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Bringing a cat from the United States to New Zealand

Yes — cats from the mainland US (a Category 3 country for NZ) can enter, with a rabies vaccination inside a strict 6–12-month window, a 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 a two-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 States → New Zealand
Step	What to do	When
Residency & eligibility	Your pet must have lived continuously in the US for the 6 months before export, be more than 9 months old at shipment, and (if female) not more than 42 days pregnant.	6 months before export
Microchip	Microchip implanted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination and titer test; the number must appear on every record and be scanned by the certifying vet.	Before vaccination
Rabies vaccination	Primary vaccination 6–12 months before shipment (at 3 months of age or older), or a booster within 1 year before shipment. Vaccination must stay current from the titer sample until shipment.	6–12 months out
RNATT titer test	FAVN or RFFIT, 0.5 IU/ml or higher, sample taken 3–24 months before shipment. You also need a USDA-endorsed Official Veterinary Declaration (ink-signed and embossed) for the result.	3–24 months out
Import permit	Apply to MPI Animal Imports at least 20 business days before you need the permit. Fee NZ$268.24 including GST.	≥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 a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA (ink sign + emboss). 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 window opens; microchip in place first
23–6 months out — RNATT blood sample; USDA-endorsed declaration for the result
3≥20 business days out — MPI import permit application
4Final 30 days — Parasite treatments begin; dog disease panel (dogs)
5Final 2 days — Final vet exam, Certificates A & B endorsed
6Arrival — 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 pet 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 US side, USDA endorsement is tiered by the number of lab tests on the certificate: a typical dog file (about 5 tests) falls in the US$206 tier; a cat (titer only) in the US$160 tier.

✈️ 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 pet need to be over 9 months old?

MPI's Category 3 certificate requires the animal to be more than 9 months old at shipment, and to have lived in the export country for the previous 6 months.

Are any cat breeds banned in New Zealand?

Hybrid cats are prohibited — except Bengal cats with documents showing five generations of domestic ancestry.

Is quarantine really mandatory?

Yes — at least 10 days in an MPI-approved facility for Category 3 arrivals, even with perfect paperwork.

What changes in April 2027?

From 1 April 2027 every dog and cat needs an ID check (microchip scans and photos by two different USDA-accredited vets at different clinics) completed at least 6 months before export, and the titer result is documented on a Rabies Certification Form instead of the current declaration.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-11

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.