Bringing a dog or cat into South Africa

The short version

• Import permit needed
• Quarantine possible
• Extra disease test for some origins

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

South Africa sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (South Africa: origin countries whose dogs do not need quarantine on arrival, checked 2026-10-10).

• From the department's protocol, a page last updated in 2008 and read from a copy stored in 2021: the list may have changed. Dogs from islands: ask the department.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. 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”

2. 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.”

3. 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

   “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.”

4. 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.”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination (not needed from Australia, New Zealand and the UK)

   Applies when: you do not travel from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom or Northern Ireland (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”

2. Test

   Dogs: blood tests for five diseases within 30 days of export

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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:”

3. Quarantine

   Dogs from some countries: 14 days' quarantine on arrival

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and the country you travel from is in the group: Dogs from this country are quarantined for 14 days on arrival and re-tested

   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.”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed

  The protocol describes dogs and cats imported by their owners. Imports for sale or rehoming aren't described and we don't cover them yet.

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.