Taking Your Dog or Cat from the UK to Mozambique: Complete 2026 Guide
Relocating to Mozambique or planning an extended stay with your pet? The good news is that flying with a dog or cat from the UK to Mozambique is entirely possible — but it requires careful planning, the right documents, and precise timing.
Unlike travel to Europe, Mozambique has its own specific import requirements, and the process involves more steps than a standard Animal Health Certificate. Get it right, and your pet travels smoothly. Miss a step, and you risk delays, refusal at the border, or your pet being held in quarantine.
This guide walks you through every stage of the process — clearly and in plain English — so you can plan ahead with confidence.
What Documents Does Your Pet Need to Enter Mozambique?
Mozambique's pet import requirements are more involved than those for EU travel. Here's an overview of what's needed before your pet can fly:
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ISO-compliant microchip — registered and readable
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Valid rabies vaccination — given more than 30 days and less than 12 months before export
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Mozambique import permit — obtained before travel
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Anti-parasitic treatment — internal and external, administered before departure
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Export Health Certificate (EHC) — completed and signed by an Official Veterinarian within 48 hours of travel
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Supporting vaccination records — from your regular vet practice
Each of these has specific timing requirements. The section below walks through them in order.
How Far in Advance Should You Start Planning?
For Mozambique, we'd recommend starting the process at least 8–12 weeks before your travel date. Here's why:
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The import permit takes up to 5–7 business days to process — and you need it before the EHC can be completed
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If your pet's rabies vaccination needs updating, you'll need to wait 30 days after the booster before travel
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Parasite treatments have their own timing windows
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Official Veterinarians — especially mobile OVs in London — can get booked up quickly
The 48-hour EHC appointment is the final step, but everything leading up to it takes time to arrange. Starting early gives you room to resolve any issues without panic.
Step-by-Step: How to Take Your Pet from the UK to Mozambique
Step 1: Confirm Your Pet's Microchip Is Registered and Readable
Your dog or cat must have a working, ISO-compliant microchip before anything else. The microchip is used to confirm your pet's identity and must match all supporting documents, vaccination records, and the Export Health Certificate exactly.
If your pet isn't microchipped, or if the chip isn't readable, this needs to be resolved first — before any vaccinations are given.
Step 2: Check the Rabies Vaccination Timing
This is one of the most time-sensitive parts of the process. For Mozambique, your pet's rabies vaccination must have been given more than 30 days and less than 12 months before export.
That means:
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If your pet's rabies vaccination is recent (under 30 days), you'll need to wait before you can travel
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If it's approaching the 12-month mark, you may need a booster — and then wait again
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You'll also need written proof of the vaccination from your regular vet practice
Check the vaccination date as early as possible. This is where many owners get caught out.
Step 3: Apply for the Mozambique Import Permit
An import permit is required before your pet can enter Mozambique. This is a key difference from EU travel, where no permit is needed.
Key details:
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The permit is typically valid for 60 days from the date of issue
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Processing usually takes around 5–7 business days
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Apply as soon as your travel plans are confirmed — don't leave this until the last minute
The import permit needs to be in place before your Export Health Certificate can be finalised, so it sits early in the timeline.
Step 4: Check Transit Country Requirements
Most UK flights to Mozambique involve at least one stopover — commonly through Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa. If your pet is travelling in the hold or is rebooked onto a connecting flight, the transit country may treat this as an entry rather than a simple transit movement.
This is an area where requirements can vary significantly. Confirm with your airline and any transport agent involved whether your transit country has its own pet entry or transit documentation requirements. Flag this early — it's easier to prepare in advance than to resolve at the airport.
Step 5: Arrange the Required Parasite Treatments
Anti-parasitic treatment is mandatory before entry into Mozambique. This covers both internal and external parasites — the specific products and timing will depend on your pet and your travel date.
Your Official Veterinarian will advise you on exactly which treatments are needed and when they should be administered. Some treatments need to be given within a specific window before travel, so this needs to be planned carefully alongside your other appointments.
Step 6: Request your Export Health Certificate online
You will need to apply for your Export Health Certificate through the UK government’s export health certificate online system. We recommend doing this once your travel date is confirmed and you have received your import permit number, as this will be required during the application process.
For travel to Mozambique, the required certificate is EHC 4143, and a separate certificate must be completed for each animal travelling.
Once submitted, the certificate will be assigned to an Official Veterinarian (OV) for completion. We can guide you through this process to ensure the correct certificate is selected and completed in line with Mozambique’s requirements.
Step 7: Final Veterinary Appointment Within 48 Hours of Travel
This is the most time-critical appointment in the entire process. Your pet must be examined by a DEFRA-authorised Official Veterinarian (OV) no more than 48 hours before export.
At this appointment, your OV will:
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Perform a clinical examination of your pet
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Verify the microchip matches all documentation
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Administer or confirm the required parasite treatments
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Complete and issue the Export Health Certificate (EHC)
Everything else — the import permit, the vaccination records, the parasite treatment schedule — must be in place before this appointment. The EHC is the final piece of the puzzle, not the starting point.
A mobile OV who comes to your home is particularly valuable here. Your pet stays calm in a familiar environment, and there's no added stress of a clinic visit right before a long-haul flight.
Step 8: Travel With the Correct Original Documents
When you travel, carry the original documents — not copies. Border officials and airline staff will need to see the originals, and inconsistencies between documents can cause delays.
Your travel pack should include:
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The Export Health Certificate (EHC)
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The Mozambique import permit
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Proof of rabies vaccination (from your regular vet)
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Any additional supporting documents required for your route or transit country
Keep everything together in a clearly organised folder. If anything is missing or doesn't match, it can cause problems at departure or on arrival.