Zimbabwe Pet Import Requirements

What is a Zimbabwe Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Zimbabwe pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include an import permit (non-SADC countries), proof of microchip, rabies vaccination and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Regulations

Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.

Pets in Zimbabwe

Both dogs and cats are popular in Zimbabwe for companionship and work value. Birds, fish and small mammals of guinea pigs and rabbits are also popular family pets.

Veterinary services are available, especially in larger cities like Harare and Bulawayo. Pet ownership regulations in Zimbabwe include mandatory vaccinations for dogs and cats. Rabies vaccination is particularly important due to the presence of the disease. Microchipping and registration are encouraged but not always enforced.

Stray dogs and cats are a significant issue, particularly in urban areas. Common health issues for pets in Zimbabwe include parasitic infections and chronic conditions. Because of this, pet owners should fully protect their pets against contagious diseases before traveling to this country.

Flying a Pet to Zimbabwe

Commercial airlines that offer service to pets that fly into Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport include Air Tanzania, Air Zimbabwe, Airlink, Emirates, Eswatini Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, LAM Mozambique Airlines, Qatar Airways, Rwandair and South African Airways.

Flights to Zimbabwe should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Zimbabwe

Quarantine will not be imposed on your pet if the following regulations are met. Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.

Zimbabwe Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Zimbabwe must be completed in the country of origin. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Pet Microchip

Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Third, most countries require that pets be microchipped and compliant microchips may be difficult to find should your pet ever leave the country.

Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Zimbabwe. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.

Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs over 3 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Zimbabwe. The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:

• a rabies certificate
• a government-issued vaccination booklet or
• an EU Pet Passport

Dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. Cats should be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline leukemia.

Veterinarians can record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.

Zimbabwe does not require a rabies titer test for cats and dogs from any country. However, all pets originating in countries classified as having a high risk of rabies should always travel with a rabies titer test. In addition, the World Organization of Animal Health classifies Zimbabwe as a high-rabies risk country. As such, if your pet will be returning to the country of origin, this test may be required.

Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.

Step 4: Import Permit

Zimbabwe requires an application for import for entry with the Director of Animal Health unless your dog or cat is entering from the following SADC member nations: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa or Swaziland. Visitors should apply well ahead of their visit for a permit to bring their pet into Zimbabwe. An agent can facilitate the application process. Following receipt of the completed Import Application form, an import permit will be issued and sent directly to you. The permit is good for 6 months from date of issuance.

Step 5: Parasite Treatments

According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites must be administered prior to entering Zimbabwe.

The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country.

The administering veterinarian will record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.

Step 6: Pet Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:

• details of your pet and
• vaccinations and treatments and
• veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.

Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.

A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the health certificate within 10 days of entry.

A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Zimbabwe

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to 3 months of age. Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under 3 months of age should be microchipped and accompanied by a health certificate and proof of the mother’s rabies vaccination when giving birth. Other health inoculations such as parvovirus should be provided.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned from Import to Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Entering Zimbabwe by Air

Pets must enter Zimbabwe by air via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (also known as Harare International Airport). Pets can enter as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?

Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.

Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Zimbabwe. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.

Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Zimbabwe, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Zimbabwe

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Zimbabwe. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.

Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Read more about CITES

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Zimbabwe?

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Please note that the accuracy of comments made below by users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.

Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Zimbabwe pet import requirements.