South Africa

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) administers pet import requirements. There is no quarantine on arrival for UK pets meeting the requirements. The two main pet-cargo entry points are OR Tambo (JNB) in Johannesburg — the country’s busiest airport — and Cape Town (CPT), which serves the south-west and the Western Cape region.

Documentation

Import requirements differ significantly between dogs and cats, so they’re set out separately below. The DALRRD permit typically takes around 7 weeks to issue from the date of application — plan accordingly.

Dogs

• ISO 15-digit microchip
• Rabies vaccination is not required, but if given it must be administered at least 30 days before export
• A panel of blood tests required by the State Veterinarian: Leishmaniasis, Babesia Gibsoni (IFAT and blood smear), Brucella canis (SAT), Heartworm Microfilaria concentrate, and Trypanosome (Giemsa smear and CATT). Blood sampling must be done within 30 days of the arrival date in South Africa; result turnaround varies by laboratory.
• Six months of heartworm preventive treatment must be given before the blood sampling date, and the remaining course travels with the pet to South Africa
• The dog must have been resident in the UK or South Africa for the last six months
• Dogs must be neutered, unless registered with the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA)
• DALRRD veterinary import permit (issued from Pretoria)
• APHA-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of departure

Cats

• ISO 15-digit microchip
• Rabies vaccination is not required, but if given it must be administered at least 30 days before export
• DALRRD veterinary import permit (issued from Pretoria)
• APHA-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of departure

Airlines

British Airways operates direct cargo from London Heathrow to both JNB and CPT. Emirates is another option, serving Johannesburg (JNB), Cape Town (CPT), and Durban (DUR) via Dubai. Qatar Airways via Doha is also commonly used, particularly for high-summer departures when direct routing temperatures are marginal.

Arrival

Pets clear at the state veterinary office at the arrival airport. Allow 4–6 hours from landing. Domestic transit within South Africa requires separate health certification.