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Bringing a cat from the United Kingdom to New Zealand

Yes — cats from the United Kingdom (a Category 3 country for NZ) can enter, with a rabies vaccination inside a strict 6–12-month window, an RNATT titer test, an MPI permit, and at least 10 days of quarantine on arrival. Plan on about 6 months of preparation. Rules change on 1 April 2027 — see the warning below.

~6 months

Start preparing

Driven by vaccination + titer windows

3–24 months

Titer sample window

Sample must fall in this window before shipment

10 days

Quarantine

Minimum, MPI-approved facility

2 days

Final exam window

Vet exam within 2 days of shipment

Sources disagree: New Zealand is mid-transition: MPI's 2026 Import Health Standard applies from 1 July 2026, both the 2021 and 2026 standards are accepted until 31 March 2027, and from 1 April 2027 an official-vet ID check completed at least 6 months before export becomes mandatory. If your shipment is near those dates, confirm with MPI or your transporter which standard your paperwork should follow.

Until officials align, follow the stricter reading and confirm with the destination authority.

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · the United Kingdom → New Zealand
Step	What to do	When
Residency & eligibility	Your cat must have lived continuously in the UK (or another categorised country) for the 6 months before shipment, be over 9 months old at shipment, and — if female — no more than 42 days pregnant.	Checked at application
Microchip	Microchip in place before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination and the titer blood draw. The number must appear on every document. In the UK, all of this is done through an official vet (OV) under the export health certificate process.	Before anything else
Rabies vaccination	The primary vaccination must fall 6–12 months before shipment and have been given at 3 months of age or older; a booster, if given, must be within 1 year before shipment. Keep vaccination valid continuously from the titer test to shipment.	6–12 months before shipment
RNATT titer test	FAVN or RFFIT, 0.5 IU/ml or higher, sample taken 3–24 months before shipment. You also need an official veterinary declaration for the result, endorsed by the UK competent authority.	3–24 months before shipment
Import permit	Apply to MPI at least 20 business days before you need the permit — earlier is safer.	At least 20 business days ahead
Parasite treatments	Two internal treatments (second within 4 days of shipment) and two external treatments (second within 2 days), all vet-administered with registered products.	Final 30 days
Certificates A & B + final exam	Veterinary Certificates A and B completed by your official vet and endorsed by the UK competent authority. Final examination within 2 days before shipment. Contact MPI at least 72 hours before travel to arrange the arrival inspection.	Final 2 days

Your preparation timeline

1~6 months out — Rabies vaccination inside its 6–12-month window; microchip check
2Months 6–3 — RNATT blood draw inside the 3–24-month window; endorsed declaration
31–2 months out — MPI import permit application (at least 20 business days)
4Final 30 days — Parasite treatment schedule runs
5Final 2 days — Certificates A & B endorsed; final vet exam
6Arrival — Border inspection, then at least 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility

The mistake that causes trouble on this route: The vaccination window. A primary rabies vaccination given more than 12 months — or less than 6 months — before shipment does not meet the Category 3 certificate wording. People with a recently vaccinated cat often discover they must wait months for the window to fit, not days.

Costs you can plan for

Official MPI charges (NZD): import permit NZ$268.24 including GST; border inspection NZ$374.05 including GST for the first animal (NZ$124.68 each additional); veterinary monitoring at the quarantine facility NZ$249.37/hour including GST, plus the facility's own boarding charges, which MPI does not publish. On the UK side, your official vet's fees for the test, certificates and endorsement are set by the practice — GOV.UK publishes no official price.

✈️ 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

Why does my cat need to be over 9 months old?

It is a Category 3 eligibility rule: cats (and dogs) must be more than 9 months old at shipment, have lived in the exporting country for the previous 6 months, and females may be no more than 42 days pregnant.

Are any cat breeds banned in New Zealand?

Hybrid cats are banned, with one exception: a Bengal cat may be imported if you can document 5 generations of domestic ancestry. Ordinary domestic breeds are fine.

Is quarantine really mandatory?

Yes — at least 10 days in an MPI-approved facility for every Category 3 cat, however complete the paperwork. There is no home-quarantine option.

What changes in April 2027?

MPI's 2026 Import Health Standard becomes the only standard: among other changes, an identity check by official veterinarians at least 6 months before export becomes mandatory. If you are shipping near the changeover, confirm with MPI which standard your paperwork should follow.

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.