Taking a pet out of Thailand · By destination
Taking a pet from Thailand to New Zealand
Be honest with yourself early: New Zealand has some of the strictest pet biosecurity rules anywhere, and Thailand is not a straightforward origin.
Last updated 30 May 2026
This guide was last reviewed in May 2026. Export rules — Thai DLD procedures, destination-country requirements and airline policies — change without notice. Use this as orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD and the destination country's authority before booking.
Why this route is hard
New Zealand protects its rabies-free status with strict import rules, and a pet coming from Thailand — which is not rabies-free — faces a long, multi-stage process. In practice that can mean the pet first spending a qualifying period in an approved country, rabies titer testing, a sequence of timed steps, an import permit, and a mandatory stay in a quarantine facility on arrival in New Zealand. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) sets and enforces the rules.
What it really takes
This is not a process to improvise or to start late. Plan on many months, begin with MPI’s current import requirements, and engage a specialist pet relocation agent experienced in the route as early as you can.
All of this sits on top of the Thai export process — the DLD health certificate and export permit — which your pet must clear on the way out. The two sets of paperwork have to agree.
If you came the other way, see our guide to From New Zealand (import).
Official sources
Official sources to verify against: DLD export of live animals; Suvarnabhumi AQS export: [email protected]; UK pet travel; CDC animal import (USA); EU pet movement; Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine; Singapore AVS; UAE MOCCAE pet import; Australia DAFF; New Zealand MPI; Canada CFIA; Switzerland FSVO.
Frequently asked
Can I fly my pet directly from Thailand to New Zealand?
Generally not in a simple way. Because of New Zealand's strict rules, the route often requires a qualifying period in an approved country first, then entry to New Zealand with quarantine. Confirm the current pathway with MPI.
How early should I start planning?
As early as possible — many months of lead time. The sooner you involve MPI and a specialist agent, the fewer nasty surprises in the timeline.