Export Live Animals to South Africa
Summary of Requirements
An import permit must be obtained from the Republic of South Africa, and space must be reserved at the official quarantine station.
- Bovine - Semen - Health Certificate (61.69 KB) - April 2004
- Bovine - Embryos - Health Certificate (117.31 KB) - August 2013
Due to the HPAI outbreak, the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has imposed trade restrictions on the import of U.S.-origin day-old chicks and hatching eggs from the following States:
- Arizona (effective June 2, 2025)
- California (effective November 7, 2023)
- Georgia (effective October 7, 2025)
- Idaho (effective September 16, 2025)
- Illinois (effective February 7, 2025)
- Indiana (effective September 22, 2025)
- Iowa (effective September 17, 2025)
- Michigan (effective September 21, 2025
- Minnesota (effective August 31, 2025)
- Montana (effective August 24, 2025)
- New Mexico (effective April 26, 2024)
- North Dakota (effective December 1, 2023)
- Pennsylvania (effective January 10, 2024)
- South Dakota (effective March 11, 2022)
- Washington (effective September 22 2025)
- Wisconsin (effective September 9, 2025)
- Utah (effective September 10, 2025)
Import permits from the Republic of South Africa are required for live poultry, birds, day-old chicks, and hatching eggs.
- Poultry - Day-Old Chicks - Health Certificate (52.35 KB) - July 2016
- Poultry - Hatching Eggs - Health Certificate (57 KB) - July 2018
APHIS-Registered Aquaculture Export Facility approval is required for the following certificates:
- Salmonidae Fish Ova (76.24 KB) - September 2018
- Guidance Information for Completing Salmonidae Fish Ova Certificate (335.03 KB) - March 2019
Porcine - Semen - Health Certificate (244.01 KB)- September 2024
Example of Import Permit (185.5 KB) - August 2011
South African import permits are required prior to APHIS endorsement of veterinary health certificates.
- * Birds - Captive Bred (non-poultry, not pigeons) - Health Certificate (173.03 KB) - July 2023
- Reptiles - Health Certificate (29.71 KB) - October 2018
- Vultures - Health Certificate (96.52 KB) - November 2019
- Rodents - Zoo or Captive Bred Commercial Movement - Health Certificate (147.21 KB) - April 2020
- Red Pandas - Health Certificate (170.83 KB) - March 2021
- Kinkajous (Honey Bears) - Health Certificate (170.43 KB) - March 2021
- Lagomorphs (Rabbits, Hares, Pikas) - Health Certificate (161.14 KB) - March 2022
- * Pigeons - Racing Only - Health Certificate (128.68 KB) - December 2022
Taking a Pet to Another Country?
If your species is not listed, the requirements for that species are not known. Exporters who want to ship livestock or germplasm whose requirements are not listed above should have the importer or buyer in the destination country apply for an import permit at the appropriate ministry. This import permit will most likely outline the specific requirements.
Need Help?
USDA-Accredited Veterinarians
Contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian for questions about your destination country's entry requirements for animals (including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments) and for issuance of health certificates.
Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian
USDA Endorsement Offices
Contact the appropriate email for questions about endorsing an export health certificate for live animals.
Pets - AskVETS@usda.gov
Livestock, including equine, poultry, and wildlife/zoo animals - LivestockExport@usda.gov
Semen, embryos - GermplasmExport@usda.gov
Aquaculture - VETS.RAEF@usda.gov
In-person appointments and drop-off endorsement services are not available. For best results, accredited veterinarians should submit certificates electronically through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS).
For VEHCS help see the VEHCS help page. Routine APHIS VEHCS processing services are staffed Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time (CT) excluding federal holidays, the time listed in VEHCS reflects GMT.