Introduction
Sending a dog or cat from Thailand to South Africa is entirely doable. Convey handles documents, airlines and destination coordination end-to-end. This guide summarises the key documents and critical conditions; destination rules are drawn from official sources and confirmed by our team before any case begins.
Estimated timeline: ~8-12 weeks+ (permit + dog disease testing + 14-day quarantine). The main driver is the conditions below, especially quarantine / document endorsement.
Key documents to prepare
- Owner's passport (with a copy)
- ISO 11784/11785 microchip certificate (15-digit)
- Rabies vaccination record
- Import Permit from the destination authority
- Veterinary health certificate endorsed by Thailand's DLD
- (Dogs) Blood tests clearing 5 diseases within 30 days of export: Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Dirofilaria immitis, Leishmania
⚠️ Important warnings
- Dogs: 14-day quarantine + 5-disease blood panel (Thailand not exempt); cats: no quarantine
Destination conditions
| Item | Condition (from official sources • pending team verification) |
|---|---|
| Import Permit | Veterinary Import Permit from DALRRD; apply ≥4 weeks ahead (~3-5 working days) |
| Rabies titer test | No rabies titer — but dogs need the 5-disease blood panel (see documents above) |
| Quarantine | Dogs: 14-day quarantine on arrival; cats: no quarantine |
| Microchip + Vaccine | ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted before or with the rabies vaccine |
| Health Certificate | Endorsed by Thailand's DLD |
| Estimated timeline | ~8-12 weeks+ (permit + dog disease testing + 14-day quarantine) |
| Main port of entry | O.R. Tambo International, Johannesburg (JNB) |
Convey's golden rule: Start from completing vaccinations and the DLD endorsement, then plan backwards from the actual flight date and book the airline early.
FAQ
Summary
In summary: prepare all key documents, microchip before vaccinating, and check the destination conditions in the table above. The most important point for South Africa is Dogs: 14-day quarantine + 5-disease blood panel (Thailand not exempt); cats: no quarantine. Convey confirms the latest rules and plans your timeline before every case.
Sources (official): www.dalrrd.gov.za · www.aphis.usda.gov — destination rules as of 2026, pending ops verification before publishing. Please confirm with Convey before proceeding.