Dogs in New Zealand: rules, tax and travel

Dogs over 3 months must be registered with the local council every year and microchipped when first registered. Cats have no national registration or microchip duty, though some councils require it.

Councils set dog registration fees, leash areas, dog number limits and any cat microchip or desexing bylaws; the Dog Control Act sets the national framework.

Breed rules

Where	Rule	Breeds and notes
Whole country	Import banned	Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tosa, Presa Canario, American Pit Bull Terrier type (wholly or predominantly) Dog Control Act 1996 s 30A and Schedule 4: importing a dog wholly or predominantly of these breeds or type is prohibited. [1]
Whole country	Muzzle and leash required	Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tosa, Presa Canario, American Pit Bull Terrier type (wholly or predominantly) Dogs of Schedule 4 breeds/type are classified 'menacing' by breed (s 33C): muzzled in public, on a lead, neutered within one month of classification, microchipped; breeding and sale are restricted. [2]

Registration and microchip

Registration

Dogs must be registered with the local council from 3 months old (or on arrival in NZ). Registration renews every year, with a typical deadline of 31 July in some councils.[3]

Microchip

Dogs first registered on or after 1 July 2006 must be microchipped, within two months of first registration at some councils. Farm and working dogs have limited exemptions.[4]

Dog tax and licence

Dog tax

No tax as such, but each council charges an annual registration fee. Example 2025/26 at Whakatane: NZ$67 early or NZ$97 standard for neutered or working dogs, NZ$97 to NZ$144 for entire dogs. An unregistered dog can be fined NZ$300.[5]

typical 97 NZD, 67 to 144 NZD a year

Leash and muzzle

Leash and muzzle

Dogs must be kept under control at all times. Councils may set leash-required areas and dog-prohibited areas by bylaw. Dangerous dogs must be muzzled and leashed in public; menacing dogs must be muzzled.[4]

Other rules

Councils may limit the number of dogs kept on a property by bylaw.[4]

Travelling to New Zealand with a dog

From an EU country

Import permit from MPI (about NZ$268, at least 30 working days), microchip, 6 months residence in an approved country, rabies vaccination and titre test for Category 3 countries, parasite treatments, final vet exam within 2 days of flying, and at least 10 days in MPI quarantine. Cats must be at least 9 months old. Which category each EU country falls in was not confirmed.[6]

From outside the EU

Same process; Category 2 (rabies-free) countries skip rabies vaccination and titre but still need a permit, microchip, treatments and quarantine. Category 1 is Australia, which needs no mandatory quarantine by air and no permit. Hybrid cats are not eligible, except some Bengals.[6]

Rabies antibody test

Category 3: primary vaccination 6 to 12 months before travel (at 3 months or older for cats) and an RNATT (FAVN or RFFIT) taken 3 to 24 months before departure, at least 0.5 IU/ml.[7]

Tapeworm treatment

Two treatments with an MPI-approved product against nematodes and cestodes (including Echinococcus): first within 30 days of shipment, second within 5 days, at least 14 days apart. Dogs also need Angiostrongylus vasorum treatment in the 5 days before shipment.[6]

Quarantine

Category 2 and 3 pets spend at least 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility; longer if fleas or ticks are found.[6]

Not confirmed yet: Licence or owner test, Liability insurance. We only show what an official or named source states.

Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.