Bringing your pet to South Africa
Pets need import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination, and veterinary health certificate. No quarantine for pets from rabies-controlled countries.
Health certificate
Health certificate from official veterinarian issued within 10 days of departure
Customs & arrival
Pets enter through OR Tambo, Cape Town, or Durban airports. Import permit inspected at entry.
Required vaccinations
- Rabies — 30 days to 12 months before travel — Must be valid and not expired
Best practice tips
- Apply for import permit 6-8 weeks ahead
- Ensure microchip before vaccination
- Keep all original documents
- Fly during business hours
Live pet transport prices to South Africa
| Route into South Africa | Airports | Options | From (1 pet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg → Durban | JNB → DUR | 1 airline | from $116 |
| Johannesburg → East London | JNB → ELS | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Cape Town → George | CPT → GRJ | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Johannesburg → Bloemfontein | JNB → BFN | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Johannesburg → Cape Town | JNB → CPT | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Johannesburg → Kimberley | JNB → KIM | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Johannesburg → Mbombela | JNB → MQP | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Johannesburg → Polokwane | JNB → PTG | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Johannesburg → Upington | JNB → UTN | 1 airline | from $130 |
| Cape Town → Bloemfontein | CPT → BFN | 1 airline | from $138 |
| Cape Town → East London | CPT → ELS | 1 airline | from $138 |
| Cape Town → Hoedspruit | CPT → HDS | 1 airline | from $138 |
| Cape Town → Kimberley | CPT → KIM | 1 airline | from $138 |
| Cape Town → Mbombela | CPT → MQP | 1 airline | from $138 |
Real prices from our live rate engine — for a medium dog (~40 kg chargeable), including documents. Your exact price depends on breed and crate size.
How the move works, step by step
- 1 · Instant quote. Enter your route and pet details online — you see the exact all-inclusive price in seconds, built from live airline rates.
- 2 · Documents & vet work. We prepare the health certificate, import permit and vaccination checks for South Africa, and book the vet appointments in the right order.
- 3 · Crate & flight. Your pet travels in an IATA-approved crate sized to their breed, in the pressurised, temperature-controlled hold of a pet-safe airline.
- 4 · Arrival & delivery. Our destination agent clears customs and can deliver your pet to the door — while you follow every step live in the FlyMyPet app.
How much does it cost to move a pet to South Africa?
International relocations to South Africa typically range from $116 on the cheapest live route–$6,000 depending on your origin city, the size of your dog or cat, the airline and optional services like door collection and delivery. Use our instant quote tool for an exact, all-inclusive price.
Frequently asked questions
Is quarantine required to bring a pet to South Africa?
No mandatory quarantine applies for compliant pets entering South Africa, provided every import requirement is met.
Does South Africa require a microchip for imported pets?
Yes — an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
What are the pet import requirements for South Africa?
Pets need import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination, and veterinary health certificate. No quarantine for pets from rabies-controlled countries.
How much does it cost to fly a pet to South Africa?
Most international pet relocations to South Africa range from about $1,500 to $6,000 depending on origin, pet size, airline and add-on services. FlyMyPet gives you an exact instant price online.
