Pet Travel from the UK to South Africa: Cat Import Requirements
Exporting your cat to South Africa involves several important steps, but with careful planning and the right guidance, it can be a straightforward and stress-free process. This guide breaks down exactly what’s required, helping you navigate the certification process with clarity and confidence.
What is an Export Health Certificate (EHC) for a cat?
An Export Health Certificate (EHC) is an official document used when exporting animals from the UK to certain countries outside the EU. For a cat, it confirms (in a very specific format) that your cat meets the destination country’s entry requirements — and that an authorised vet has checked the identity and health status of the animal.
In the UK, an EHC must be completed and signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) — a UK-qualified vet with additional authorisation to certify exports.
You’ll usually hear EHCs described as:
-
A pet export certificate UK
-
A health certificate for cat to South Africa
-
export paperwork for cats UK
They all refer to the same thing: official export certification.
Export Health Certificate (EHC) for Cats: UK to South Africa (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 — Confirm your travel date and route
Start with the basics:
-
Your intended travel date
-
Your departure airport
-
Your arrival airport in South Africa
-
Whether you’re transiting through another country
This matters because certificate timing is strict (most export certificates have a short validity window), and transit countries can sometimes add extra requirements.
Step 2 — Microchip check (and matching paperwork)
Your cat must be permanently identified with a microchip before certification.
Key points:
-
The microchip number is recorded on all export paperwork
-
The chip must be readable by ISO-compatible scanners (or Avid / Destron / Trovan compatible)
-
The microchip number must match every document exactly
If your cat’s microchip details are wrong (or recorded differently across documents), it can delay certification — or cause problems at check-in.
Step 3 — Rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination is required for entry into South Africa.
-
Primary rabies vaccination must be:
-
at least 30 days before export
-
no more than 12 months before export
-
-
Booster vaccinations must be within 12 months (no 30-day wait required after boosters)
Kittens under 3 months: special rules apply based on the queen’s rabies status.
Rabies vaccination certificates must be attached to the export paperwork.
Step 4 — Book Your Pet’s Flight
Once your destination requirements and timeline are confirmed, you should arrange your pet’s flight with an airline or approved pet transport company.
When booking:
-
confirm the airline accepts pets for your chosen route
-
all pets flying into South Africa must be registered as manifest cargo and are not allowed to fly as excess baggage.
-
dogs and cats may travel in the aircraft cabin with their owner if the airline allows it, but they must still be registered as manifest cargo and handed to airline staff on arrival for inspection at the cargo terminal.
-
ensure the arrival airport is approved for live animal entry where required
-
confirm crate size and airline transport rules
-
share your planned flight date with us so we can schedule all veterinary checks, tests, and certificate timing correctly
We recommend booking flights before the final certification appointments, but only after the medical and permit timelines have been reviewed to avoid date conflicts.
Step 5 — Apply for the South Africa import permit
An import permit from the South African authorities (Department of Agriculture) is mandatory and must be obtained by the owner/importer before travel.
-
The permit must accompany your cat
-
A fee is usually charged
-
The permit includes treatment options that must match what we certify
-
They will also require an Indemnity declaration be signed.
Important: South Africa provides a model certificate with the permit — but for UK exports we use the official UK Export Health Certificate (EHC 6257) instead.
Step 6 — Request the Export Health Certificate (EHC 6257)
Before we can certify your cat for travel to South Africa, the official Export Health Certificate (EHC 6257) must be requested from DEFRA.
To start this process:
-
You confirm us as your chosen Official Veterinarian
-
Once you have chosen your Official Veterinarian, you must request the correct Export Health Certificate from DEFRA — for South Africa this is EHC 6257 (Export cats to South Africa).
-
The EHC is then issued through DEFRA to us for completion and signing
We guide you through this request step to make sure the correct certificate is issued and linked to your export — please do not apply for a certificate without confirming the details with us first.
Step 7 — Owner/exporter declarations
Several statements on the certificate are supported by written owner declarations, including:
-
transport crate compliance
-
certain health and history statements
We provide the correct declaration wording for you to sign.
Step 8 — Final pre-export health examination
Shortly before travel, we perform the official clinical examination (within 10 days of travel) to:
-
confirm your cat is fit to travel (free of parasites or signs of disease)
-
verify microchip identity
-
review vaccination records
-
complete the Export Health Certificate
Timing is matched to your flight schedule.
