When leaving on a long trip or emigrating, many people are not ready to say goodbye to their beloved pets. In this article, the editors of Beloc have prepared crucial information for you on how to bring your furry friend with you to South Africa.
Let’s start with an important clarification, sending an animal from Russia to South Africa is possible using the cargo system (without a personal escort/companion) or with you on the plane when flying Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines. You can transport a cat or dog weighing up to 8 kg in the cabin, within the carriers’ restrictions; 23 cm in height, 30 cm in width and 40 cm in length. It is better to choose soft bags for animals. It is also possible to fly with a guide dog. All the details can be explained on the website of Turkish and Ethiopian Airlines.
If your pet is not suitable for transportation in the cabin, the first thing you need to take care of is the carrier company that will transport them. You are required to complete the necessary documents, including customs, and send it to the quarantine zone upon arrival. Why is a mediator necessary? The thing is that a veterinary permit is required to import cats and dogs into South Africa. It is possible to obtain it only if you are directly in the country. Moreover, companies that transport animals monitor their well-being during the journey, as this process is connected with a lot of stress. Otherwise, you can ask a friend or family member to get this permission and meet you at the airport.
Now let’s talk about what documents your pet should have ready before the flight. The standard set includes a veterinary passport, veterinary health certificate, blood tests and a chip. In order to enter South Africa, dogs and cats must have an ISO 11784/11785 microchip. The microchip needs to be put in either before or with the rabies shot.
What information is needed on a cat or dog document
- all vaccinations that meet international standards, delivered on time;
- the latest rabies vaccination not earlier than 30 days before departure. Also, no more than a year should have passed since the last revaccination;
- microchipping an animal with a special subcutaneous identification chip. It must comply with ISO standards.
An important point – the date of vaccination should not be earlier than the date of microchipping!
Let’s move on to what diseases need to be tested for, which we mentioned earlier in the article:
- Brucella canis
- Trypanosoma evansi
- Babesia gibsoni
- Dilofilaria immitis
- Leishmania
Additionally, you must have an analysis of the results of antibody tests of the rabies virus. A serum level of at least 0.5 IU/ml is considered appropriate. If your cat/dog is coming from Australia, New Zealand, the UK or Northern Ireland, you don’t need to vaccinate it against rabies. However, it is better to vaccinate your pet against rabies as South Africa isn’t rabies-free. We also recommend vaccinating your dog/cat with all the necessary annual vaccinations given in your country.
About Health Certificate:
Within ten days of the flight, a veterinarian health certificate that comes with the import permit must be completed. A private veterinarian is required to complete the health certificate. The veterinary authorities of the exporting nation should certify the health certificate.
At the port of entry, the original health certificate must be shown to the South African State Veterinarian. Within seven days of the flight, dogs and cats traveling from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Swaziland into South Africa must pass a health inspection.
About Import permit:
The following countries do not require an import permission for canines and felines coming into South Africa:
- Swaziland
- Malawi
- Namibia
- Zimbabwe
- Botswana
- Lesotho
Cats and dogs must have a veterinarian import permit to enter South Africa. Typically, import permissions are provided in 2 to 5 working days.
At the point of entry, the original import permit must be shown to the South African State Veterinarian. Pet owners can mail the original import permit with their dog or cat, or they can have the person picking up their pet at the airport present it to the inspectors.
Another important clarification: upon arrival in the country, your pet will be quarantined. If this is a cat, then they are usually given directly to the owner, but there are some conditions. At the time the animal arrives in the country, you must have a valid import permit and a correctly completed medical certificate, that is signed and certified by the seal of the state veterinarian of the exporting country. In the case of the absence of the originals documents and until they are received, the cat must be placed in a quarantine zone.
With dogs the situation is slightly different, they will usually be placed under quarantine. Dogs entering South Africa from the following countries won’t be quarantined: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Comoros, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Reunion, Romania, Seychelles, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, United States and Zimbabwe.
While in the quarantine they will also be tested for 5 specific diseases (which you first test in your country, and then again in South Africa). Until the results are received, the animal will be under medical supervision, but no longer than 2 weeks.
If your dog tests positive for Leishmania, Babesia gibsoni, or Brucella canis while it is in quarantine, it must be returned to the country of origin.
You will be given the choice to treat your dog if it tests positive for Dirofilaria immitis or Trypanosoma evansi while in quarantine. Your dog will need to undergo another test after the treatment is complete, and it won’t be allowed to leave quarantine until the results are negative. You’ll have to send your dog back to its exporting country if you choose not to treat it.
It is significant to remember that the owner will be responsible for all expenses (including those associated with the dog’s quarantine, testing, therapies, and resending).
The editors of Beloc hope that our clarifications will help you travelling with your beloved pet to South Africa!
