Pet import requirements for South Africa

South Africa at a glance

The detail

Dogs Only: Quarantine of 14 days will be imposed on some dogs, depending on the country of origin of the dog. South Africa, of ficially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. Arrival airports noted for this destination in clude DUR, CPT, JNB, PLZ, ELS, GRJ, and 2 other listed airports.

Import requirements

Puppies/Kittens under three months of age do not need to be vaccinated for rabies. But puppies/kittens less than 3 months of age can only travel to South Africa if the dam/queen of the puppy/kitten has been vaccinated for rabies more than 30 days before and less than 12 months before the birth of the puppy/kitten. These puppies/kittens must be vaccinated for rabies after arrival in South Africa at 3 months of age and proof of the vaccination must be presented to the South African Veterinary Authorities.

• Rabies Vaccination older than 30 days but not older than 12 months
• Microchip
• Veterinary Health Certificate certified by the government vet in country of origin
• Veterinary Import Permit
• Blood tests for dogs within 30 days of arrival in South Africa (dogs only)

• N/A

Quarantine of 14 days will be imposed on some dogs, depending on the country of origin of the dog. Dogs from the following list of countries below do not need to go into quarantine on arrival in South Africa. The dog must however have a valid import permit and a correctly completed health certificate, signed and stamped by a government veterinarian of the exporting country. If these documents are not available at the time of the dog’s arrival in South Africa, the dog will be kept in quarantine until the required documentation is presented at the quarantine station. • Europe: - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Norway and Hungry.• North America - Canada and United States of America• Australasia - Australia and New Zealand• AfricaBotswana, Comoros, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Reunion.• Asia- Israel• South America- Argentina

Blood tests for Dogs only.

Only dogs are to be tested for import into South Africa. The following tests are required:

• Brucella canis:*serum agglutination / rapid slide agglutination test*
• Trypanosoma evansi:*card agglutination test and giemsa blood smear*
• Babesia Gibsoni: Immunofluorescence antibody test OR Elisa using the Bg TRAP antigen (Test result must mention Bg TRAP method) and Giemsa blood smear OR Real Time PCR
• Dirofilaria immitis:*microfilarial filtration test*
• Leishmaniosis: *Indirect fluorescent antibody OR ELISA OR Direct agglutination test OR Western blot/membrane immunoassay*

Test should not be older than 30 days from the date of blood draw on arrival into SA Please ensure that test results list the correct testing methods as per the above list. If not mentioned, the dog will be quarantined or refused entry.All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be registered, as manifest cargo and cannot fly as excess baggage. The Directorate Veterinary Services does not have veterinary of ficials at the passenger terminal of OR Tambo (Johannesburg) and Cape Town International Airport to check the paperwork of dogs entering South Africa via the passenger terminal of the respective airports. The dogs and cats can only disembark via the cargo terminal of the respective airports.Animal Improvement Compliance Permit (Dogs Only):

• All dogs being imported into South Africa require an Animal Improvement Compliance Permit
• Issued by the Registrar of Animal Compliance - Pretoria
• Companion Dogs must be sterilized (proof required)
• Processing: +- 30 working days (not guaranteed)
• Validity: 6 months
• Breed restrictions:
• Declared breeds – may be imported in tact, proof of registration with KUSA required
• Undeclared breeds – companion only, sterilized, no breeding
• Puppies too young to sterilize – must be registered with KUSA

Identification and microchip

All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip (tattoos will not be accepted).

Rabies and vaccinations

Dogs and cats must have a valid rabies vaccination. 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 but vaccination against rabies for cats/dogs imported from these countries is advised. This will ensure that the cat/dog has sufficient immunity against rabies on arrival in South Africa to prevent it from contracting rabies in South Africa.

Annual Canine or Feline vaccinations are not required but highly recommended.

Tests and treatments

Only dogs are to be tested for import into South Africa. The following tests are required:

• Brucella canis:*serum agglutination / rapid slide agglutination test*
• Trypanosoma evansi:*card agglutination test and giemsa blood smear*
• Babesia Gibsoni: Immunofluorescence antibody test OR Elisa using the Bg TRAP antigen (Test result must mention Bg TRAP method) and Giemsa blood smear OR Real Time PCR
• Dirofilaria immitis:*microfilarial filtration test*
• Leishmaniosis: *Indirect fluorescent antibody OR ELISA OR Direct agglutination test OR Western blot/membrane immunoassay*

Test should not be older than 30 days from the date of blood draw on arrival into SA Please ensure that test results list the correct testing methods as per the above list. If not mentioned, the dog will be quarantined or refused entry.

Dogs imported into South Africa must be treated from the date of negative testing (same date as blood sample collection) until the date of export, at the required in tervals, with one of the following treatments:

• Diethylcarbamazine (5-6 mg/kg per os daily)

OR

• Ivermectin (6 micrograms/kg per os monthly)

OR

• Milbemycin oxime (0,5 mg/kg per os monthly)

OR

• Moxidectin (3 micrograms/kg per os monthly)

OR

• Selemectin (6mg/kg)

-(Revolution) Prophylactic only

OR

• Proheart SR12 (Subcut in jection yearly)

Sufficient Dirofilaria immitis medication needs to accompany the dog to South Africa so that the dogs can receive a six-month course of medication after importation into South Africa.*Treatment for Leishmania & Bebesia Gibsoni:Dogs only: *This might be necessary for import but will be specified on the health certificate which is issued with the import permit.*

Health certificate and permits

The Veterinary Health Certificate has to be done by the local vet and certified by the Government Vet in the exporting country within 10 days of arrival in SA.

A veterinary import permit is needed to import Dogs & Cats into South Africa. It takes between fiver (5) to ten (10) working days to process the permit if approved.

Import Permit Application

Quarantine in demnity Form

Quarantine

Dogs Only: Quarantine of 14 days will be imposed on some dogs, depending on the country of origin of the dog.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Dogs and Cats have either been continuously resident in the exporting country since birth or have been continuously resident in the exporting country or South Africa for the last six months.

Import of birds are allowed into South Africa.

Customs, agents, and airports

A customs broker is required for South Africa.

A destination agent is required for South Africa.

All animals bound for South Africa on an in ternational flight must be carried as manifested cargo in the cargo compartment, as stipulated in terms of the existing legislation.

Imports can only enter through the following airports.

• Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg,South Africa (IATA: JNB, ICAO: FAOR) Johannesburg
• Cape Town International Airport, Matroosfontein, Cape Town, South Africa (IATA: CPT, ICAO: FACT)
• Durban International Airport ()King Shaka International Airport) Durban, South Africa. (IATA: DUR, ICAO: FALE) (non-quarantine pets)

Airports listed on this destination file: DUR, CPT, JNB, PLZ, ELS, GRJ, NLP, MQP.

Agent required to clear customs

Export notes

All dogs being exported require an Export Animal Improvement Compliance Permit:

• All dogs being exported from South Africa require an Export Animal Improvement Compliance Permit
• Issued by the Registrar of Animal Compliance - Pretoria
• Processing: +- 30 working days (not guaranteed)Validity: 6 months

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Only for CITES listed animals.

Export of dogs out of South Africa from 01 June 2025:

• All dogs exported from South Africa require an Animal Improvement Compliance (AIC) Export Permit
• Sterilization is not required for Export
• Processing time: ±30 working days (not guaranteed)
• While the Export Compliance Permit is not yet required for final government vet endorsement, it will serve as proof of export if dogs return to South Africa
• Ex-South African dogs applying for import must in clude the AIC Export Permit
• Export Health Certificate required for dogs exported before 1 June 2025

Please refer toUpdated Guidelines for Dog Importations and Exportations 2025 for Animal Compliance (PDF)

All Dogs and Cats exported out of South Africa is required to have a microchip implanted irrespective if the destination country requires this or not.

Official contacts

Import & Export Policy Unit:Dr Kira-Lee ManneFor Director Animal HealthState VeterinarianImport Export Policy UnitDirectorate Animal HealthDepartment of Agriculture, land reform & rural developmentTel: 012 319 7505Web: www.dalrrd.gov.za

E-mail: Kira-LeeM@dalrrd.gov.zaKempton Park Quarantine Johannesburg:Dr Romona NaidooState VeterinarianKempton Park Quarantine Stati on Directorate: Inspection ServicesDepartment of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesTel: +27 11 393 7983Fax: + 27 11 973 2828Web: www.daff.gov.za

Email: romona.naidoo@bma.gov.za

Milnerton Quarantine Cape Town:Victor Madumetsa KoboImport Inspections Animal Quarantine Station Milnert on Dept. of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQuarantine Tel: 021 - 526 3260Direct Tel: 021 - 526-3269Fax: 021 - 526-3271/2Cell. +27 79 168 8621E-mail: Madumetsa.kobo@bma.gov.za

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-05-27.

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