Taking a dog or cat out of South Africa: the rules

Leaving South Africa

The steps

What the authorities in South Africa ask before your pet leaves, mostly the health certificate and who has to sign or endorse it.

1. Vet exam

   Health check and health certificate from your private vet

   Take your pet to your private vet for a health check. The vet completes a standard veterinary health certificate (blank forms from the state vet office, and Western Cape templates for many destinations) and must have done all the tests, treatments and vaccinations the destination asks for: ones not done by the vet are not accepted for certification. The province's general guide asks for the health check within 7 days of travel, depending on what the destination's import permit says.

   Details and the official words

   “Your pet should be taken to your local private veterinarian for a health check.”

   “Your veterinarian should complete a standard Veterinary Health Certificate (VHC).”

   “Your veterinarian must have completed all the tests, treatments and vaccinations indicated on the import permit.”

   “A health check within 7 days of travel depending on what is specified on the import permit”

2. Notice

   Book an appointment with the state vet office

   State vet offices certify pets by appointment only. In Cape Town, email vetexport@westerncape.gov.za with the time slot you want, the number of pets and their destination, at least 2 days ahead; other offices ask you to book in good time because the state vet is not always available.

   Details and the official words

   “To make an appointment, clients are required to send an e-mail to vetexport@westerncape.gov.za with their required time slot.”

   “Clients are required to make an appointment at least 2 days in advance.”

3. Official stamp

   State vet certifies the health certificate

   Bring the signed health certificate, the destination's import permit (some destinations, such as EU countries and Namibia, don't issue one), your pet's vaccination booklet, supporting documents and your ID or driver's licence to the state vet office. The state vet certifies the certificate. You pay the application fee at the appointment (R200 per application in 2023 in the Western Cape).

   Details and the official words

   Fee: R200 per application in 2023 (Western Cape general info sheet; its EU info sheet says R209). It is set by the province's tariff list and may have changed.

   “Pets travelling out of South Africa generally require a Veterinary Health Certificate certified by a state veterinarian.”

   “An import permit from the country you are going to (some countries such as EU countries and Namibia do not issue these, for further information contact your local State Vet)”

   “The signed VHC, import permit as well as your pet’s vaccination booklet and supporting documents should be brought to the SV office for certification.”

   “Cost for application in 2023 is R200 each”

From the rule file

When each step happens

The timing rules for each step, in plain words. The planner turns them into dates for your flight.

• Health check and health certificate from your private vet

  • On or before the day of the health certificate

Worked out from the rules

Where you can go from South Africa, and how long it takes

How each destination we cover treats pets from South Africa, as its authority names the group, and the least time its official waits allow. Tap a destination for the full route.

Money

What it costs to leave South Africa

South Africa’s government fees for a pet leaving, exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in South Africa publish. The destination’s own fees come on top: they are in the table above and on each route.

Before you go

Coming back to South Africa

What Western Cape Department of Agriculture says about bringing your pet back. Some of it only works if done before your pet leaves.

Entry rules for South Africa · Everything about coming home

Notes

Good to know

• Export certification is done by the veterinary services of your province, so contact the state vet office where you live. In the Western Cape: the Cape Town Veterinary Export Certification Office (34 Roeland Street, vetexport@westerncape.gov.za, by appointment Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 12:00) or the regional state vet offices.
• The destination sets the rules, and you are responsible for getting its import requirements. Check them with the destination's veterinary authority (or its representatives in South Africa) before each trip; the province's info sheets are only a guide.
• Western Cape's guidance for pets travelling with their owner to the EU: the private vet's health check and EU health certificate must be done within 5 days (120 hours) of travelling but not less than 24 hours before. South African vets can't write in an EU pet passport, so a rabies booster given in South Africa goes on a separate vaccination certificate.Applies when: you travel to any EU country

Where this comes from

Official sources

Questions owners ask