Immigrate with your pet from South Africa to New Zealand
Moving with your pet from South Africa to New Zealand is an exciting adventure but requires a lot of upfront work. As with all animal immigration you need to have all the regulatory microchipping and vaccines done by a registered vet.Â
Microchip and vaccination - 6 months before departure to NZ
All animals and pets need to have microchip identification before starting the process of applying to transport your pet to New Zealand. It is important to do this before the rabies vaccination is done. Make sure you get a certificate which shows the vaccine duration, some will last 2 years and others only 1 year.
PETport will assist you with Vaccines and Vet documentation
There is a significant amount of vet visits to get all the necessary paperwork and vaccines. It is also critical that the correct vaccines and certificates are done. At PETport we will facilitate this process with our proven network of veterinary professionals. If you do not meet some of the requirements it can result in a 180-day quarantine period or worse even returning the pet to South Africa.
Banned Animal Species
There are many animal species that are not allowed into New Zealand. Talk to use for a current list. Dogs and Cats are the most common pets and are allowed to enter. There are some breeds that are not allowed to enter and those include: Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, and Perro de Presa Canario, and American Pit Bull Terrier.
Accredited Vetinary
In order to have your application approved you need to have a full RNAT test laboratory report and rabies vaccination certificate; complete, sign and stamp the declaration. There is a special endorsement for New Zealand called an OVD (Official Veterinary Declaration). Part of our process is that we send that, proof of microchip, rabies, and TITER all to the USDA to get the OVD approved for your pets application.
Pet import documents into New Zealand
As will all international travel this process can take many months so plan well ahead of time. At PETport we will help you with the following:
- Complete and submit your application for approval.
- Depending various factors such as your pet's species, breed, and other medical factors, this process can take up to 20 days to complete.
Quarantine in New Zealand
Once you have completed the application process it is required to book your pet(s) at an MPI-approved quarantine facility. The quarantine stations are privatized in New Zealand, this means you have options to choose from. Have a look at the MPI website. At PETport we will ensure your pet is booked for and delivered to quarantine and arrange post-quarantine destination services such as flights and home delivery.
In Summary Immigrating with Pets New Zealand
Pets travelling to New Zealand are subject to 10 days’ quarantine upon arrival in New Zealand. There is are only 2 quarantine station locations in New Zealand. Auckland or Christchurch. We can assist in getting your pets home to you after quarantine is complete, there is no need to travel to the Quarantine Station to collect the pets.
Requirements:
- Valid Inoculations (5in1 for Dogs; 3in1 for Cats) – over 30 days less than 12 months
- Valid Rabies Vaccination – over 30 days less than 12 months
- Microchipping
- Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titration Test (RNATT)
Entry to New Zealand may only take place a minimum of 3 months after the bleed date for the Rabies Titre blood test that yields a valid test result. In the case of a primary vaccination, the pets will only be able to leave for New Zealand 6 months from the date of vaccination.
IMPORTANT NOTE: – The RNATT can only be drawn after 30 days from re-vaccination of Rabies if the pets Rabies inoculations have been allowed to expire. Please do not draw blood before these 30 days as the pets will not receive Export Clearance. Micro-chipping MUST be done prior to or on the same day as the rabies vaccine, any variation to this may result in a blood redraw.
There are numerous additional blood tests for dogs that need to be carried out in the last 30 days prior to departure. A detailed and personalised export schedule will be provided by PETport on setting of exact travel dates which will show the specific testing and treatments required before departure done at very specific timings to coincide travel dates.
If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to call / email PETport, we are at hand to assist you throughout the pet relocation process and help in a seamless and stress-free relocation.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Bringing pets into New Zealand. You can bring your cat or dog here, but they must meet specific health standards. These change depending on the country your pet is coming from.Â
Much like moving house, moving pets abroad also involves a certain degree of paperwork. All animals entering New Zealand will need an import permit, which can only be given once you’ve booked a space for your pet at an approved quarantine facility.
