France
New Zealand
Moving with a dog or cat between France and New Zealand
New Zealand places France in Category 3 and, since 1 July 2026, applies a new import health standard for cats and dogs. An identity check before the titre test, a primary rabies vaccination at least six months before shipment, a Leishmania test, arrival as cargo in Auckland or Christchurch, then at least ten days of quarantine: plan on seven to eight months. In the other direction, France asks for no titre test.
Updated · official sources at the bottom of the page
At a glance
| Item | France → New Zealand | New Zealand → France |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | France is in MPI Category 3 | New Zealand is in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2026/636 |
| Rabies titre test | Yes: sample 3 to 12 months before shipment, after the identity check | No |
| Authorisation | Import permit, applied for at least 30 working days ahead, once quarantine is booked | Export certificate signed by an MPI official vet |
| Tests | Leishmania, leptospirosis, Brucella canis, heartworm, Babesia gibsoni for dogs | — |
| Transport | Manifested cargo, arriving in Auckland or Christchurch only | Departure from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch |
| Quarantine | At least 10 days in an MPI-approved facility | Documentary and identity check by French customs on arrival |
| Realistic lead time | 7–8 months | A few weeks for an up-to-date pet |
New Zealand → France
Bringing a pet from New Zealand to France
New Zealand is in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so a dog or cat coming from there needs no rabies antibody titre test. There are no direct flights, so look at the stopover: if it is in a country that is in neither Annex I nor Annex II, a signed declaration must confirm the pet stayed on board or inside the airport's international area. The pet also needs:
- A microchip and a valid rabies vaccination, with the primary vaccination at least 21 days old on the day of travel.
- The EU animal health certificate (the Annex III model in Regulation 2026/705), signed by an MPI official vet and no more than 10 days old when the pet enters the EU.
- The written declaration that the move is non-commercial.
- Arrival through a travellers' point of entry, with the pet declared to customs.
MPI's export process
Pets can only leave New Zealand through Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch airports, and must be microchipped. A New Zealand-registered vet prepares the paperwork, then an MPI official vet (Ministry for Primary Industries) signs the export certificate and the Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC), which is required for any journey over 6 hours and sets a minimum age of 12 weeks. MPI publishes its requirements for the EU in a dedicated document; we check the version in force when your pet leaves.
French rules come on top. Category 1 dogs cannot enter France, not even in transit; category 2 dogs can only fly in on Air France or as cargo, and keeping one requires a permit from the town hall. A pet staying three months or more must be registered with I-CAD within 7 days. See importing a pet into France.
France → New Zealand
Moving to New Zealand with a dog or cat
MPI puts France, Monaco, Réunion and the EU member states in Category 3: countries where rabies is absent or well controlled. New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna are Category 2 (rabies-free) and follow different rules.
Which standard applies?
A new Import Health Standard: Cats and Dogs 2026 was issued on 12 May 2026 and has been in force since 1 July 2026. Until 1 April 2027 a pet may still be prepared under the older 2021 standard; any arrival from that date falls under the 2026 standard, whose identity checks have been required since 1 October 2026. Given the lead times, this page covers the 2026 standard.
The identity check before the titre test
An official vet (in France, normally at the DDPP or DDETSPP; we check this for your case) scans the microchip and reports the result directly to MPI. There are two cases:
- Titre sample taken 6 to 12 months before shipment: one scan before the blood sample (the same day is fine).
- Titre sample taken 3 to less than 6 months before shipment: two scans, the first at least 6 months before shipment.
Rabies vaccination
The pet must have been vaccinated at 12 weeks of age or older and stay continuously covered. A key point of the 2026 standard: a primary vaccination must have been given at least 6 months before shipment. A young animal vaccinated for the first time just before the move cannot travel yet.
Dog tests and treatments
- Leishmania infantum: test within 30 days before shipment. Only Australia is recognised as free, so there is no waiver for France.
- Leptospirosis: MAT test within 30 days.
- Brucella canis for entire dogs, Babesia gibsoni and heartworm: requirements set by the standard, each with its own timing.
- Angiostrongylus: treatment.
- External parasites: two treatments, the last within 16 days before shipment.
- Internal parasites: two treatments, one within 30 days and one within 5 days before shipment.
Cats need one external parasite treatment within 16 days and two internal parasite treatments, on top of rabies, the titre test and the identity check.
Permit, final exam and quarantine
Quarantine comes first: book a place at an MPI-approved facility, because the permit cannot be issued without it. Then apply for the permit at least 30 working days before arrival. The final exam takes place within 2 days before shipment, and the official vet signs or endorses the certificate. On arrival the pet spends at least 10 days in quarantine, with an MPI vet inspection on arrival and at the end of the stay.
Banned dogs
New Zealand's Dog Control Act 1996 bars the import of the Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and American Pit Bull Terrier.
Microchip and vaccinations
The ISO microchip has to read cleanly at every stage, since it is what the official vet checks before the titre test. Rabies vaccination happens at 12 weeks or later; for New Zealand, the primary vaccination must be at least 6 months old on the day of shipment and cover must never lapse. For a puppy, that pushes the earliest departure to roughly 9 months of age.
For the return to France, the usual EU rule applies: microchip before or on the day of vaccination, a primary vaccination at least 21 days old, or a booster given within the validity of the previous one.
Documents checklist
- Leaving France: identity check report sent to MPI; titre laboratory report; quarantine booking confirmation; import permit; test results and treatment records; health certificate signed or endorsed by the official vet within 2 days before shipment; air waybill.
- Leaving New Zealand: EU animal health certificate and AWEC signed by an MPI official vet; non-commercial declaration; rabies vaccination record; transit declaration if the stopover is in an unlisted country; proof that the owner travels within 5 days before or after the pet.
More on certificates and endorsements: vet documents.
Rabies antibody titre test
Going to New Zealand, the blood sample is taken 3 to 12 months before shipment, after (or on the same day as) the identity check, and the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. The standard accepts, among others, a laboratory in a Category 1, 2 or 3 country approved by its competent authority or by the European Commission for rabies testing. France's official list has three: ANSES Nancy (Malzéville), Laboratoire départemental 31 (Launaguet) and INOVALYS (Le Mans). Do not use a laboratory that has dropped off that list.
Choosing the sample date is a trade-off: 6 to 12 months before shipment needs one microchip scan; any later and you need two, the first at least 6 months before shipment.
Coming to France, no titre test is required for a pet arriving from New Zealand.
Typical timeline (France → New Zealand)
-
Check breed, microchip and vaccination history 8 months ahead
A primary rabies vaccination at least 6 months before shipment; if there is none, do it now.
-
Identity check and blood sample 6–12 months ahead
Chip scan by the official vet, then the sample (same day possible).
-
Book quarantine as soon as possible
The permit cannot be issued without it.
-
Import permit at least 30 working days ahead
Then book cargo to Auckland or Christchurch.
-
Tests and treatments within 30 days
Leishmaniasis, leptospirosis and the other dog tests; parasite treatments.
-
Final exam and official endorsement within 2 days
The DDPP appointment is fixed around the flight.
-
Arrival and quarantine at least 10 days
MPI inspection on arrival and on release.
How pets travel
The standard is explicit: the pet arrives in New Zealand as manifested cargo, and only at Auckland or Christchurch. It does not travel in the cabin or as checked baggage. There is no nonstop service between France and New Zealand, so the route has at least one stop, and the standard tightly governs transits and transhipments. We plan the routing accordingly with a forwarder.
As an example, Singapore Airlines says it does not accept pets as checked baggage into or out of New Zealand (or Australia). Each carrier's live-animal cargo rules are checked for your file. See air cargo for pets and travel crates.
Airports and checks
In New Zealand, only two arrival airports: Auckland and Christchurch. From there the pet goes to the approved quarantine facility booked before the permit application. Leaving for France, three airports are possible: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
In France, the pet enters through a travellers' point of entry such as Paris-Charles de Gaulle. You declare it and show its certificate to customs, who check the paperwork and the microchip; there is no appointment to book. A pet that does not comply can be isolated, sent back or, as a last resort, put down, at the owner's expense.
What drives the cost
MPI charges for the import permit and the vet inspection on arrival, and each quarantine facility sets its own rates. The MPI fees page we could read dated from July 2025 and may since have been revised, so we give you the current amounts when we quote. Leaving New Zealand, MPI also charges for export certification.
Other items have no published official rate: the titre test and disease tests, vet visits, DDPP certification, the crate and the cargo routing to Auckland or Christchurch. Our quote lists each item separately.
Common mistakes
- Preparing under the old 2021 standard for an arrival after 1 April 2027.
- Taking the blood sample without the prior identity check by the official vet.
- Giving the first-ever rabies vaccination less than 6 months before shipment.
- Applying for the permit before booking quarantine.
- Planning an arrival anywhere other than Auckland or Christchurch, or other than as manifested cargo.
- Forgetting the Leishmania test: there is no waiver for a dog coming from France.
Frequently asked questions
How long is quarantine in New Zealand?
At least 10 days in an MPI-approved facility, with a vet inspection on arrival and at the end.
Can my 4-month-old puppy come with us?
Not straight away. Under the 2026 standard, the primary rabies vaccination must be at least 6 months old at shipment, and it cannot be given before 12 weeks of age.
Can my cat fly with me on the plane?
No. Dogs and cats travel to New Zealand as manifested cargo.
Does my pet need a titre test to come back to France?
No. New Zealand is in Annex II of the EU list. It does need the EU animal health certificate signed by an MPI official vet, plus a transit declaration if the stopover is in an unlisted country.
Does going via Australia make it easier?
The rules depend on the country the pet arrives from. A stay in Australia first is a project of its own, with its own quarantine: see France ⇄ Australia.
Would you rather have help?
On this route, we can take care of:
- Checking vaccination history, microchip and breed against the 2026 standard
- Scheduling the identity check, titre test, disease tests and DDPP appointments
- Booking quarantine and preparing the permit application with you
- Arranging cargo to Auckland or Christchurch through a forwarder, subject to availability
Some services (road transport, arrival assistance) go through partners and depend on availability: every quote states who does what.
Official sources
The rules above come from the texts and pages of these authorities. Last checked: .
- Règlement délégué (UE) 2026/131 — mouvements non commerciaux d’animaux de compagnie (art. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- Règlement d’exécution (UE) 2026/636 — listes de pays tiers (annexe II : Nouvelle-Zélande)
- Règlement d’exécution (UE) 2026/705 — modèle de certificat sanitaire et déclarations (art. 6, annexes III et V)
- MPI — Bringing cats and dogs to NZ (revu le 4 août 2026)
- MPI — Import Health Standard: Cats and Dogs 2026 (12 mai 2026, en vigueur le 1er juillet 2026)
- MPI — Specified Approvals for Animal Import Health Standards, MPI-STD-SAA (13 mai 2026)
- MPI — Step-by-step guide to bringing cats and dogs to NZ, norme 2026 (revu le 1er juillet 2026)
- MPI — All pets leaving NZ (except cats and dogs to Australia)
- Ministère de l’Agriculture — Santé animale : liste des laboratoires (titrage antirabique, V17 du 20 novembre 2025)
- Commission européenne — Laboratoires désignés pour le titrage antirabique (pays de l’UE)
- DDPP de Paris — Rendez-vous pour un voyage à l’étranger avec un animal de compagnie
- Douane — Vous voyagez avec un chien, chat ou furet
- DGAL — Note d’information « Importation non commerciale d’animaux de compagnie en provenance de pays tiers » (juin 2026)
- Ministère de l’Agriculture — Les chiens de catégorie 1 et 2 et les chiens dangereux
- Singapore Airlines — Travelling with pets (marché France)
Rules change. Before anything is booked, we reconfirm every requirement with the authorities, the airline and the vet for your pet and your itinerary.
Read next
More destinations: Oceania
Plan the trip
Moving to New Zealand, or back to France?
Tell us your pet's species, breed and weight, the date of its first rabies vaccination and your planned travel date: we check the rules and send you an itemised quote.