Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to Namibia

A move from United Kingdom to Namibia with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Around 8-12 weeks is typical, with a straightforward sequence to …

8-12 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

8-12 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Medium

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Namibia typically takes around 8-12 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

As early as reasonably possible, but not so early it lapses before travel.

Microchip confirmed and rabies vaccination given or booster administered, timed for Namibia's 30-day-to-12-month arrival window.

Responsible: UK vet

4-6 weeks before the intended travel date.

Book an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian for the Export Health Certificate; not every UK practice offers this.

Responsible: Owner

As early as practical; no published turnaround time.

Apply for the Namibian import permit through the Directorate of Veterinary Services.

Responsible: Owner or agent, N$150 fee

Once the import permit is confirmed.

Cargo routing booked: British Airways London to Johannesburg then Airlink to Windhoek, or Discover Airlines direct to Frankfurt with an onward connection.

Responsible: Owner or IPATA agent

Close to the flight date, per APHA's published window for this destination.

OV completes the physical check and issues the EHC within APHA's fixed pre-departure window.

Responsible: Official Veterinarian

On landing.

Arrival in Windhoek: present the EHC and import permit, and confirm any additional parasite test results the permit specified.

Responsible: Owner / receiving agent

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

ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip required, implanted and recorded before the Namibian import permit application is submitted.

Rabies vaccination

Required, and timed carefully: Namibia accepts a vaccination given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival, not older and not newer. Source: Namibia Directorate of Veterinary Services import permit application, mawf.gov.na.

Rabies titre test

Not required. Namibia doesn't ask for a rabies antibody test from any country of origin, the UK included, which sets it apart from the EU and from GB's own unlisted-country rules.

Quarantine

No mandatory quarantine for a pet that meets the import permit's conditions in full.

Import permit

Required in advance from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, N$150 fee (roughly USD 8). No published processing time, so apply as early as practical.

Health certificate

UK Export Health Certificate presented alongside the Namibian import permit on arrival.

Export permit

No general UK export permit for a pet dog or cat. The controlling document is the Export Health Certificate (EHC) below.

Veterinary inspection

Physical check by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian (OV), confirming the animal meets Namibia's stated import conditions before the EHC is signed.

Government endorsement

EHC issued on behalf of Defra and APHA, drafted to Namibia's published import requirements rather than a generic UK template.

Health certificate

Export Health Certificate (EHC), completed by an OV within the fixed pre-departure window APHA sets for this destination. Rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days old at EHC issue. Source: APHA / GOV.UK export health certificates service, 2026.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your United Kingdom to Namibia move gets missed.

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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.

British Airways

Flies Heathrow (LHR) to O.R. Tambo, Johannesburg (JNB) daily. The natural first leg for a pet leaving the UK for Southern Africa, handled through IAG Cargo's established live-animal service out of Heathrow.

Cargo Only

Airlink

Regional connector from Johannesburg to Hosea Kutako International (WDH), the onward leg most bookings use to finish the journey into Namibia.

Cargo Only

Discover Airlines

Lufthansa Group carrier with a year-round direct service between Frankfurt (FRA) and Windhoek, relevant if a UK-to-Frankfurt first leg suits the booking better than Johannesburg.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

UK vet visits, vaccination and EHC: GBP 150-350

Any additional parasite testing the Namibian permit specifies: USD 80-200

Namibian import permit: N$150 (roughly USD 8)

IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 90-320

Cargo, London to Windhoek via Johannesburg or Frankfurt: USD 1,300-3,000 depending on crate size and season

Total typical range: roughly GBP 1,300-2,700 all-in, over 8-12 weeks

Critical points

Namibia's vaccination window cuts both ways: not older than 12 months, not younger than 30 days at arrival. A vaccination booked too close to the flight date can fail the same check as one that's lapsed.

Not every UK vet practice has an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian on staff. Confirm this before assuming your regular vet can issue the EHC.

The Namibian import permit's extra parasite testing list isn't fixed from one application to the next. Get the exact requirement from the Directorate before booking the pre-export vet visit.

Meeting Namibia's entry requirements

The path into Namibia is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.

Advice worth following

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Namibia doesn’t require a rabies antibody titre test from any country of origin, which makes this route noticeably shorter than the equivalent Namibia-to-UK trip. Source: Namibia Directorate of Veterinary Services import permit guidance, mawf.gov.na.

It has to have been given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival, not older and not more recent. Both ends of that window are enforced, so timing the booster matters as much as getting one at all.

Only an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian. Not every UK veterinary practice has one, so confirm this with your vet, or find an authorised OV, well before your intended travel date.

No. The standard routing is British Airways from Heathrow to Johannesburg, then Airlink onward to Windhoek. Discover Airlines’ direct Frankfurt-Windhoek service is the main alternative starting point.

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Airline guides

British Airways
Airlink
Discover Airlines

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Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to Namibia

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

Meeting Namibia's entry requirements

Advice worth following

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote