Allow our skilled pet shipping team to assist you, whether it’s for domestic or international pet transportation. Count on our experienced professionals to guarantee the safe arrival of your beloved pet.
Our Christchurch, New Zealand pet shipping services include:
- Door to door transport, both international and domestic
- Assistance with health certificates, import certificates, and other travel documents.
- USDA endorsement of all relevant documents where required
- Airline approved flight kennels provided with personalized labels, identification and emergency notification instructions
- Customs clearance and delivery to your home
- Local pet taxi service to and from the airport, your home, veterinarian or kennel/boarding facility – available in the US and New Zealand.
- Travel consultation and cargo flight reservations
We will inform you of your pet’s full itinerary before the trip and we will update you as your pet travels to or from Christchurch, New Zealand (CHC).
Transcontinental Pet Movers LLC is an approved Live Animal Transporter for Air New Zealand.
Paperwork and Veterinary Requirements
It’s best to have Transcontinental Pet Movers or an equally qualified IPATA agent help guide and plan your pet’s pre-move preparations. For now, the following information serves as a guide in order to prepare your pet to enter New Zealand.
Quarantine
A mandatory post-entry quarantine duration of 10 is required at one of 4 approved quarantine facilities in New Zealand.
- Obtaining a quarantine booking confirmation from one of these facilities is necessary prior to applying for the New Zealand Import Permit.
Health/Veterinary Requirements
Requires 6-7 months of preparation.
Microchip
Must be administered before any other veterinary procedures.
- Dogs and cats must be identifiable by microchip. There are no exceptions to this rule.
- The microchip should be ISO compliant and 15 digits long.
- If your pet does not have an ISO compliant chip, your pet will have to travel with a microchip reader attached to the crate. Alternatively, your vet can implant a new ISO compliant chip in addition to the existing non-ISO compatible chip.
- After implanting the chip, your pet will have to be revaccinated in order for new vaccinations to be valid.
Vaccinations
Rabies vaccinations more than 6 months but within 12 months from export.
- Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus (DHLPP) and Canine Influenza (CIV), Bordetella
- Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP)
- Both: Rabies vaccinations
Blood Tests
- Rabies titer blood testing takes about 4 weeks to process and is to be done not less than 3 months but within 24 months of entry into Christchurch, New Zealand
- Heartworm test, Leishmania test, Doxycycline treatment, Babesia Gibsoni test, Brucella Canis, Parasite treatments.
Paperwork Requirements
Done throughout the 180 days after the rabies titer test.
OVD declaration
- Done after the rabies titer test and to complete before import permit application
Import Permit
Permit take 20 workings days to process and is valid for 1 year.
- Import permit can be applied via this MPI portal
Health Examination for Health Certificate
Must be conducted within 2 days of departure
- At this point in your pet’s move, one of our pet shipping specialists will pre-complete the correct health certificate and email it to your veterinarian for signature at the physical appointment. We provide all documents and are available to answer any questions and troubleshoot issues that may arise.
- Internal and external parasite treatments are done during and before this procedure.
USDA Endorsement
Must be completed before departure
- After your pet has been examined by your veterinarian and the health certificate has been completed and signed, the health certificate must be submitted to the USDA office to be endorsed. Transcontinental Pet Movers will coordinate this process with your doctor.
- If a military veterinarian completes your pet’s health certificate, the USDA endorsement is not needed. A military veterinarian is a Veterinary Corps Officer or civilian GS-0701 series government veterinarian employed by the U.S Army Veterinary Service.
Other Requirements
- Pre-departure crate sealing appointment with USDA. Transcontinental Pet Movers will take care of this step for you.
The requirements above for moving your pet to Christchurch, New Zealand can also be found on USDA’s website and the New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industry’s website.
Airport Information
Christchurch Airport is one of two main international airports in New Zealand for pets to arrive.
Upon arrival, the quarantine center will escort your pet straight into quarantine. After being released from Quarantine, we can arrange for the delivery to another city.