you?

Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.