Moving to New Zealand from Dubai — International Removals, MPI Biosecurity & Door-to-Door Delivery

MPI Biosecurity — The Risk Goods Declaration

Every household shipment entering New Zealand must include a Risk Goods Declaration identifying any items that may pose a biosecurity risk. MPI officers assess this declaration and determine whether a physical inspection is required. Items that fail inspection — or that were not declared — are treated (fumigated or steam treated at your cost), re-exported, or destroyed.

Unlike Australia, New Zealand does not require mandatory quarantine for household goods — but the inspection rate for undeclared or incorrectly described items is high. Fusion prepares the Risk Goods Declaration as part of every Dubai to New Zealand shipment.

High-Risk Items — Must Be Declared and Clean

• Timber items — all wooden furniture, carvings, frames — must be bark-free, soil-free, and insect-free
• Cane, bamboo, rattan, and wicker — must be commercially manufactured and bark-free
• Sports and outdoor equipment — bicycles, golf clubs, camping gear, boots — must be clean and soil-free
• Animal products — leather, wool, feathers, shells — must be clean and commercially processed
• Seeds and dried plant material — dried flowers, potpourri — generally prohibited without MPI permit
• Food items — packaged commercial food generally permitted; fresh produce prohibited
• Soil, sand, and clay in any form — including decorative items
• Beehive equipment and honey

New Zealand Customs — Duty-Free Concession for Settlers

Used household goods and personal effects imported by a person moving their permanent residence to New Zealand are generally exempt from customs duty under the New Zealand Customs concession for settlers. To qualify:

• You must be relocating your permanent residence to New Zealand
• Goods must have been owned and used by you for at least 12 months prior to import
• Goods must be imported within 12 months of your arrival in New Zealand
• New or unused goods do not qualify and attract full customs duty and GST (15%)

GST (15%) applies to goods valued above NZD 1,000 even when duty exemption applies. Fusion calculates your GST exposure at quotation stage.

Motor Vehicles — Important: Left-Hand Drive Restrictions

New Zealand is a right-hand drive country. Left-hand drive vehicles cannot be permanently imported into New Zealand — only right-hand drive vehicles are eligible for standard import. Right-hand drive vehicles from Dubai require NZTA (Waka Kotahi) entry certification, MPI biosecurity inspection (underbody wash), and compliance with NZ vehicle standards. See our Automobile Relocation page.

Pets to New Zealand

New Zealand has strict pet import requirements managed by MPI. Dogs and cats from the UAE — a Group 3 country — must complete 10 days of post-arrival quarantine at an MPI-approved facility. Requirements include microchipping, rabies vaccination, blood titre test at an approved laboratory, internal and external parasite treatment, and an official health certificate. The process takes a minimum of 6 months. See our Pet Relocation page.