Starwood Pet Travel, a global leader in international pet relocation, has seen an 800% increase in moves to New Zealand since 2019. One big driver? A growing wave of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals relocating with their pets.
A Healthcare Boom in New Zealand
According to the Medical Council of New Zealand, internationally trained doctors now make up more than 43% of the country’s medical workforce. In the year ending June 2024, over 70% of all new doctor registrations came from overseas.
It’s a similar story in nursing: the Nursing Council of New Zealand reports 9,381 new nurse registrations in the 12 months ending September 2025 — roughly 72% of them trained internationally. Depending on the year, between 43% and 47% of practicing nurses hold overseas qualifications.
To help fill healthcare roles, New Zealand has expanded recruitment through its Accredited Employer Work Visa and Green List pathways. Within just one year of reopening its borders, more than 6,300 overseas health workers joined the workforce — including about 2,500 nurses.
From the Frontlines: A Customer’s Perspective
For Ezekiel Watts, a U.S. healthcare professional relocating with his family and pets, the process has been life-changing:
“Most healthcare workers are on Tier 1 of the Green List, which makes the visa process faster and provides a clear path to residency and dual citizenship within five years,” he explained.
“The process of shipping pets to NZ is incredibly complicated and full of potential pitfalls. Starwood has helped make the process clear and held our hands throughout — keeping us on track and ensuring our fur babies make it safely to the other side of the world.”
Starwood’s Role in a Stress-Free Pet Move
Adam Melton, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Starwood Pet Travel, says supporting relocating healthcare professionals is a big part of the company’s mission:
“Relocating to another country is a life-changing decision, and for most of our customers, their pets are family. We work with many doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who are already carrying the stress of immigration, licensing, and starting a new job in a new country. Our role is to make sure they never have to second-guess whether their pets will be cared for along the way.”
Record Growth in Pet Relocations
Between 2019 and 2025, Starwood Pet Travel has seen an 800% jump in relocations to New Zealand — with 2025 alone showing triple the bookings of 2024. The company credits this surge to New Zealand’s proactive healthcare recruitment and the growing desire among professionals to relocate with their pets rather than leave them behind.
Tips for Healthcare Workers Planning a Move with Pets
Based on firsthand customer experience, Starwood Pet Travel recommends:
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Engage an immigration agency early — the earlier the planning, the smoother the process.
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Expect long timelines — visa and quarantine steps can take months.
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Budget accordingly — a full international relocation can cost $30K–$45K USD, with pet travel starting around $5,295.
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Stay resilient — as one customer put it, “the process is a marathon, not a sprint.”
A Smoother Journey for Pets and Their People
As global mobility continues to rise, especially among essential healthcare workers, Starwood Pet Travel remains dedicated to making each international move as seamless and stress-free as possible. Whether it’s navigating New Zealand’s complex biosecurity requirements or coordinating every flight and check-in, Starwood ensures that families and their pets can start their next chapter together — no matter how far across the world that may be.
Click here to learn more about relocating to New Zealand with pets.