BRINGING A CAT FROMCanada →to South Africa

A Veterinary Import Permit from the Department of Agriculture's permit office, in hand before the cat leaves the exporting country. Use the cat form. Pay the permit fee first: R250 from 1 April 2026, within 5 working days before you apply. Individuals put their ID or passport number as the reference. E-mail the form and the proof of payment to the permit office. Apply at least 4 weeks before arrival; processing takes 5–10 working days. The permit is valid for a limited period and for one consignment only. The specimen health certificate is sent with it.

the permit must be issued before the dog leaves the exporting country

From 15 September 2025, a proof of payment without a valid, unique application reference number is not accepted.

If no SMS or e-mail has come two weeks after applying, phone the permit office.

Official sources differ — the gov.za services page gives 3–5 working days after approval; the Department's own document gives 5–10 working days.

Permanent identification with a microchip that ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 scanners can read. Tattoos are not accepted. The chip number goes on the health certificate. US exporters must also put it on every laboratory report.

No official source says the chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. Some agents say so, but it is not a stated rule.

The health certificate states that the cat has lived in the exporting country since birth, or in the exporting country or South Africa for the last 6 months. The sources do not say what happens to a cat that moved more recently; ask the permit office.

A valid rabies vaccination. A first (primary) vaccination must be given at least 30 days and at most 12 months before arrival. A booster must be given at most 12 months before arrival. It counts as a booster, with no 30-day wait, only if it was given before the previous vaccination expired. The vaccine must meet the WHO potency standard. The original or a copy of the vaccination certificate travels with the health certificate.

• · For pets aged 3 months or more

primary vaccination only; no wait for a booster given before the previous vaccination expired

UK guidance says South Africa can grant a dispensation that shortens the 30-day wait to 15 days. The Department's own documents do not mention it. A dispensation letter costs R420.

Examined by an official veterinarian within 10 days before export and found free of internal and external parasites and of contagious and infectious diseases, and fit to travel.

Veterinary Health Certificate on the model sent with the import permit. The general cat model is IMP.CAT.GEN 07/05; the UK uses 6257EHC and Canada uses HA2124 instead. It must be completed in English, on the exporting country's official certificate paper, by a veterinarian authorised by the veterinary authority, and signed and stamped by a government veterinarian, within 10 days of departure. It also certifies: - residence; - the rabies vaccination; - the exam; - that the cat comes from an area without veterinary restrictions and had no contact with rabies cases; - that it travels in an IATA crate that is new or disinfected. The rabies certificate goes with it.

The pet must travel as MANIFEST CARGO, not as excess baggage. It may fly in the cabin with the owner if the airline allows, but it must still be booked as manifest cargo. On landing, airline staff take it to the cargo terminal for inspection, because there are no state veterinarians at the passenger terminals.

At the port of entry, the veterinary import control official checks the originals of the import permit and the health certificate and the rabies vaccination certificate. The documents can travel with the cat, or the person collecting it presents them.