Transiting pets via South Africa
South Africa, especially Johannesburg O.R. Tambo airport (JNB) is the gateway to Africa for other international countries. There are dozens and dozens of flights that shuttle via South Africa JNB airport to and from other African countries. This does complicate your pets’ journey somewhat. However Global Paws has all the expertise and experience to help your pets traverse this leg of their journey with a little love and a ton of care.
Transiting pets through South Africa can be complicated when it comes to understanding the transiting process and its requirements.
Chat to us about your travel requirements before any flight arrangements are made….
For example ….. we might advise you against transiting, but instead, advise you to import your cat
into South Africa and then arrange for her onward flight to your final destination….Or we might need to make you aware that your dog will have to comply with the South African requirements and have all 5 blood tests done if his final destination is a SADC country.
You do better when you know better… Read the below points to Know Better.
Understanding your transit pet travel quotation.
Our standard Transit Quote usually includes the transit services only and excludes the airfreight,
export services from your country of origin and import services at your destination. None the less,
we do assist with full door to door services should you request it.
Quote for Transit services only. …What does this mean?
- Your dedicated consultant will advise you on the requirements and documentation needed to transit via South Africa.
- We will apply for and collect your Transit permit.
- Upon arrival in Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (JNB airport) we will meet the incoming flight, take care of the transit customs clearance, liaise with the state vet and ensure your pet departs on their onward international flight to your final destination.
- Please note: You or your appointed travel agent are responsible for your pet’s export preparations to South Africa. Your appointed travel agent in your origin country should also be responsible for making all travel arrangements and provide all Export services.
Quote for Full Export & TRANSIT & Import services – door to door. …What does this mean?
- Your dedicated consultant will advise you on the requirements and documentation needed to transit via South Africa.
- We will apply for and collect your Transit permit.
- We will appoint a travel agent at your origin and we will arrange for all the Export services e.g. A schedule for veterinary tests and treatments, endorsement of the health certificate and book flights from your origin country to your final destination.
- We will also appoint an agent at your final destination and arrange all the Import services and finally, delivery to your residence.
- Upon arrival in Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (JNB airport) we will meet the incoming flight, take care of the transit customs clearance, liaise with the state vet and ensure your pet departs on their onward international flight to your final destination.
Accepting our quote for your pet’s travel services.
Please let us know that you are accepting our quote so our Administration department can supply
you with your invoice.
You can either pay the required non-refundable deposit or the full amount.
Once your payment reflects in our account, your file will be allocated to your dedicated consultant.
Working with your dedicated consultant.
Your dedicated consultant will contact you to establish a relationship with you and your pets and at
the same time collect all the travel information specific to your pet’s relocation needs.
The best and safest routing and procedures will be discussed and clarified … e.g. either a transit or
an import and onward flight.
You consultant will provide you with professional and up to date pet travel guidance and expertise
concerning your destination country’s specific requirements and your pet’s veterinary preparations.
Global Paws will happily shoulder all the anxieties you may have to safely and ethically reunite your
family in your new home.
Transiting through South Africa to one of the SADC country.
All dogs and cats travelling in transit by air to any one of the SADC countries have to be accompanied
by a South African veterinary transit permit for dogs/cats. The pet would need to comply with
requirements for pets into South Africa as well as import requirements of the country that the pet is
travelling to, therefore the pet would need two sets of health certificate documents. Dogs would
also need to arrive with the required blood tests and blood smears, you can read about the required
blood tests under requirements for pets into South Africa.
The SADC countries that this requirement applies to are:
- Angola,
- Botswana,
- Democratic Republic of the Congo,
- Kenya,
- Lesotho,
- Namibia,
- Malawi,
- Mozambique,
- Mauritius,
- Seychelles,
- Swaziland,
- Tanzania,
- Zambia,
- Zimbabwe.
Transiting through South Africa to all other non-SADC countries.
All dogs/cats travelling by air to countries other than the countries listed above need not conform to
the South African import health requirements for dogs/cats, provided these dogs/cats do not leave
the customs area of the international airport in South Africa.
These dogs/cats need to be accompanied by a standard South African transit permit and they need
to be accompanied by a health certificate for their final destination country.
Pets travelling from neighbouring countries via South Africa to other countries.
A transit through South Africa from one of our neighbouring countries does not require a transit
permit to travel onwards to other countries.
The neighbouring countries includes Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho or Malawi.
The dog/cat must however comply with the requirements for pets from neighbouring countries. The
dog/cat would need to be accompanied by an Inter-territorial Movement document to allow
movement into and through South Africa.