Fees and charges for importing aquatic animals

What our fees cover

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) calculates fees on a cost-recovery basis.

Activities and services we charge for include:

• import permits
• border clearance inspections
• travel costs.

Not all the fees on this page may apply to you and there could be other charges not listed here – like transport and storage costs.

Import permits and cost

Some aquatic animals need a permit before they can be imported into New Zealand. The import health standards (IHS) will tell you if a permit is needed.

Check the IHS for your aquatic animal

Border clearance charges

MPI may charge you for costs related to inspecting your shipment when it arrives in New Zealand. It may be inspected by either a biosecurity or veterinary inspector.

Fees are $155.50 ($178.83 including GST) per hour for biosecurity inspectors and $216.84 ($249.37 including GST) per hour for veterinary inspectors.

You may also be charged extra fees if MPI's inspector has to:

• travel to do the inspection
• wait before inspection can start
• work outside of normal hours.

Find out more about importing fees and charges

Quarantine costs

Some aquatic animals, such as ornamental fish and marine invertebrates, must be quarantined at an MPI-approved transitional facility for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Along with MPI's inspection charges, you will have to pay any charges relating to:

• transporting your aquatic animals to the facility
• treatment costs.

Contact individual transitional facilities to find out their fees and charges.

Transitional and containment facilities for border clearance