Pet Transport from New Zealand to the United States
New Zealand to the USA is one of the simpler long-haul pet transport routes. No titre test, no quarantine, no long waiting periods. The main requirements are a USDA-format health …
The import process, in full
Responsible: You
Responsible: Vet + MPI
Responsible: You or your cargo agent
Responsible: You + cargo agent
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your New Zealand to United States move gets missed.
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
CDC Dog Import Form is required for all dogs since August 2024. Complete via CDC portal before travel.
No cabin pets on transpacific flights. All pets travel as cargo.
Summer (December-February in the US) temperature embargoes may restrict brachycephalic breeds.
New Zealand's standing with US authorities
New Zealand is not a high-risk country under CDC or USDA APHIS definitions. That means no quarantine, no titre test, and no special compliance conditions beyond the standard health certificate and CDC Dog Import Form. The process is documentation-driven rather than involving long waiting periods or mandatory holding facilities.
New Zealand’s MPI acts as the competent authority for health certificate endorsement, fulfilling the same role that USDA APHIS plays for US domestic moves.
The CDC Dog Import Form: what it means for NZ pet owners
Since August 2024, all dogs entering the United States require a CDC Dog Import Form, regardless of where they come from. New Zealand pet owners are not exempt.
The form is completed through the CDC’s online portal before travel. It records your dog’s microchip number, rabies vaccination status, and confirms the dog has not recently been in a high-risk country. New Zealand is not on the high-risk list, so the form is purely administrative. Print the confirmation and present it at the US port of entry with the USDA-format health certificate.
Cats do not need the CDC form.
Air New Zealand cargo: the Trans-Tasman connection to the US
Air New Zealand’s cargo operation is the most natural starting point for an Auckland-to-USA pet move. They operate direct transpacific services to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), with onward connections available to other US cities.
Auckland’s cargo terminal is set up for live animal exports. Air New Zealand’s cargo team handles NZ-USA pet moves regularly. Book the cargo space early, particularly for summer departures when space fills up and temperature restrictions may limit options for brachycephalic breeds.
For destinations not directly served from Auckland, United Airlines and American Airlines both offer cargo connections via their Pacific hubs.
Common questions
Move your pet
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