Traveling to New Zealand with Pet Medications: The ACVM 21 Form Explained

TLDR: If your pet travels to New Zealand with any medication, the ACVM 21 form must be completed and physically presented in hand to the border inspector on arrival. The form cannot be submitted remotely or pre-lodged before travel. If a pet carries a restricted or prescription veterinary medicine without a valid prescription or vet label attached to the ACVM 21 form, the border inspector cannot clear it.

Most owners preparing for a New Zealand move focus on vaccination records, titre tests, and parasite treatment timelines. Pet medications are easy to overlook until arrival, when the border inspector asks for documentation that was never prepared.

What Is the ACVM 21 Form?

The ACVM 21 is a New Zealand government form required when a pet travels with veterinary medication. ACVM stands for Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines, which is the regulatory framework that governs veterinary medicines entering New Zealand.

If your pet will be traveling with any medication, the ACVM 21 form must be completed before departure and carried with you to present in person at the border.

Who Needs to Complete the ACVM 21 Form?

Any owner whose pet is traveling to New Zealand with veterinary medication needs to complete the ACVM 21 form. This applies regardless of whether the medication is a routine preventative, a prescribed treatment, or a restricted veterinary medicine.

The form must be physically present at the border. It cannot be submitted online, emailed to MPI in advance, or pre-lodged through any remote process before travel.

What Happens at the Border If the Form Is Missing?

If your pet arrives in New Zealand with medication and the ACVM 21 form is not physically presented to the border inspector, the medication cannot be cleared. The border inspector has no mechanism to process veterinary medicines that arrive without the form in hand.

For restricted or prescription veterinary medicines, the requirement goes further. A valid prescription or vet label must also be attached to the ACVM 21 form. If the prescription or vet label is missing, the border inspector cannot clear the medication regardless of whether the form itself is present.

What Counts as a Restricted or Prescription Veterinary Medicine?

Restricted and prescription veterinary medicines are a specific category that require a valid prescription or vet label attached to the ACVM 21 form. If your pet travels with any medication that falls into this category and the documentation is incomplete, clearance at the border is not possible.

If you are unsure whether your pet's medication qualifies as restricted or prescription, confirm with your veterinarian before departure. Do not assume that a commonly used product is exempt from this requirement.

What Should You Prepare Before Departure?

Before your pet travels, confirm whether any medication will be traveling with them. If so, complete the ACVM 21 form and carry it with you in your hand luggage so it is available to present to the border inspector on arrival.

If your pet's medication is restricted or prescription, obtain a valid prescription or vet label and attach it to the ACVM 21 form before departure. Do not pack the form in checked luggage or in the pet's crate where it may not be immediately accessible at the border.

Pet medications are a small part of the New Zealand preparation process but one that is easy to get wrong at the last moment. If you want help making sure every document requirement is covered before your pet travels, our team manages the full process from start to finish. Get a free quote to start planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every pet traveling to New Zealand need an ACVM 21 form?

The ACVM 21 form is required when a pet travels with veterinary medication. If your pet is not carrying any medication, the form is not required. If your pet is carrying any medication, the form must be completed and physically presented to the border inspector on arrival.

Can the ACVM 21 form be submitted before travel to save time at the border?

No. The ACVM 21 form cannot be submitted remotely or pre-lodged. It must be physically presented in hand to the border inspector on arrival. Submitting it in advance through any other channel does not satisfy the requirement.

What happens if a prescription medication arrives without a prescription attached to the ACVM 21 form?

If a restricted or prescription veterinary medicine arrives without a valid prescription or vet label attached to the ACVM 21 form, the border inspector cannot clear it. Make sure the prescription or vet label is attached to the form before departure.

Where should the ACVM 21 form be kept during travel?

The form must be physically presented to the border inspector on arrival, so it should be kept in your hand luggage and accessible at the border. Do not pack it in checked luggage or place it in the pet's travel crate where it may not be immediately available when needed.