Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Portugal → 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 leaving Portugal publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. DGAV's page gives no fixed deadline or fee: the destination's requirements, which DGAV lists country by country in its Certific@+ system, decide what you need.
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)
No fixed wait
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
Portugal 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
Request the certificate in DGAV's Certific@+ system and collect the paper original: To get the certification the destination requires, use DGAV's Certific@+ system, where you have to register. Information about the health conditions required is also there, and you don't need to register to read it. After the certificate is issued, you must go to the DGAV office you are told to, to collect the health certificate: the paper document is essential for the trip.
DGAV's page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be: the destination's own requirements decide.
“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.”
“Para obtenção da certificação exigida, deve utilizar um sistema informático denominado Certific@+”
“após emissão do certificado, será necessário que se desloque ao Serviço da DGAV que lhe for indicado”
“(documento em suporte físico essencial para a viagem)”
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.”
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.
- DGAV says its information is not exhaustive: the destination's health authorities can change their rules without notice. Plan ahead, because the destination may have to be consulted and that can take time.
- In most cases the trip needs certificates issued in Portugal. For some countries only official involvement in the animal's own documents is needed, and for a few no official involvement at all. DGAV has a page per destination and species where you can confirm which applies.
- Ask the transport company about the way your pet will be carried: the carrier's rules are separate.
- 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
Request the certificate in DGAV's Certific@+ system and collect the paper original: To get the certification the destination requires, use DGAV's Certific@+ system, where you have to register. Information about the health conditions required is also there, and you don't need to register to read it. After the certificate is issued, you must go to the DGAV office you are told to, to collect the health certificate: the paper document is essential for the trip.
DGAV's page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be: the destination's own requirements decide.
“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.”
“Para obtenção da certificação exigida, deve utilizar um sistema informático denominado Certific@+”
“após emissão do certificado, será necessário que se desloque ao Serviço da DGAV que lhe for indicado”
“(documento em suporte físico essencial para a viagem)”
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.”
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.
- DGAV says its information is not exhaustive: the destination's health authorities can change their rules without notice. Plan ahead, because the destination may have to be consulted and that can take time.
- In most cases the trip needs certificates issued in Portugal. For some countries only official involvement in the animal's own documents is needed, and for a few no official involvement at all. DGAV has a page per destination and species where you can confirm which applies.
- Ask the transport company about the way your pet will be carried: the carrier's rules are separate.
- 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 Portugal 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.