Dog or cat from Serbia to South Africa: the rules

Dogs

1. Get ready

   1. 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.”

   2. 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”

   3. 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”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. 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:”

   2. Vet examLeaving Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   3. PaperworkSerbia 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 certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      “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.”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

   2. 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.”

   3. 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.”

Cats

1. Get ready

   1. 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.”

   2. 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”

   3. 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”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   2. PaperworkSerbia 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 certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      “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.”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

   2. 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.”

The trip back asks for 6 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry, unlisted countries: rabies antibody test, 3 months before and serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days and more.