International Koi Shipping
Yes — we ship koi internationally.
House of Koi ships live Japanese koi outside the United States by air cargo. We have shipped to the Bahamas many times, and we ship to other Caribbean islands and to South America.
International orders are arranged by inquiry only. They are not available through our online checkout and we do not publish international rates. Live koi travel as air cargo, not as a parcel, and every shipment is built individually around the destination country's import rules and the flight into your airport. We arrange all of it ourselves.
Before you contact us, find out what your country requires to import live ornamental fish.
That isn't us passing the work to you — it's the only order the process works in. Your country's import permit is the document that tells us which veterinary paperwork to prepare, what wording it needs, and what testing it has to show. Without it we would be guessing, and guessed paperwork is what gets fish held at the border.
Once you know your requirements, contact us and we'll take it from there.
Contact us about international shipping →
Where we ship
| Region | Status |
|---|---|
| The Bahamas | Shipped many times — we know this route well |
| Other Caribbean islands | Yes, arranged per shipment |
| South America | Yes, arranged per shipment |
| Elsewhere | Ask — it depends on what your country requires |
We ship anywhere a buyer can legally clear live ornamental fish into their country. What decides it isn't distance — it's your country's import requirements and whether you're able to meet them on your end.
"We had a wonderful experience with House of Koi. Their team was extremely responsive, professional, and detail-oriented throughout the entire process. We were especially impressed that our order was carefully arranged and shipped to The Bahamas without any issues.
Their selection was absolutely huge, with so many beautiful options to choose from! The staff patiently worked with us to help narrow down our selections, making what could have been an overwhelming process much easier.
Everyone we worked with was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and helpful. Excellent staff and excellent service! We highly recommend House of Koi and would definitely use them again."
— Juliette Joseph, ★★★★★ Google review
How it works
1. Find out what your country requires.
Contact your country's agriculture, fisheries, or veterinary authority and ask what's required to import live ornamental fish. In most countries this means an import permit issued to you as the importer. That permit spells out the documentation the shipment needs — certificate wording, any testing, approved airports, quarantine on arrival.
This step is yours and it comes first. We can't shortcut it and neither can you — countries don't release live fish without it.
2. Contact us with what you've found.
Send us your country, your nearest international airport, a copy of the permit or the requirements you've been given, and the koi you're interested in. Now we know exactly what we're preparing.
3. We prepare the fish and the paperwork.
Your koi are conditioned and purged before travel. We arrange the veterinary health certificate through a USDA-accredited veterinarian, and USDA APHIS endorsement of that certificate where your country requires it — written to match what your permit specifies.
4. We arrange the air cargo.
We pack to IATA live animal standards — insulated boxes, pure oxygen, the right water volume and fish count for the transit time — and book the flight. You get the flight number, arrival time, and air waybill so you or your broker can be ready.
5. You clear it and collect it.
Your customs broker clears the shipment at your airport. Live fish should be collected the same day they land.
What we provide
- Koi selected, conditioned, and purged for international transit
- IATA-standard live animal packing — insulated box, oxygen, correct water volume
- Veterinary health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian
- USDA APHIS endorsement where your country requires it
- Export documentation and commercial invoice
- Air cargo booking, flight details, and air waybill
What you're responsible for
- Finding out your country's import requirements, before you contact us
- Obtaining the import permit — it's issued to you as the importer
- A customs broker at your destination airport
- All duties, taxes, quarantine, handling, and clearance fees at your end
- Collecting the fish promptly on arrival
Cost
International shipments are quoted individually. There is no rate table, and we can't give you a figure before we know where the koi are going and what your country requires — air cargo pricing depends on the route, the box count, and the carrier, and the paperwork cost depends on what your permit asks for.
Once you've come to us with your requirements, we'll price the whole shipment — fish, packing, veterinary certification, documentation, and freight — and you'll have the full number before you commit to anything.
Duties, taxes, brokerage, and any quarantine fees at your end are separate and are paid by you.
Live arrival and risk
We've moved a lot of koi across borders and we pack to survive the trip. The terms on international shipments are different from domestic ones, and we'd rather you know them up front:
- Our live arrival guarantee runs to the point the shipment is handed to the air carrier.
- Title passes at export. Once the shipment leaves the United States, the fish are yours.
- We are not responsible for losses caused by customs delay, refused entry, destination quarantine, or collection delays on your end.
- Livestock sales are final. There are no returns on live koi.
That isn't us hedging on quality. Once a box is in another country's customs hall it is genuinely out of our hands — and the single biggest cause of trouble on international shipments is paperwork that wasn't right before the fish left. Which is why we ask you to sort your requirements out first.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship koi to the Bahamas?
Yes. We've shipped koi to the Bahamas many times and know the route well — shipments go by air cargo out of Miami. Before contacting us, check with the Bahamian authorities on what's required to import live ornamental fish, so we can prepare the right paperwork. We handle everything on the US side.
Can I buy Japanese koi from the United States and have them shipped to my country?
Yes, if your country allows the import of live ornamental fish and you're able to obtain an import permit. That permit is the deciding factor. Find out what your country requires first, then contact us.
Why can't I just check out online for international shipping?
Because live koi ship as air cargo, not as a parcel. Every international shipment needs a permit, veterinary certification matched to your country's specific requirements, a booked flight, and a broker at your end. None of that can be calculated by a shopping cart, so we arrange each one individually.
How much does international koi shipping cost?
It's quoted per shipment. Air cargo pricing varies by route and box count, and the paperwork cost depends on what your country's permit requires — so we can't give a figure until we know where the koi are going. Come to us with your requirements and we'll quote the whole shipment.
Do you provide health certificates for export?
Yes. We arrange veterinary health certificates through a USDA-accredited veterinarian, and USDA APHIS endorsement where your country requires it. The certificate has to match what your import permit specifies, which is why we need your requirements before we start.
Who gets the import permit — you or me?
You do. Import permits are issued to the importer, which is you. We can't apply on your behalf. What we do is prepare the export-side paperwork to match whatever that permit asks for.
How long does an international koi shipment take?
The flight itself is usually same-day or next-day. The timeline that actually matters is your import permit, which can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on your country. Start there.
Do you ship koi to the Caribbean and South America?
Yes. We've shipped throughout the Caribbean and to South America. Requirements vary a great deal country to country — some are straightforward, some require testing or facility registration that takes real time. Find out what your country asks for and we'll tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
What happens if a koi doesn't survive the trip?
Our live arrival guarantee runs to hand-off to the air carrier. After that the fish are yours. In practice, losses on properly packed and properly documented shipments are rare — the problems come from shipments held up in customs, which is exactly why we insist the paperwork is right before anything leaves.
Ready to ship koi to your country?
Check what your country requires to import live ornamental fish. Then send us your country, your nearest international airport, the requirements you've been given, and the koi you're interested in — and we'll tell you honestly whether we can get them to you and what it will take.