South Africa Pet Import Reality
Three Things That Control the Move
01
Import Permit
Dogs and cats need a South African veterinary import permit before travel.
02
Dog Testing
Dogs need specific disease tests within the required pre-travel window.
03
Cargo Arrival
Pets must be booked as manifest cargo and cleared through the cargo terminal.
Pets we've safely relocated to South Africa
Before You Book
What South Africa Requires
South Africa separates dog and cat requirements. Dogs face extra disease testing and possible quarantine, while cats mainly depend on correct permit, rabies, health certificate, and cargo documentation.
Dogs
Permit, Disease Tests & Quarantine
- Veterinary import permit is required before travel
- ISO microchip and matching records are required
- Valid rabies vaccination is required
- Specific disease tests are required before entry
- Heartworm testing must use the required method
- Heartworm prevention must continue after arrival
- Veterinary health certificate must be completed within 10 days of departure
- Original documents must be presented at arrival
- Manifest cargo routing is required
- Quarantine may apply for dogs from Vietnam
Dog moves are test-sensitive. Wrong test method, mismatched records, or late documents can delay clearance.
Cats
Permit, Rabies & Cargo Documents
- Veterinary import permit is required before travel
- ISO microchip and matching records are required
- Valid rabies vaccination is required
- Veterinary health certificate must be completed within 10 days of departure
- Original documents must be presented at arrival
- Manifest cargo routing is required
- Cats are not normally subject to routine quarantine
Cat moves are usually simpler than dog moves, but the permit, certificate, cargo booking, and original documents still need to match.
How We Help
We Manage the Tests, Documents, and Cargo Plan
South Africa moves are manageable when the testing window, permit, health certificate, and cargo routing are planned in the right order.
Get a Custom Plan
Route & Timeline Check
We confirm the realistic travel window and cargo arrival plan.
Permit Support
We prepare the South African veterinary import permit application.
Dog Test Scheduling
We coordinate the required dog disease tests within the correct window.
Record Review
We check microchip, rabies, lab, and ownership records for consistency.
Health Certificate
We coordinate the final veterinary health certificate and government endorsement.
Cargo Handoff
We support manifest cargo booking and airport departure preparation.
Clear Answers
Pet Relocation FAQs
Does my pet need a rabies blood titer test for South Africa?
No. South Africa does not normally require a rabies antibody titer test for dogs or cats. Rabies vaccination and the correct health documents are still required.
What extra tests do dogs need?
Dogs need specific disease testing before entry, including tests related to Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Dirofilaria immitis, and Leishmaniosis. The exact test method and timing must match the South African certificate.
Do cats need the same blood tests?
No. The additional disease testing applies to dogs. Cats usually follow a simpler permit, rabies, health certificate, and cargo-document pathway.
Will my pet need quarantine?
Cats are not normally subject to routine quarantine if documents are correct. Dogs from countries subject to quarantine may need official quarantine after arrival, so the route and permit conditions should be checked before booking.
Can my pet fly in the cabin?
No. Pets entering South Africa should be booked as manifest cargo and cleared through the cargo terminal.
When should we start?
We recommend starting 2–3 months before travel. Dogs need extra testing, and the import permit, certificate, cargo booking, and final endorsement must be aligned.