Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from the Philippines → New Zealand
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering New Zealand publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. This follows the 2026 Import Health Standard (in force from 1 July 2026). It sends many details to MPI's separate list of approved vaccines, tests and treatments, which we don't reproduce: your vet needs it. Pets coming from Australia are not covered yet. Until 1 April 2027 the 2021 standard can still be used instead, which we have not read.
Which rules apply to you
The Philippines is in the group “Not on MPI's lists: cats and dogs cannot be imported from this country” in New Zealand’s published list.See every group
Headlines for New Zealand
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit for some pets
- Quarantine possible
- Extra disease test for some origins
- Some origins not allowed
What your dog needs
Dogs
New Zealand only accepts cats and dogs from countries MPI has approved (Categories 1, 2 and 3), and this country is not on those lists. Your pet would have to live in an approved country first, or the exporting country's veterinary authority would have to ask MPI to approve it.
Vet exam
Up-to-date vaccination record and vet's health certificate
A licensed vet keeps your pet's vaccinations current: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus for dogs; rabies and feline panleukopenia for cats. BAI accepts a veterinary health certificate from a duly licensed private vet as part of the application.
Details and the official words
“Updated vaccination record against rabies,”
“parvovirus for dogs; and rabies and feline”
Identification
ISO 15-digit microchip
BAI requires an ISO 15-digit non-encrypted microchip and checks the number with a reader before issuing the certificate.
Details and the official words
“ISO 15-digit non-encrypted microchip”
Paperwork
BAI veterinary health certificate (National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division, Quezon City)
Submit the documents in person at BAI's National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City) or by email to nvqsd@bai.gov.ph. BAI reads the microchip, then prepares and approves the veterinary health certificate (or international veterinary certificate) your destination asks for. There is no fee; it takes about 7 hours in person, or about a day and 7 hours by email.
Details and the official words
“All exports of dogs and cats shall be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate/”
“TOTAL if application sent via E-mail None”
Good to know
- Banned in New Zealand: Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and American Pit Bull Terrier-type dogs (any dog that belongs wholly or predominantly to them).
- Bengal cats can be imported. Other hybrid cats and dogs are likely to be treated as 'new organisms' and need approval from the Environmental Protection Authority before they come.
- BAI issues the export certificate only with the documents and tests your destination asks for. Its checklist also lists a rabies antibody test report (from the National Meat Inspection Service lab); the charter doesn't say whether BAI asks for it when the destination doesn't, so ask the National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (nvqsd@bai.gov.ph) if your destination needs no titer test.
What your cat needs
Cats
New Zealand only accepts cats and dogs from countries MPI has approved (Categories 1, 2 and 3), and this country is not on those lists. Your pet would have to live in an approved country first, or the exporting country's veterinary authority would have to ask MPI to approve it.
Vet exam
Up-to-date vaccination record and vet's health certificate
A licensed vet keeps your pet's vaccinations current: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus for dogs; rabies and feline panleukopenia for cats. BAI accepts a veterinary health certificate from a duly licensed private vet as part of the application.
Details and the official words
“Updated vaccination record against rabies,”
“parvovirus for dogs; and rabies and feline”
Identification
ISO 15-digit microchip
BAI requires an ISO 15-digit non-encrypted microchip and checks the number with a reader before issuing the certificate.
Details and the official words
“ISO 15-digit non-encrypted microchip”
Paperwork
BAI veterinary health certificate (National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division, Quezon City)
Submit the documents in person at BAI's National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City) or by email to nvqsd@bai.gov.ph. BAI reads the microchip, then prepares and approves the veterinary health certificate (or international veterinary certificate) your destination asks for. There is no fee; it takes about 7 hours in person, or about a day and 7 hours by email.
Details and the official words
“All exports of dogs and cats shall be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate/”
“TOTAL if application sent via E-mail None”
Good to know
- Bengal cats can be imported. Other hybrid cats and dogs are likely to be treated as 'new organisms' and need approval from the Environmental Protection Authority before they come.
- BAI issues the export certificate only with the documents and tests your destination asks for. Its checklist also lists a rabies antibody test report (from the National Meat Inspection Service lab); the charter doesn't say whether BAI asks for it when the destination doesn't, so ask the National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division (nvqsd@bai.gov.ph) if your destination needs no titer test.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from the Philippines to New Zealand?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into New Zealand?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in New Zealand?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: BAI requires an ISO 15-digit non-encrypted microchip and checks the number with a reader before issuing the certificate.