Moving a dog or cat from Australia to South Africa is very doable with the right preparation. Plan on roughly 6-10 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. No …
Rabies titre testRequired for: Pets from countries …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine. Penalty …
Import permitRequired. Must be obtained BEFORE …
Health certificateRequired. Official veterinary health …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Australia to South Africa
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before any vaccinations. Must be done first.
Get your pet microchipped (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
At least 21 days before travel (after microchip)
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. 90-day wait after successful result.
Rabies titre test (RNATT blood test)
Responsible: Your veterinarian + approved laboratory
4
Lead time: Check with authorities
Apply for import permit from South Africa
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
5
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirements)
Obtain health certificate / veterinary clearance
Responsible: Official veterinarian
6
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space availability.
Book IATA-compliant flight and arrange pet cargo/cabin booking
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
7
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation
Responsible: You + airline cargo desk
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. Vaccination must be documented on health certificate. Booster must be within manufacturer's validity period.
Rabies titre test
Required for: Pets from countries without bilateral veterinary agreements. Not required for: Pets from most P1 countries with bilateral agreements (UK, USA, EU, Australia, etc.). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml
Quarantine
No routine quarantine. Penalty quarantine up to varies days if non-compliant
Import permit
Required. Must be obtained BEFORE travel. Application requires destination address in South Africa, description of pet, planned port of entry.
Health certificate
Required. Official veterinary health certificate. Issued by: Government veterinarian in country of export. Certificate must confirm: vaccination status, microchip, health status, parasite treatment, absence of notifiable diseases
Export permit
Required for live animal exports from Australia
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Australia to South Africa move gets missed.
Pet Transport Global
Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)
Cargo Only
British Airways
Cargo transport available
Cargo Only
Air France
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo transport available. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes. French regulations on dangerous dog breeds apply
Cabin and Cargo
Delta Air Lines
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo transport available
Cabin and Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
Airline cargo/cabin fees (varies by carrier, pet weight, and crate size)
IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
Veterinary fees (vaccinations, health certificate, microchip)
Import permit application fee (South Africa)
Government endorsement/USDA endorsement fee (if applicable)
Pet transport agent fee (if using a relocation service)
Critical points
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds face cargo restrictions on most airlines. Check breed-specific policies before booking.
Microchip MUST be implanted before rabies vaccination. Vaccination given before microchip is invalid and the clock restarts.
Australian airlines may restrict pet cargo during peak summer (December to February) when temperatures exceed safe thresholds.
South Africa entry requirements at a glance
Getting a pet into South Africa is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Getting the details right
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
FAQ
Common questions
The process takes 6-10 weeks from start to finish. The rabies titre test requires a 3-6 month waiting period after the blood draw before your pet can travel, so start early.
No routine quarantine for pets entering South Africa with the correct documentation. No routine quarantine. Penalty quarantine up to varies days if non-compliant
Required. Must be obtained BEFORE travel. Application requires destination address in South Africa, description of pet, planned port of entry.
Required. Official veterinary health certificate. Issued by: Government veterinarian in country of export. Certificate must confirm: vaccination status, microchip, health status, parasite treatment, absence of notifiable diseases Your Australia vet must be approved to issue official veterinary certificates. The certificate must be issued within the timeframe required by South Africa: usually 10 days before travel. Present the original at check-in.
Yes. Required for: Pets from countries without bilateral veterinary agreements. Not required for: Pets from most P1 countries with bilateral agreements (UK, USA, EU, Australia, etc.). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml The microchip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination for the vaccination to be valid. Start this process as early as possible.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to South Africa.
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