Shipping Pets To South Africa
This is a summary of the main points only.
Animals must be shipped in IATA approved transit kennels that allow the animal to stand up without touching the top of the box, lie down and turn around.
There is no quarantine for Cats & Dogs entering South Africa from the UK as long as all the paperwork is completed correctly - if not, all animals are subject to a minimum of 14 days quarantine. Micro chipping your pet with an ISO compliant microchip is now a requirement.
From the UK the following paperwork is required:
1. An Import Permit obtained from South Africa. The recommended time scale for applying for an Import Permit is 6 to 8 weeks in advance.
2. An Official Export Health Certificate, which must be applied for from APHA. This must be completed and certified by your OV within 10 days of departure.
3. A written declaration certifying that the animal(s) will be transported in container(s) which conform to IATA standards which will prevent contact en route with animals of a lesser health status and a declaration that the animals have been continuously resident in Great Britain since birth, or continuoulsy resident in the UK or South Africa for the last six months.
4. For dogs only, there is a set of 7 blood tests/smears that must be completed and submitted to APHA Weybridge for testing within the 30 days prior to export.
Unless your pet is entering South Africa directly from Australia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom, a rabies vaccination administered not less than 30 days and not more than 12 months prior to entry is required. The vaccination must be administered after the microchip is implanted. Note that South Africa does not accept a 2 or 3 year vaccination. It is recommended that you vaccinate your pet against rabies prior to departure, as it is law that all dogs resident in South Africa must have been vaccinated against rabies. Animals must be cleared at one of these Customs Airports: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban. Passport for pets regulary provide pet relocation to south africa for customers travelling for the longer term. Sometimes we are asked for 'pet courier prices South Africa' and in practice this means we fully quote (so no hidden charges) for the transportation of your pet from the UK to a designated airport in South Africa. Please contact us for further information.
If you are planning to take your pet abroad then please do get in touch and our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer all your questions.
As our 5* reviews attest, we will work with you every step of the way to make sure your pet arrives at your destination, safely and in good health.
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