Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from the Netherlands → South Africa
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
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.
How early to start
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
3 weeks
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
The Netherlands is in the group “Dogs from this country do not go into quarantine on arrival (the permit and certificate must still be in order)” in South Africa’s published list.See every group
Headlines for South Africa
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine possible
- Extra disease test for some origins
What your dog needs
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.
Permit
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”
Identification
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.”
Vaccination
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”
Test
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:”
Paperwork
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
Legalisation of the passport or health certificate at NVWA: Bring all the documents NVWA asks for to your appointment. If you need a health certificate for the trip, your own vet must complete and sign the form fully beforehand. NVWA checks the EU pet passport and any other documents and legalises them if everything is approved. If a document is missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place and you need a new appointment.
“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.”
“If you need a health certificate for your animal's trip, make sure your veterinarian completes and signs the form completely.”
“If there any documents missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place.”
On arrival
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.”
Official stamp
Book your NVWA legalisation appointment by e-mail
E-mail dpp@nvwa.nl at least 14 working days before the date you want the legalisation to take place, with the type of animal, the destination, any stops on the way, your expected departure date or period, the purpose of the trip and your phone number. NVWA tries to reply within 2 working days and then sends an appointment confirmation. The appointment is at its office in Utrecht, on working days between 10:00 and 16:00.
Details and the official words
The time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.
Cancelling or rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before the appointment. NVWA may be unable to move the appointment to your preferred date, especially if it is busy or the request came less than 14 working days ahead.
“Make sure to do this at least 14 working days before the date on which you want the legalisation to take place.”
“The appointment is at our office in Utrecht.”
“The amount of time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.”
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.
- NVWA legalisation of the EU pet passport and other documents is needed only in some cases. It is usually not necessary if the Netherlands has made agreements with the destination country: NVWA's Export Assistent shows whether a 'binding certificate' with instructions exists. If there is none, ask NVWA whether legalisation is needed.
- The destination's own requirements decide which documents must be legalised, and they can change. NVWA's e-mail after you book tells you what to prepare, but check the current requirements with the destination's authorities too.
- Your pet does not have to come to the legalisation appointment: bring the documents only.
- Legalisation is at your own expense. NVWA's current rates page lists the fee for legalising a dog, cat or ferret passport or certificate (under 'Exportcertificering').
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
What your cat needs
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.
Permit
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”
Identification
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.”
Vaccination
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”
Paperwork
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
Legalisation of the passport or health certificate at NVWA: Bring all the documents NVWA asks for to your appointment. If you need a health certificate for the trip, your own vet must complete and sign the form fully beforehand. NVWA checks the EU pet passport and any other documents and legalises them if everything is approved. If a document is missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place and you need a new appointment.
“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.”
“If you need a health certificate for your animal's trip, make sure your veterinarian completes and signs the form completely.”
“If there any documents missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place.”
On arrival
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.”
Official stamp
Book your NVWA legalisation appointment by e-mail
E-mail dpp@nvwa.nl at least 14 working days before the date you want the legalisation to take place, with the type of animal, the destination, any stops on the way, your expected departure date or period, the purpose of the trip and your phone number. NVWA tries to reply within 2 working days and then sends an appointment confirmation. The appointment is at its office in Utrecht, on working days between 10:00 and 16:00.
Details and the official words
The time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.
Cancelling or rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before the appointment. NVWA may be unable to move the appointment to your preferred date, especially if it is busy or the request came less than 14 working days ahead.
“Make sure to do this at least 14 working days before the date on which you want the legalisation to take place.”
“The appointment is at our office in Utrecht.”
“The amount of time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.”
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.
- NVWA legalisation of the EU pet passport and other documents is needed only in some cases. It is usually not necessary if the Netherlands has made agreements with the destination country: NVWA's Export Assistent shows whether a 'binding certificate' with instructions exists. If there is none, ask NVWA whether legalisation is needed.
- The destination's own requirements decide which documents must be legalised, and they can change. NVWA's e-mail after you book tells you what to prepare, but check the current requirements with the destination's authorities too.
- Your pet does not have to come to the legalisation appointment: bring the documents only.
- Legalisation is at your own expense. NVWA's current rates page lists the fee for legalising a dog, cat or ferret passport or certificate (under 'Exportcertificering').
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from the Netherlands 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 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?
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.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: 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.