A dog or cat moving from the United States to New Zealand typically runs $4,500 to $9,000. New Zealand requires an import permit, a rabies titer test and a minimum ten days in quarantine.
The government fees are published to the cent, which is more than most countries manage. Quarantine facilities are private operators that set their own rates, so that line is confirmed when the reservation is made.
Airlines price live animals on chargeable weight: whichever is greater, the actual weight or a volume figure worked out from the crate. For pets the volume figure almost always wins, which is why crate size drives the flight cost more than the animal does.
The divisor is published by Air Canada Cargo at 166 cubic inches per pound. The rates come from the American Airlines Cargo public tariff, the tariff these estimates are calculated against. Current version checked July 2026.
| Crate size | Approx. dimensions | Chargeable weight | Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (cat or toy dog) (size 100) | 21 x 16 x 15 in | 14 kg | $715 |
| Medium (size 200) | 28 x 20.5 x 21.5 in | 34 kg | $1,122 |
| Large (size 400) | 36 x 25 x 27 in | 66 kg | $2,033 |
| Giant (size 700) | 48 x 32 x 35 in | 147 kg | $2,940 |
These are our own calculation from the published rate and divisor, for a direct booking. A connecting routing or a carrier that quotes rather than publishes will differ.
| Cost | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| MPI import permit | NZD $268.24 including GST | New Zealand MPI |
| Border clearance, first pet | NZD $374.05 including GST | New Zealand MPI |
| Border clearance, each additional pet | NZD $124.68 including GST | New Zealand MPI |
| Quarantine, minimum 10 days | Set by the facility. MPI does not publish this. | Private facility |
| USDA export endorsement (titer required) | $160 per certificate | USDA APHIS |
| Rabies titer test, lab fee only | $79 to $90 | Laboratory |
| IATA crate | $65 to $378 depending on size | Retailer |
| Airline live animal processing | $150 per air waybill | Airline |
MPI publishes its fees both excluding and including GST, so the figures above are the ones you actually pay. Very few destinations are this transparent.
Quarantine is the gap. MPI states outright that you should contact individual facilities for their fees, and the figures circulating on third party sites vary so widely that we will not repeat them. Ask the facility directly and get it in writing before you commit to dates.
Your vet sets their own fees. The examination, the certificate paperwork and any blood draw are priced by your clinic and vary between practices. Ask your vet directly. Every laboratory we checked states plainly that the draw is the clinic’s charge, not theirs.
Ground transport at either end is quoted per route. Our coordination fee is included in the total we quote you and itemised on your invoice.
The titer test and its waiting period set the calendar. Book it far earlier than feels necessary.
Quarantine is a minimum of ten days, not a fixed ten days. Paperwork gaps extend it, and you pay for the extra time.
Pets arriving from Australia are treated differently and do not need a permit. That only helps if your pet is genuinely coming from there.
Crate size drives the flight cost, as everywhere.
Figures verified July 2026. Government fees change, so each links to the authority that publishes it. If you are reading this long after that date, check the source first.
Terms used here are defined in our pet relocation glossary.
Send us the route, the breed and roughly when you want to travel. Request a quote and we will reply with an itemised plan, a timeline and clear next steps, usually within two business hours.
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