Dog or cat from South Africa to Serbia: the rules

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationEntering Serbia

      Microchip, before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet must be permanently identified with a microchip (or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011). The identification must come before any rabies vaccination (and any antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “1) животиње треба да буду трајно обележене -микрочип;”

      “тетовираном пре 3. јула 2011. године, а то означавање мора претходити свакој вакцинацији”

   2. VaccinationEntering Serbia

      Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine (at least one antigenic unit per dose, WHO standard) or a recombinant vaccine, given at 12 weeks of age or older. After a first vaccination, wait 21 days before entering Serbia. A booster given after the previous vaccination expired counts as a first vaccination.

      Details and the official words

      “2) да су кућни љубимци вакцинисани против беснила са најмање једном антигенском јединицом по дози (препорука Светске здравствене организације); или рекомбинована вакцина која изражава имунизујући гликопротеин вируса беснила у живом вирусном вектору и да је протекао 21 дан од дана вакцинације, у случају прве вакцинације против беснила;”

      “Период ваљаности вакцинације почиње успостављањем заштитног имунитета, које није краћи од 21 дан од примарне вакцинације”

      “were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies”

      “Any revaccination must be considered a primary vaccination if it was not carried out within the period of validity of a previous vaccination.”

   3. Blood testEntering Serbia

      Unlisted countries: rabies antibody test, 3 months before

      Because your pet comes from a country on neither of Serbia's lists, an authorised vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination for an antibody test at an EU-approved laboratory (at least 0.5 IU/ml). The sample must be taken at least 3 months before the certificate is issued and your pet travels. The test needn't be repeated if later boosters were given on time.

      Details and the official words

      “4) да је кућни љубимац био подвргнут тестирању серума крви на висину титра специфичних неутрализирајућих антитела против вируса беснила, и то са граничним титром од најмање 0,5 IU/ml у лабораторији која је овлашћена од стране Европске уније, најмање 30 дана после вакцинације и три месеца пре изношења, с тим што се тестирање серума крви не мора понављати за животиње које су после претходне титрације биле редовно ревакцинисане у интервалима одређеним у упутству произвођача вакцине;”

      “Тест титрације антитела против беснила мора се обавити на узорку узетом барем 30 дана након датума вакцинације и најмање три месеца пре датума некомерцијалног кретања.”

      “at least 3 months prior to the date of issue of this certificate, proved an antibody titre equal to or greater than 0,5 lU/ml”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving South Africa

      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. PaperworkSouth Africa and Serbia

      Serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days

      Your pet travels with Serbia's model animal health certificate for non-commercial movement (Annex 7), issued by an authorised vet and endorsed by the competent authority of the country it comes from. It is valid for 10 days from issue until the document and identity check at the border (longer by the length of a sea crossing). Attach certified copies of the identification and vaccination details and, if a test was needed, of the laboratory report.

      Details and the official words

      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).

      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.

      “4) да животињу прати сертификат издат од стране надлежног органа земље из које долази;”

      “да су праћени исправно попуњеним обрасцем уверења (сертификат) из члана 15. став 1. тачка 1) овог правилника, који је издат од стране овлашћеног ветеринара и оверен од надлежног органа одређене земље”

      “This certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the designated”

      “A certified copy of the identification and vaccination details of the animals concerned shall be attached to the certificate.”

      “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”

   3. NoticeLeaving South Africa

      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.”

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves South Africa (dogs).

The trip back asks for 14 steps: veterinary import permit (before the animal leaves), ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted), lived in the exporting country since birth or for the last 6 months and rabies vaccination at least 30 days before export (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK) and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves South Africa (cats).

The trip back asks for 10 steps: veterinary import permit (before the animal leaves), ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted), lived in the exporting country since birth or for the last 6 months and rabies vaccination at least 30 days before export (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK) and more.