Taking a Dog from the UK to New Zealand: The Complete 2026 Guide
Last updated: 27 September 2026
Moving a dog from Great Britain to New Zealand is entirely possible, but it isn’t something you arrange in a few weeks. New Zealand has no rabies in its domestic animal population and its import rules are built to keep it that way. A dog can only enter once a specific sequence of vaccination, testing, permits and certification has been completed, in the right order, with several fixed waiting periods along the way that no amount of urgency will shorten.
The London Travel Vet prepares export health certificates for pets travelling internationally, including to New Zealand, and this guide sets out what’s actually involved, based on the current requirements from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the UK’s own export process, run by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
New Zealand also revised its Import Health Standard for cats and dogs this year. If you want the detail on exactly what changed, our guide to the 2026 IHS changes covers that. This guide is about getting your own dog from Great Britain to New Zealand, start to finish.
The Essentials
Category: Great Britain is a Category 3 country under MPI’s rules, meaning rabies is considered controlled or absent. Dogs need both a rabies vaccination and a blood test, not vaccination alone.
Practical minimum age: around nine months, once vaccination and testing timelines are worked through.
The 2026 IHS: in force since 1 July 2026, with a transition period allowing the outgoing 2021 requirements to be used until 1 April 2027.
New identification check: applies to exports prepared under the 2026 process, timed against the RNATT blood sample.
Import permit: required from MPI, separately from the UK export certificate.
Quarantine: minimum 10 days at an MPI-approved facility on arrival.
Flights: dogs travel as manifested cargo, arriving at Auckland or Christchurch only.
UK certificate: EHC 6026, currently version 6, applied for through APHA.
Can my dog go?
Most dogs can be prepared for New Zealand, but a few things rule a dog out before any of the rest of this matters.
Certain breeds and types can’t enter New Zealand at all: the Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario breeds, and the American Pit Bull Terrier type. This comes from New Zealand’s own dog control legislation, not MPI’s biosecurity rules, so no amount of paperwork changes it. Hybrid dogs (a dog crossed with a wild species such as a wolf) aren’t eligible either.
A dog can’t be more than 42 days pregnant on the date of shipment.
There’s no single stated minimum age in the 2026 standard, but in practice it works out to around nine months. Rabies vaccination can’t be given before 12 weeks, the vaccination then needs six months before it counts as valid, and the blood test that follows has its own waiting period on top. The current UK export certificate also requires your vet to confirm your dog is over nine months old at shipment. A young puppy simply can’t get through the sequence in time.
Check all of this before booking anything else. It’s a much better conversation to have now than after flights or quarantine space have been paid for.
When do I need to start?
Earlier than most owners expect. MPI’s revised Import Health Standard for cats and dogs came into force on 1 July 2026. Rather than switching over immediately, there’s a transition period: an export can still be prepared under the outgoing 2021 requirements, or the new 2026 requirements, until 1 April 2027. From 1 October 2026, dogs being prepared under the 2026 process need to start meeting a new pre-export identification check. From 1 April 2027, everyone moves to the 2026 requirements and the choice disappears.
The two standards aren’t interchangeable in the middle of an export. The blood test window is different between them, and the 2021 process includes a residency declaration that the 2026 process replaces with the identification check. Establish early which standard your dog’s export is being prepared under, and don’t combine timing rules from one with requirements from the other.
If you’re not sure which applies to you, contact us or check directly with MPI, before you assume anything from a previous trip or an older piece of guidance still holds.
Rabies vaccination and RNATT
Does my dog need an RNATT? Yes, in addition to rabies vaccination. Great Britain’s Category 3 status means both apply.
The sequence runs: vaccination, a waiting period, a blood sample, and then a further wait before travel.
Vaccination has to be given by a vet, with a government-approved vaccine, once your dog is at least 12 weeks old. It needs to be given at least six months before shipment, and it has to remain valid, not lapsed, right through to the day your dog travels.
Once vaccinated, your dog needs an RNATT (rabies neutralising antibody titration test): a blood sample sent to an approved laboratory, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/mL. We usually recommend leaving three to four weeks after vaccination before the sample is taken, to give the immune response time to develop, although this may not be necessary if your dog has been vaccinated before.
Can I use an existing rabies titre result? Only if it falls within the window for whichever standard your export is being certified under. Under the outgoing 2021 rules, an RNATT stays valid for up to 24 months before shipment. Under the 2026 rules, that window is 12 months. A result that would still count under the old rules may already be too old under the new ones, and it’s the date the blood was drawn that matters, not the date of vaccination or the date the result arrived.
If your dog already has a vaccination and RNATT history, don’t assume it carries over. Have your Official Veterinarian check it against the standard your export is being prepared under.
The 2026 identification requirement
If your export falls under the 2026 process, there’s a step that didn’t exist before: an Official Veterinarian has to check your dog’s microchip at a specific point relative to the RNATT sample, separately from the ordinary scanning that happens at every appointment.
How many checks, and when, depends on the timing of the blood sample:
If the RNATT sample is taken 6 to 12 months before shipment, one official identification check is required before or at the time of the sample.
If the RNATT sample is taken 3 to 6 months before shipment, an additional identification check is required, with the first check taking place at least 6 months before shipment.
Your vet submits the record directly to MPI, and it has to be on file before an import permit can be issued. If your dog is being prepared under the 2021 process instead, this check doesn’t apply; the residency declaration on the UK certificate covers that route, which we come back to below.
The other veterinary requirements
Beyond rabies, there are several further tests, treatments and declarations. Some apply to every dog, while others depend on your dog’s age, travel history, breeding status or other circumstances. None of them are complicated individually, but each has its own timing window measured against your shipment date, which is why a general checklist rarely fits any one dog exactly.
Internal parasites. Two treatments are required for nematodes and cestodes, including Echinococcus species. The first must be given within 30 days of shipment and at least two weeks before the second. The second must be given within 5 days of shipment. MPI also has a separate requirement for Angiostrongylus vasorum, with treatment by a veterinarian using a product approved for this purpose within 5 days of shipment.
Fleas and ticks. Dogs must receive two veterinary treatments with a product registered for the control of ticks and fleas, with the required timing and inspections before shipment. Keeping the dog continuously protected against external parasites is particularly important because ticks found on arrival can lead to additional treatment, testing and a longer quarantine period.
Babesia. Dogs must meet MPI’s requirements for Babesia species. Babesia gibsoni testing is required, with the precise testing route and timing depending on the dog’s age. Babesia rossi requirements apply if the dog has ever lived in or travelled to mainland Africa. Dogs from Great Britain that have not travelled to mainland Africa can satisfy the B. rossi requirement with an appropriate owner declaration.
Heartworm. Dogs aged six months or older need a negative heartworm antigen test within 30 days of shipment. Heartworm prevention is also required, with treatment or an appropriate ongoing preventive regimen specified by the certificate.
Brucella canis. Requirements depend on whether the dog is neutered or entire, and on its breeding history. Entire dogs have additional requirements relating to breeding and Brucella canis testing. The current UK export certificate requires the relevant declarations and testing to be completed where applicable.
Leptospirosis. The current EHC 6026 includes specific requirements for Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola. Depending on the route used, this can involve a course of doxycycline, treatment with dihydrostreptomycin, or MAT testing.
Leishmania. The 2026 MPI standard contains specific requirements for Leishmania infantum, including testing in circumstances where the requirement applies. Whether this affects an individual dog depends on the relevant MPI criteria and travel history.
Canine influenza. For at least 21 days before shipment, the dog must not have been kept somewhere where cats or dogs were showing clinical signs of infectious respiratory disease, and the dog itself must show no clinical signs of infectious respiratory disease.
Final checks. In the two days before shipment, an Official Veterinarian examines the dog and certifies that they are healthy and fit to travel, free from external parasites and free from clinical signs of infectious disease. For dogs that are not neutered, the examination also includes checking for visible signs of canine transmissible venereal tumour.
Quarantine and the New Zealand import permit
Quarantine is mandatory for dogs arriving from Great Britain. Your dog goes directly from the airport to an MPI-approved facility, not home with you, for a minimum of 10 days. An MPI vet inspects them within 72 hours of arrival and again once the 10 days are up. Ten days is a floor, not a guarantee: it can run longer if a requirement wasn’t fully met, if your dog is unwell, if parasites turn up on inspection, or if the 10-day mark falls outside the facility’s hours. Facility fees are set independently by each provider, and space is limited, so book this early. Your signed booking confirmation is also one of the documents the import permit application needs.
The import permit is MPI’s own authorisation for your specific dog, issued separately from your quarantine booking and separately from anything APHA does in the UK. The application needs your dog’s vaccination records, the RNATT result, the relevant rabies certification form, and the signed quarantine booking, which is why the permit tends to sit near the end of your preparation, even though the application itself needs finalising well ahead of time. MPI recommends applying at least six weeks before travel and allows at least 30 working days to process a complete application. Submitting with gaps in the paperwork doesn’t speed anything up: the processing clock only starts once the file is complete.
The import permit and the UK export certificate are not the same document. You need both.
The UK Export Health Certificate
EHC 6026 is the UK export health certificate used for dogs travelling to New Zealand. The certificate is applied for through APHA in England, Scotland and Wales. Exports from Northern Ireland follow a separate process through DAERA. (GOV.UK)
The certificate is completed by an Official Veterinarian, with different sections completed at the appropriate stages of the export process. Your Official Veterinarian will need to review the current certificate and guidance alongside MPI’s import requirements when preparing your dog’s export.
An important 2026 update
New Zealand introduced a revised Import Health Standard for cats and dogs on 1 July 2026. There is a nine-month transition period during which exports can be prepared under either the 2021 or 2026 requirements. From 1 April 2027, all dogs entering New Zealand must meet the 2026 requirements. (Ministry for Primary Industries)
At the time of writing, the current UK EHC 6026 does not fully align with the requirements of the 2026 MPI Import Health Standard. This creates some uncertainty for Official Veterinarians and owners preparing exports during the transition period.
We are in contact with APHA to seek clarification on how the current UK export certificate should be applied alongside the new 2026 MPI requirements. We will update this guide as further information becomes available.
If you are planning to take your dog to New Zealand, please keep checking back with The London Travel Vet and APHA for updates, and always check the “Last updated” date at the top of this article to make sure you are working from the most current information available.
Flying to New Zealand
Dogs arriving by air travel as manifested cargo: booked and documented as freight, not carried in the cabin or as accompanied baggage. The only exception is a genuine assistance dog, and only where the airline agrees. This comes from New Zealand’s biosecurity rules, so it applies whichever carrier you fly with.
Meeting MPI’s requirements doesn’t mean an airline will accept your dog. Not every carrier flies live animals on this route, and several restrict flat-faced breeds on welfare grounds, independently of anything MPI asks for. Crates need to meet IATA’s Live Animals Regulations and are checked by the Official Veterinarian before departure. Check your airline’s live animal policy and whether your route transits another country before booking anything.
Dogs arriving by air can only enter through Auckland or Christchurch.
What happens when your dog arrives?
Your dog goes from the aircraft to an approved transport operator, who takes them directly to the quarantine facility named on the import permit, not to you at the airport. From there, the minimum 10-day stay begins, with MPI’s inspections at the start and end. Most delays at this stage come down to paperwork that doesn’t quite match, parasites found on inspection, or a requirement that wasn’t fully completed before departure. Once MPI is satisfied, your dog is released.
Costs
It is difficult to give an accurate estimate here, because the total depends on your dog’s own history and the providers involved. The main components are veterinary appointments and vaccination, the RNATT test, any additional testing such as Babesia or heartworm, parasite treatments, MPI’s import permit and inspection fees, quarantine fees (set independently by each facility), airline or cargo charges and the crate, a pet transport company’s fees if you use one, and the export certificate itself. MPI reviews and publishes its own fee schedule for permits and inspections, so check current figures on MPI’s website rather than budgeting from a number that may already be out of date. The costs that catch people out are usually the avoidable ones: an extended quarantine stay, or a test that has to be repeated because the timing wasn’t right the first time.
A Practical Timeline
At the outset: confirm your dog is eligible, and establish whether the 2021 or 2026 process applies.
Six months or more before travel: rabies vaccination, if not already valid, and identification-check planning if the 2026 process applies.
Once RNATT is in hand: book quarantine and start the import permit application.
In the weeks before departure: parasite treatments, heartworm cover, and any other testing, each timed against the shipment date.
In the final days: the pre-export examination and both stages of the export certificate.
On arrival: minimum 10-day quarantine in New Zealand.
A dog with an existing, valid vaccination and RNATT result can move through this considerably faster than one starting from nothing, which is why working out where your dog stands should be the first conversation, not the flight date.
Common Mistakes
Booking flights before the veterinary timeline is worked out.
Mixing timing windows or requirements from the 2021 and 2026 standards.
Assuming an existing RNATT result is automatically still valid.
A microchip number that doesn’t match across the vaccination record, lab report and certificate.
Leaving quarantine booking or the import permit application until close to departure.
Using an outdated version of the export health certificate.
Assuming an airline’s own policy matches MPI’s rules, rather than checking both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my dog from the UK to New Zealand?
Yes, provided your dog meets New Zealand’s rules on breed, age and hybrid status, and the vaccination, testing, permit and certification sequence is completed correctly.
How old does my dog need to be?
There’s no stated minimum, but in practice around nine months, once vaccination and testing timelines are accounted for.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends on your dog’s existing vaccination and RNATT history, and which standard applies to your export.
Does my dog need quarantine?
Yes, a minimum of 10 days at an MPI-approved facility, which can run longer depending on circumstances.
Does my dog need an import permit?
Yes, separately from the UK export certificate. Both are required.
Can my dog fly in the cabin?
No. Dogs arriving by air travel as manifested cargo, with the sole exception of a genuine assistance dog where the airline agrees.
What is EHC 6026?
The UK export certificate for dogs travelling to New Zealand, applied for through APHA and completed by an Official Veterinarian in two stages.
What happens when my dog arrives?
They go directly from the airport to an approved quarantine facility for a minimum of 10 days before MPI releases them.
The London Travel Vet
The requirements above apply to every dog travelling this route, but where your dog actually sits within them (which standard applies, whether an existing RNATT result is still usable, how the timing works out against a particular departure date) depends on their individual history.
If you’re planning to take your dog from the UK to New Zealand, The London Travel Vet can help you work through the veterinary requirements, establish a realistic timeline and prepare the relevant export documentation.
Book an appointment with The London Travel Vet →
Not sure where to start? Get in touch and tell us about your move, or see our guide to the 2026 New Zealand IHS changes and our Export Health Certificate guide for more on how EHCs work generally.