Moving a pet from Vietnam to South Africa means meeting three sets of rules: Vietnam’s export rules, South Africa’s import law, and the airline’s conditions. South Africa’s import law decides most of the work, and it treats dogs and cats very differently. A dog needs two permits, a five-disease blood panel and about 14 days of quarantine, so plan three to four months ahead. A cat needs one permit, a rabies vaccination and a health certificate.
Quick Answers
- Can my dog avoid quarantine? No. Dogs from Vietnam go into a government quarantine station on arrival.
- Can my pet fly in the cabin? No. Every dog and cat enters South Africa as manifest cargo.
- Is a rabies titer test needed? No. A valid rabies vaccination is enough.
- When is the blood drawn? No more than 30 days before the dog arrives in South Africa.
- What does it cost? About $15,800–$17,800 per dog in Daisy’s 2026 quote. Cats are quoted case by case.
Dog or Cat: Which South Africa Import Rules Apply?
South Africa runs two separate checks on imported pets. The veterinary check covers dogs and cats. The Animal Improvement Act (AIA) check covers dogs only. That is why a dog case takes months and a cat case takes weeks.
| Requirement | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Import Permit | Required | Required |
| AIA Import Permit | Required since 1 April 2024 | Not required |
| Five-disease blood panel | Required | Not required |
| Quarantine on arrival | About 14 days | Only if original documents are missing |
| Minimum age | 8 months (companion dog) | No AIA minimum |
| Sterilization | Required for a companion dog | Not required |
| Entry airports | OR Tambo or Cape Town only | OR Tambo, Cape Town or Durban |
If you move a dog and a cat together, plan them as two cases. The permits, the blood clock and the quarantine booking only apply to the dog. For the full service on this route, see our pet shipping to South Africa page.
Check These Conditions Before You Start
Four conditions can stop a dog case before any money is spent. Check them first.
- Age: a companion dog entering permanently must be at least 8 months old. A younger route exists only for registered breeding dogs with pre-approval.
- Sterilization: a companion dog must be sterilized. Proof goes into the AIA application.
- Breed: South Africa has no national list of banned dog breeds. The AIA keeps a declared breed list, but it only matters for breeding imports. A sterilized companion dog of any breed can be approved.
- Cargo only: pets cannot travel in the cabin or as checked baggage. Your dog flies alone as manifest cargo in a crate sized with our IATA crate size calculator.
Who Issues South Africa’s Pet Import Permits?
South Africa’s Department of Agriculture (formerly DALRRD) controls pet imports through two offices:
- Directorate: Animal Health issues the Veterinary Import Permit for dogs and cats. The fee is R140 per permit. Processing takes 5–10 working days.
- Registrar of Animal Improvement issues the AIA Import Permit for dogs. The fee is R460. The office allows up to 30 days to process it.
Both fees are revised every year from 1 April, so they are confirmed when the application goes in. The AIA permit is valid for 6 months and one consignment. For how import permits work across destinations, see our pet import permit guide.
Step-by-Step Timeline for a Dog
The dog’s journey runs in this order. A cat only needs Steps 1, 3, 6 and 7.
- Microchip and rabies vaccination (3–4 months before the flight)
- AIA Import Permit
- Veterinary Import Permit and quarantine booking
- Five-disease blood draw
- Parasite treatments and heartworm prevention
- Health certificate (within 10 days before departure)
- Flight, arrival and quarantine
- After release: 6 more months of heartworm prevention
Step 1 (3–4 months before): Microchip and Rabies Vaccine
Your pet needs a microchip for international travel that an ISO 11784 or 11785 scanner can read. South Africa does not accept tattoos. Implant the chip before the rabies vaccine, so every record carries the same number.
A first rabies vaccine must be given at least 30 days and no more than 12 months before import. A booster must be within 12 months and given before the previous vaccine expired. South Africa does not require a rabies titer test (RNATT) from any country.
Who: your vet in Vietnam. Daisy checks the dates against your flight plan.
Step 2 (at least 30 days before): AIA Import Permit for Dogs
The AIA application comes first, because the Veterinary Import Permit application needs a copy of the approved AIA permit. Submit it early, because the office allows up to 30 days to process it. Some sources say it clears in 5–10 working days, but we plan around the official 30 days.
Who: Daisy prepares the application. You provide proof of sterilization and your personal details.
Step 3: Veterinary Import Permit and Quarantine Booking
The Veterinary Import Permit application goes to the Animal Health office with the AIA copy. For a dog, it also needs a confirmed quarantine booking. Apply at least four weeks before import.
Quarantine bookings are made with the station at Kempton Park (Johannesburg) or Milnerton (Cape Town). The station confirms the space only after the owner signs an indemnity form. Payment is by bank transfer, because the stations do not take cash.
Who: Daisy files the permit and books quarantine. You sign the indemnity form.
Step 4 (no more than 30 days before arrival): Five-Disease Blood Draw
Every dog must test negative for five diseases: Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania. The five diseases need seven tests, because two of them need two methods each.
The blood must be drawn no more than 30 days before the dog arrives in South Africa. The clock runs to arrival, not to the result. Results for all seven tests take about 15–20 days. That leaves only 10–15 days for the rest of the paperwork and the flight.
The Trypanosoma evansi test must be run at a WOAH reference laboratory abroad, because no laboratory in Vietnam holds that status. Each lab report must be in English and show the microchip number. Our blood test and quarantine guide lists the required method for each test.
Who: the vet draws the blood. Daisy sends the samples to approved laboratories.
Step 5: Parasite Treatments and Heartworm Prevention
From the blood draw until export, the dog needs a tick treatment and an insect repellent registered in Vietnam. Both must be given no earlier than 30 days ahead of departure.
The dog also needs heartworm prevention from the negative test until export. Heartworm medicine is hard to buy in South Africa, so the owner brings enough for the six months after arrival.
Who: your vet gives the treatments. Daisy records the dates for the health certificate.
Step 6 (within 10 days before departure): Health Certificate
A vet examines the pet within 10 days of export. Vietnam’s veterinary authority then issues the official veterinary health certificate in English, on the form South Africa provides with the permit. Every date, test and microchip number must match the lab reports.
Who: Daisy arranges the exam and the export paperwork.
Step 7: Flight, Arrival and Quarantine
The dog clears customs at the cargo terminal and goes straight into quarantine for about 14 days. During quarantine, the Director of Animal Health may order a retest at the owner’s expense.
A cat is not routinely quarantined. A cat is held at the station only if the original permit or health certificate is missing on arrival.
Who: the airline and the arrival agent handle cargo clearance. The station cares for the dog.
Step 8 (after release): Heartworm Prevention for 6 Months
After release, the owner continues heartworm prevention for 6 months, using the medicine brought from Vietnam.
Flights and Entry Airports
There is no direct flight from Vietnam to South Africa. Every pet flies as manifest cargo on a connecting route. Some transit airports require a transit permit, which is arranged before booking.
Pets must land at the cargo terminal of an approved airport. A dog that goes into quarantine can only enter through OR Tambo International (Johannesburg) or Cape Town International. Durban accepts dogs only from quarantine-exempt countries, so a dog from Vietnam cannot use it. Cats are not routinely quarantined, so a cat can enter through any of the three.
The arrival day also matters. Owners have reported an extra week of quarantine after landing on a day the station does not take new dogs. We confirm intake days with the station before booking the flight.
What It Costs
In Daisy’s 2026 quote, one dog cost about $15,800–$17,800, depending on crate size. The crate is not included. Most of the cost is air freight, the five-disease test package (about $2,500 per dog) and quarantine. A cat skips the blood panel, the AIA permit and quarantine, so Daisy quotes cats case by case. Our South Africa pet import cost guide breaks down each item.
What Happens If a Test or Document Does Not Comply?
South Africa no longer moves a non-compliant dog into quarantine to fix the paperwork. A dog that arrives with the wrong test method, the wrong laboratory or a sample older than 30 days risks being returned or euthanized. This warning comes from South Africa’s guidance to exporting countries.
These errors are preventable. Each test method and laboratory is confirmed before the blood is drawn. The arrival date is fixed so that it falls inside the 30-day window. If a disease test comes back positive, the dog cannot travel on that schedule. Your vet treats the dog, and the tests restart once the dog is clear.
South Africa Pet Import FAQ
Can I bring my dog to South Africa without quarantine?
No. Vietnam is not on South Africa’s list of quarantine-exempt countries. A dog from Vietnam stays about 14 days at Kempton Park or Milnerton.
Does South Africa require a rabies titer test?
No. South Africa does not require a rabies titer test (RNATT or FAVN) from any country. A valid rabies vaccination given 30 days to 12 months before import is enough.
Does my cat need the AIA Import Permit?
No. The Animal Improvement Act permit applies only to dogs. A cat needs a Veterinary Import Permit, a health certificate and a valid rabies vaccination.
Can a kitten under 3 months travel to South Africa?
Yes, without a rabies vaccine, if its mother was vaccinated 30 days to 12 months before giving birth. The kitten must then be vaccinated at 3 months of age in South Africa.
Can my dog fly in the cabin with me?
No. South Africa accepts dogs and cats only as manifest cargo, whatever their size.
How early should I start planning?
Start three to four months before the flight for a dog. For a cat with a valid rabies vaccine, apply for the permit at least four weeks before import.
Are any dog breeds banned in South Africa?
No. South Africa has no national banned breed list. The declared breed list under the Animal Improvement Act only affects dogs imported for breeding.
What day should my dog arrive?
Arrive on a day the quarantine station takes new dogs. Owners have reported an extra week of quarantine after landing on the wrong day of the week.
Sources: DALRRD — Information Document on the Importation of Dogs and Cats (2022), DALRRD — Guidelines for Import and Export of Dogs (2025), Veterinary Health Certificate for Dogs to South Africa (CFIA HA2123, 2024), USDA-APHIS — Guidance on the South Africa Dog Health Certificate (2024).
Last updated 20 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
Official sources cited in this guide
- nda.gov.zanda.gov.za
- DALRRD — Guidelines for Import and Export of Dogs (2025)kusa.co.za
- inspection.canada.cainspection.canada.ca
- aphis.usda.govaphis.usda.gov
