Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Bahrain to South Africa: the rules
Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted), rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK) and veterinary import permit (before the animal leaves) and 4 more.
Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 3 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- South Africa puts Bahrain in the group “Country whose dogs are quarantined”, which decides part of the rules.
- On this route: import permit needed, quarantine on arrival and extra disease test.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Bahrain publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Bahrain describes the export health certificate for dogs and cats in a few lines of the ministry's 2024 services guide (in Arabic). It doesn't say how long before departure to apply or how long the certificate is valid. The destination decides what the certificate must say, so ask the Veterinary Quarantine Section early.
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering South Africa publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. This is the department's protocol for dogs and cats, a page last updated in 2008 and read from a copy stored in 2021, because the department's sites do not open from our network. Fees, forms, contacts and the list of countries whose dogs skip quarantine may have changed (newer summaries mention an updated tariff). Treat it as a short summary under review and confirm with the Directorate Animal Health (VetPermits@dalrrd.gov.za) before you travel. Dogs and cats from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, and dogs from other African countries, follow other rules we have not built.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK) (a primary vaccination at least 30 days before import (a booster no more than 12 months before))
No official wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (dogs)
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine on arrival
- Extra disease test
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
How early to start (cats)
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK) (a primary vaccination at least 30 days before import (a booster no more than 12 months before))
No official wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (cats)
- Import permit needed
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
Which rules apply to you
South Africa puts Bahrain in the group “Country whose dogs are quarantined”. See every group
Official name: Dogs from this country are quarantined for 14 days on arrival and re-tested
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Rule change for pets travelling from Bahrain to South Africa
Leaving rules: China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa and Kenya (short summaries, under review). Tap to see what changed.
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Bahrain → South Africa
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Bahrain (leaving) or South Africa (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Bringing a dog or cat into South Africa: we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
IdentificationEntering South Africa
ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted)
All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip that can be read by ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 scanners; tattoos are not accepted.
Details and the official words
“All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip (tattoos will not be accepted).”
“The microchip must be able to be read by an ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 scanners.”
VaccinationEntering South Africa
Rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK)
Dogs and cats must have a valid rabies vaccination: a primary vaccination given not more than 12 months and not less than 30 days before import, or a booster given not more than 12 months before import. It is not required for pets from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, though advised.
Details and the official words
“In the case of a primary rabies vaccination the vaccination must be given not more than 12 months and not less than 30 days before the date of import.”
“In the case of a booster rabies vaccination the vaccination must be given not more than 12 months before the date of import.”
“Vaccination against rabies is not required for cats/dogs imported from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland”
PermitEntering South Africa
Veterinary import permit (before the animal leaves)
A veterinary import permit from the Directorate Animal Health is needed to import dogs and cats. You apply with the application form and proof of payment of the permit fee, and for a dog that will be quarantined an indemnity declaration. The permit is issued and sent to you together with a veterinary health certificate; the protocol says processing takes 3 to 4 working days if approved.
Details and the official words
The fee in the protocol (R110) is old; newer department pages mention an updated tariff.
“A veterinary import permit is needed to import Dogs & Cats into South Africa.”
“it takes three (3) to four (4) working days to process the permit”
In the days before you travel
TestEntering South Africa
Dogs: blood tests for five diseases within 30 days of export
Before a dog can be imported it must be certified free of Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) and Leishmania by blood tests, done within 30 days of export (the exporting country's vet authority can instead certify that the country is free of a disease). Dogs from countries not certified free of heartworm must be treated from the negative test until export, and must bring enough medication for a six-month course after arrival.
Details and the official words
“Before dogs can be imported the dog needs to be certified free from the following five diseases by means of blood tests.”
“Blood tests need to be done within 30 days of the date of export to South Africa.”
“Dogs imported from countries not certified free from Dirofilaria immitis must be treated from the date of negative testing until export at the required intervals with:”
PaperworkBahrain and South Africa
Veterinary health certificate within 10 days of departure
The department sends you the veterinary health certificate with the import permit. A vet authorised by the exporting country's veterinary administration completes it in English within 10 days of departure, and it is stamped and signed by the exporting country's veterinary authorities.
Details and the official words
Export health certificate from the Veterinary Quarantine Section: Go in person to the ministry's Veterinary Quarantine Section with your dog or cat and say which country it is going to. Bring the destination country's import permit and your pet's original vaccination booklet. A vet examines your pet and issues the health certificate once satisfied that it is healthy for export. The fee is 5 Bahraini dinars for a personal export.
The guide lists the destination's import permit as a required document. If your destination doesn't issue import permits, ask the section what to bring instead.
“This needs to be completed, in English, by a veterinarian authorized thereto by the Veterinary Administration of the exporting country, within 10 days of departure.”
“شهادة صحية للتصدير (طيور /كلاب/ قطط)”
“يجب الحضور الشخصي أو حضور ممثل عن الشركة لتقديم الطلب لشهادة صحية للتصدير مع إحضار الكلاب والقطط والطيور المراد تصدريها وتحديد الدولة المراد التصدير لها”
“يجب إحضار تصريح الإستيراد”
“معاينة الكلاب والقطط وفحص الطيور”
“يتم إصدار الشهادة الصحية بعد التأكد من صحة الحيوانات لتصديرها من قبل الطبيب البيطري وتحصيل الرسوم المطلوبة على ذلك”
“تصريح الإستيراد من الدولة المستوردة”
“دفتر التطعيمات الأصلي للقط أو الكلب”
“5 دينار للشخصي”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering South Africa
Fly as manifest cargo and present the permit and certificate on arrival
Dogs and cats must be registered as manifest cargo and cannot fly as excess baggage. Cats and dogs from countries without quarantine can also arrive at Durban. At the airport the original import permit and original health certificate are presented to the veterinary officials before the animal is released.
Details and the official words
“All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be registered, as manifest cargo and can not fly as excess baggage.”
“On arrival at the airport the original Veterinary Import Permit issued by the Directorate Animal Health and the original Veterinary Health Certificate signed, stamped and certified by Veterinary Authorities of the exporting country must be presented to the veterinary officials at the airport before the dog or cat can be released.”
QuarantineEntering South Africa
Dogs from some countries: 14 days' quarantine on arrival
Dogs from countries not on the department's list are quarantined for 14 days on arrival, re-tested for the five diseases at the owner's expense, and may only arrive through OR Tambo (Johannesburg) or Cape Town. Before a quarantine booking is confirmed you must sign an indemnity form (the original, not a copy).
Details and the official words
“Quarantine of 14 days will be imposed on some dogs, depending on the country of origin of the dog.”
Good to know
- Puppies and kittens under 3 months old need no rabies vaccination, but can only travel if their mother was vaccinated more than 30 days and less than 12 months before they were born; they are vaccinated after arrival at 3 months of age.
- A dog that tests positive for any of the five diseases is not eligible for import.
Cats
Bringing a dog or cat into South Africa: we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
IdentificationEntering South Africa
ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted)
All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip that can be read by ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 scanners; tattoos are not accepted.
Details and the official words
“All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip (tattoos will not be accepted).”
“The microchip must be able to be read by an ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 scanners.”
VaccinationEntering South Africa
Rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK)
Dogs and cats must have a valid rabies vaccination: a primary vaccination given not more than 12 months and not less than 30 days before import, or a booster given not more than 12 months before import. It is not required for pets from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, though advised.
Details and the official words
“In the case of a primary rabies vaccination the vaccination must be given not more than 12 months and not less than 30 days before the date of import.”
“In the case of a booster rabies vaccination the vaccination must be given not more than 12 months before the date of import.”
“Vaccination against rabies is not required for cats/dogs imported from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland”
PermitEntering South Africa
Veterinary import permit (before the animal leaves)
A veterinary import permit from the Directorate Animal Health is needed to import dogs and cats. You apply with the application form and proof of payment of the permit fee, and for a dog that will be quarantined an indemnity declaration. The permit is issued and sent to you together with a veterinary health certificate; the protocol says processing takes 3 to 4 working days if approved.
Details and the official words
The fee in the protocol (R110) is old; newer department pages mention an updated tariff.
“A veterinary import permit is needed to import Dogs & Cats into South Africa.”
“it takes three (3) to four (4) working days to process the permit”
In the days before you travel
PaperworkBahrain and South Africa
Veterinary health certificate within 10 days of departure
The department sends you the veterinary health certificate with the import permit. A vet authorised by the exporting country's veterinary administration completes it in English within 10 days of departure, and it is stamped and signed by the exporting country's veterinary authorities.
Details and the official words
Export health certificate from the Veterinary Quarantine Section: Go in person to the ministry's Veterinary Quarantine Section with your dog or cat and say which country it is going to. Bring the destination country's import permit and your pet's original vaccination booklet. A vet examines your pet and issues the health certificate once satisfied that it is healthy for export. The fee is 5 Bahraini dinars for a personal export.
The guide lists the destination's import permit as a required document. If your destination doesn't issue import permits, ask the section what to bring instead.
“This needs to be completed, in English, by a veterinarian authorized thereto by the Veterinary Administration of the exporting country, within 10 days of departure.”
“شهادة صحية للتصدير (طيور /كلاب/ قطط)”
“يجب الحضور الشخصي أو حضور ممثل عن الشركة لتقديم الطلب لشهادة صحية للتصدير مع إحضار الكلاب والقطط والطيور المراد تصدريها وتحديد الدولة المراد التصدير لها”
“يجب إحضار تصريح الإستيراد”
“معاينة الكلاب والقطط وفحص الطيور”
“يتم إصدار الشهادة الصحية بعد التأكد من صحة الحيوانات لتصديرها من قبل الطبيب البيطري وتحصيل الرسوم المطلوبة على ذلك”
“تصريح الإستيراد من الدولة المستوردة”
“دفتر التطعيمات الأصلي للقط أو الكلب”
“5 دينار للشخصي”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering South Africa
Fly as manifest cargo and present the permit and certificate on arrival
Dogs and cats must be registered as manifest cargo and cannot fly as excess baggage. Cats and dogs from countries without quarantine can also arrive at Durban. At the airport the original import permit and original health certificate are presented to the veterinary officials before the animal is released.
Details and the official words
“All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be registered, as manifest cargo and can not fly as excess baggage.”
“On arrival at the airport the original Veterinary Import Permit issued by the Directorate Animal Health and the original Veterinary Health Certificate signed, stamped and certified by Veterinary Authorities of the exporting country must be presented to the veterinary officials at the airport before the dog or cat can be released.”
Good to know
- Puppies and kittens under 3 months old need no rabies vaccination, but can only travel if their mother was vaccinated more than 30 days and less than 12 months before they were born; they are vaccinated after arrival at 3 months of age.
- A dog that tests positive for any of the five diseases is not eligible for import.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Bahrain publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
Export health certificate for a dog or cat, personalLeaving Bahrain5 BHD
Veterinary import permitEntering South Africa230 ZAR
Tariff from 1 April 2024. The department revises it every year, so check the current amount when you apply.
“Issuance of an import permit. R230”
New tariffs as from 1 April 2024: veterinary import permits issued in terms of the Animal Diseases Act · as of 2024-04-01
Government fees in total: 5 BHD + 230 ZAR (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Bahrain yet.
Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices
Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.
Round trip
Coming back to Bahrain
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Bahrain (dogs).
The trip back asks for 7 steps: cat or dog import permit from the Veterinary Quarantine Section, vaccinations, including rabies, complete before the permit, rabies blood test (RANAT) certificate and original government health certificate and certificate of origin and more.
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Bahrain (cats).
The trip back asks for 7 steps: cat or dog import permit from the Veterinary Quarantine Section, vaccinations, including rabies, complete before the permit, rabies blood test (RANAT) certificate and original government health certificate and certificate of origin and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Information on importing of dogs and cats into the Republic of South Africa (Directorate Animal Health)
- New tariffs as from 1 April 2024: veterinary import permits issued in terms of the Animal Diseases Act
- دليل خدمات وزارة شؤون البلديات والزراعة (Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture services guide, 2024): cat and dog import permits (services 112 and 113) and export health certificate (service 117)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Bahrain to South Africa?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into South Africa?
Yes: A veterinary import permit from the Directorate Animal Health is needed to import dogs and cats.
Will my dog be quarantined in South Africa?
It can be: Dogs from countries not on the department's list are quarantined for 14 days on arrival, re-tested for the five diseases at the owner's expense, and may only arrive through OR Tambo (Johannesburg) or Cape Town.
Will my cat be quarantined in South Africa?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Bahrain to South Africa?
With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted), rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK) and veterinary import permit (before the animal leaves) and 4 more.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
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