Flying a dog from New Zealand to the United States
Last verified Sources checked 16 primary sourcesSite-wide weekly check due
Scope and research limits
USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.
This guide covers the journey and pathways stated here. Residence, travel history and connections may change which requirements apply. Confirm these before using the countdown.
Conditional: yes, with 1 hard deadline
A dog can enter the United States from New Zealand without quarantine when every condition is met.
To meet the entry rules
- an age of at least 6 months on arrival
- a CDC Dog Import Form receipt on or before arrival, within 6 months before arrival
- a microchip a universal scanner can read
- a healthy appearance on arrival
If a requirement is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
Full answer
A dog can enter the United States from New Zealand without quarantine when every condition is met. It needs an age of at least 6 months on arrival; a CDC Dog Import Form receipt on or before arrival, within 6 months before arrival; a microchip a universal scanner can read; and a healthy appearance on arrival. If any is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense. Last verified 24 September 2026.
- Rules allow in cabin
- AllowedA dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as cargo.
- Quarantine
- NoneIf a rule is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
- Rabies titer
- Not required
- Lead time
- 1 day
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
1 of these steps is a hard deadline. Each step says how long before arrival it falls. Pick an arrival date and your browser works out the calendar dates; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 1 day
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Birth
The calendar moves this: the deadline is 181 to 184 days before arrival, depending on the arrival date.
The dog is at least 6 months old on the day it arrives. Timing: at least 6 months before arrival.
Fails if: Done less than 6 months before arrival.
Clinical examination
Present the animal and its rigid, IATA-compliant crate for MPI’s welfare examination, with the signed supporting declaration, before the AWEC is issued. Timing: on or before the welfare certificate's issue.
Fails if: The New Zealand export requirement is incomplete.
Animal Welfare Export Certificate issued
The calendar moves this: the earliest day is 181 to 184 days before arrival, depending on the arrival date.
Book MPI Verification Services for an Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC). The owner and registered vet complete and sign the supporting declaration. MPI examines the animal, crate and declaration before issuing the AWEC. This welfare document does not replace any airline fitness certificate or US entry paperwork. Timing: on or before departure.
Fails if: The New Zealand export requirement is incomplete.
Import form
The calendar moves this: the earliest day is 181 to 184 days before arrival, depending on the arrival date.
The importer submits a complete CDC Dog Import Form before the dog arrives; it can be filled in on the day of travel. Timing: on or before arrival.
Fails if: Done after arrival.
The receipt is valid for 6 months from when it is issued, so the form is submitted no more than 6 months before the dog arrives. A visit to a high-risk country, or to a different low-risk country, in that time needs a new form. Timing: within 6 months before arrival.
Fails if: Done more than 6 months before arrival.
Present the CDC Dog Import Form receipt to the MPI official veterinarian at export certification, before the dog leaves New Zealand for the US. Timing: on or before the welfare certificate's issue.
Fails if: The applicable document or examination requirement is not met.
Arrival day
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
This assumes the dog has been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months.
This also assumes the dog does not clear customs during a layover in a high-risk country. If it does, it must meet CDC's high-risk rules, wherever its trip began.
This covers pet dogs. Dogs imported for resale or adoption follow APHIS Animal Care rules.
This assumes the dog will not be used to handle sheep or other livestock. Such a dog is inspected and held at the port of entry until it is shown to be free of tapeworm.
The dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read.
Fails if: No microchip, or one a universal scanner cannot detect.
The dog must appear healthy on arrival and is inspected at the port of entry.
Fails if: Signs of a communicable disease when the dog is inspected on arrival.
The regulation also tells airlines to refuse boarding unless the importer shows documentation that the dog is over six months old, has a microchip and has been only in low-risk or rabies-free countries for the last six months. CDC's own pages name the Dog Import Form receipt as the only document required.
CDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccination, but the extra rules for dogs from high-risk countries do not apply.
CDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do.
For a dog that has spent the preceding six months only in New Zealand or other low-risk countries, MPI’s dog-specific guidance does not require an official assurance. Bring the CDC Import Form receipt to export certification, retain the required microchip record and arrange the airline’s separate fitness-to-travel documentation. High-risk travel-history pathways are outside this page.
Fails if: The New Zealand export requirement is incomplete.
For export from New Zealand to the US, the dog must have an ISO-compatible microchip. This is additional to the CDC requirement that a universal scanner can read the microchip.
Fails if: The applicable document or examination requirement is not met.
This plan assumes one air journey, with every step done before you leave. Unless you give a departure date, it assumes you leave the day before arrival or on arrival day. Times are local to the United States (America/New_York).
Which airlines carry dogs on this route
The only airline in our sources gives no plain Yes for dogs on this route.
This is what airlines offer. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Airline | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air New Zealand Cargo | Not published | Not published | Quoted on request |
- Air New Zealand Cargo: US-origin cargo must go through a TSA-approved freight forwarder that meets the IATA membership and Air New Zealand account requirements. All live animals require an approved pet shipping agency; individual over-the-counter shipments are not accepted.
- Air New Zealand Cargo: Confirm health, age, destination breed restrictions, operating days and station acceptance before booking. Unwell animals may be refused. Do not sedate the animal for travel.
No rule changes recorded since
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page since , when our log began. See every recorded change.
Where every rule above came from
- eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-42.xmlImport form; Birth; The dog must appear healthy on arrival and is inspected at the port of entry; The regulation also tells airlines to refuse boarding unless the importer shows…; and 3 more
- eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-9.xmlThis assumes the dog will not be used to handle sheep or other livestock
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/dogsThis covers pet dogs
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-importFederal rules for pets entering the US mainland
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-us/index.htmlCDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do
- CDC (US)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/high-risk-countries.htmlCDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccination, but the extra rules for dogs from…
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/php/dog-importation-airlines/index.htmlImport form
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/faqs.htmlThe dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.htmlA dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as…; Import form
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/layovers.htmlThis also assumes the dog does not clear customs during a layover in a high-risk country
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/rabies-free-low-risk-countries.htmlThis assumes the dog has been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past…; A dog may fly to the United States in the cabin, as checked baggage in the hold, or as…; Import form; The dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can read; and 2 more
- Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand)mpi.govt.nz/export/animals/live-animals-including-livestock/requirement-documents-for-exporting-live-animals/animal-welfare-export-certificates/awec-process-for-live-animals-other-than-livestockAnimal Welfare Export Certificate issued; Clinical examination
- Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand)mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/497-Cats-to-United-States-of-America-GuidanceAnimal Welfare Export Certificate issued; A cat travelling to the US mainland does not need an MPI official assurance, but still…
- Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand)mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/64308-Dogs-to-the-United-States-of-America-GuidanceAnimal Welfare Export Certificate issued; Clinical examination; For a dog that has spent the preceding six months only in New Zealand or other low-risk…; For export from New Zealand to the US, the dog must have an ISO-compatible microchip; Import form
- Air New Zealand Cargoairnewzealandcargo.com/international-cargo-pet-servicesAir New Zealand Cargo: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed; Confirm health, age, destination breed restrictions, operating days and station…
- Air New Zealand Cargoairnewzealandcargo.com/international-cargo-processAir New Zealand Cargo: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage); US-origin cargo must go through a TSA-approved freight forwarder that meets the IATA…
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.
Related pages
See everything that applies in the United States, or what changed across the site.