Taking Your Dog from New Zealand to Australia: What You Need to Know

Wondering what’s involved in taking a dog to Australia from NZ, whether you’re emigrating with pets, going on holiday, or visiting Aussie loved ones? When moving your dog from NZ to Australia for any length of time what steps should you take to ensure it’s done right? To ensure you don’t run into delays or worse trouble?

Your fur kid is family and they deserve the best for their big country transition too. Time to read up!

Mass exodus

Did you know 47,000 New Zealanders emigrated in 2023, a new annual record? 53% of them went to Australia. With Companion Animals NZ putting the percentage of NZ pet parents at 64%, that means there are ALOT of families emigrating with pets.

The Australasian region has strict rules governing the entry and exit of animals for biosecurity reasons. But what about taking a dog to Australia from NZ? Do Kiwis face the same strict laws? Let’s find out the details.

Permit? Health certificate? What’s required?

According to the Australian Government website for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, moving a dog from NZ to Australia doesn’t require a permit.

Also, unlike canines from other countries, New Zealand dogs have no entry quarantine period.

Health certificate needed

With that said, there are still requirements to meet. The first is getting a health certificate from a government approved vet. The certificate must show that:

• Your dog is microchipped (read all about the dog microchip process)
• New Zealand is free from rabies
• A vet examined your dog and found them fit to travel five days or fewer of you entering Australia
• A vet treated your dog for external and internal parasites five days or fewer of you entering Australia
• The following diseases weren’t confirmed in New Zealand 12 months or fewer of you entering Australia: Canine brucellosis, leptospirosis, and indigenous cases of, and established populations of competent vectors for, canine ehrlichiosis and leishmaniosis (note our Aussie PD Insurance website has an article about ehrlichiosis in dogs)
• Your dog has lived in New Zealand since birth or importation from Australia. If they haven’t, these conditions will apply

Other must-follow criteria when taking a dog to Australia from NZ

Of course, a health certificate isn’t everything. You didn’t think it was that easy, did you? To be honest, it almost is – as long as you hit the nail on the head with…

Age, parenting status and other restrictions

You’ll have to fulfill the following criteria before taking a dog to Australia from NZ:

• Your dog isn’t more than 40 days pregnant or suckling puppies at the time you’re entering Australia
• They’re at least 8 weeks old at the time of travel
• Your dog was not under any quarantine restrictions at the time you arrived in Australia

Breed no-goes for Australia

Also note that our across the pond compadres do not allow the following breeds:

• Pit Bull Terrier types
• Japanese Tosa
• Fila Brasileiro
• Dogo Argentino (read about these in our ‘10 New Dog Breeds‘ article)
• Presa Canario

These wolf-dog crosses also aren’t allowed:

• Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak
• Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound
• Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog
• Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog

Lastly, if your dog has ever been to mainland Africa, a New Zealand government approved vet must treat them for Babesia canis with imidocarb dipropionate.

Complying with laws around taking a dog to Australia from NZ

It’s very important that you ensure you meet all Australia’s requirements when taking a dog to Australia from NZ. Non-compliance can have serious consequences.

You could have your dog moved to and held in post entry quarantine until you’re able to produce any outstanding documents. Once they’re there you may have to pay for them to get additional tests. There’s also the risk that they’re exported or even euthanised.

Is the risk really worth not following the right steps?

Extra bit and pieces to explore when emigrating with pets

Before setting out on your journey, get in touch with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and find out:

• Which veterinarians and laboratories are approved to provide you with a health certificate
• If New Zealand has any requirements in addition to those stated on the Australian Government website for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Alert the Department at least three days before your arrival by emailing the regional office in the state/territory in which your dog will first arrive in Australia

When you arrive in Australia, a biosecurity officer will check your dog as well as the health certificate your vet provided. If all is in order, you’ll happily be able to take Fido in with you!

PS: If you’re moving a dog from NZ to Australia then travelling across the country by car, you may want to check our tips for travelling with pets before you head off.

Emigrating with pets – the expenses

But all of this doesn’t take into account what the costs are of moving a dog from NZ to Australia. Below, we’ve broken down some of the costs involved in pet emmigration:

1. Veterinary checks and treatments:
   • Health Certificate: Your pet will need a certified vet to issue a health certificate. This could cost anywhere from $100 to $300.
   • Vaccinations: Depending on what vaccinations your pet already has, you may need additional shots, especially for rabies. Each vaccination can cost between $30 to $100.
   • Parasite Treatments: Treatments for internal and external parasites are required. Each treatment might range from $20 to $100.
2. Import permit:
   • The cost for an import permit for a dog or cat into Australia is approximately $480.
3. Quarantine:
   • Australia has strict quarantine requirements. The minimum mandatory quarantine period is 10 days, and the cost is about $1,500 per animal, which includes the stay and veterinary checks.
4. Transport costs:
   • Airfare for pets depends on the size of the pet and the crate, as well as the airline. Expect costs to range from $1,000 to $2,500. This is a major part of the expense, as it includes airline fees and the cost of an IATA-approved transport crate.
5. Miscellaneous fees:
   • These can include costs for preparing and handling documents, customs clearance fees in Australia, and any transport or handling charges from the airport to the quarantine facility.
6. Pet relocation services:
   • If you use a professional pet relocation service to manage the process, this will add to the costs. These services can range from NZD 1,500 to NZD 3,000, depending on the level of service provided.

The total cost to move a pet from New Zealand to Australia, including all the above factors, can typically range from $3,000 to $6,500 or more, depending on various factors like the size of the pet, the specific requirements, and the choice of services used

More protection for your pup

We know your dog means the world to you, so make sure you cover them in case of an accident or emergency before and/or after you’re emigrating with pets. PD Insurance’s NZ dog insurance will protect you well in NZ, whereas our AU dog insurance plans offers the same affordable, value-rich cover in Australia. With both, new customers can score one or more months of free insurance when signing up online.

Why not get a quote now?