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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 for MPI inspectors.

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

Import permit

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

Check the IHS for your farm animal

Fee type Fee (excl GST) Fee (incl GST)
  • Permit to import animals to post-arrival address
  • Permit to import live animals into quarantine, containment, or transitional facility
  • Permit to transit animals (including ruminants and lamoids)
 $233.25* $268.24*

* If processing your application takes longer than one-and-a-half hours, additional time will be charged at an hourly rate of $155.50 excluding GST or $178.83 including GST.

Border clearance charges

MPI may charge you for costs related to inspecting your farm animals when they arrive in New Zealand. These may be inspected by either a biosecurity or veterinary inspector.

Fees are $155.50 ($178.83 including GST) per hour for biosecurity inspectors and $186.30 ($214.25 including GST) per hour for veterinary inspectors.

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

  • travel to inspect your goods
  • wait before inspection can start
  • work outside of normal hours.

More information on these other fees

Other charges

Farm animals arriving in New Zealand may need to be taken to a transitional facility for inspection.

Contact individual transitional facilities to find out their charges.

Find out more

Who to contact

If you have questions about MPI’s fees and charges, email info@mpi.govt.nz.

MPI business units