Bringing your dog into Africa

Are you thinking about moving to Africa? Do you have a canine member of the family that you plan to bring along with you? As we are all aware by now, moving to a different country with dogs requires more work than a typical move. There are often hoops to jump through and red tape to deal with. Before you pack up and head out, make sure you have taken care of all of the necessities that come with bringing your dog into Africa to ensure the process goes a lot easier!

Moving with your dog to Africa isn’t impossible though, so don’t fret! Here you will find the process broken down for you a bit along with links to requirements for each of the 55 countries in Africa.

Table of Contents

1 Bringing your dog into Africa

Moving, especially a huge move like an international one, is a big deal and a big adjustment. This is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It’s a big deal to move your dog from the life they know, put them through the process of the move, and then move them into a different home. It’s a lot, so be prepared.

As we mentioned earlier, Africa is home to 55 different countries, so you can expect that there will be differences in many of those countries. That is why it is so important to make sure that you look into all of the requirements that are needed for your move with your dog. There are some general tips to follow for the travel part of your move though.

Prepare to fly with your dog

Chances are, if you are planning to move to Africa, you will be flying there. Plane travel makes moves like this easy, but plane travel is not quite as easy when you are traveling with a dog. A flight from the Unites States to Africa is going to be a long one too, so make sure you are prepared. Here are some tips that will help you prepare for the trip and make the flight easier.

Get your paperwork in order: Most airlines require certificates of health as well as current vaccination records.
Research size requirements: All dogs are not the same. Airlines have specific size requirements when it comes to your dog’s pet carrier. Make sure you are familiar with the size of your dog’s carrier before your flight.
Make sure your pup isn’t a banned breed: Unfortunately, many airlines have restrictions on dog breeds. Be sure that your dog’s breed isn’t on this list before your flight.
Make your reservation: Many airlines require a reservation for dogs (even when flying cargo).
Pay all fees: For this type of trip there are often extra fees for your dogs so be sure you are prepared to pay this fee.
Check for blackout dates: There are some airlines that have blackout dates for dogs. Due to excessive heat or weather conditions, they don’t allow pets to fly.

When it’s time to travel to your destination country

Before you head out for your trip, let’s make sure that you are ready for your big travel day. Some of this will sound familiar from our airline info above, but it’s worth the redundancy to ensure that you know exactly what to do before you head out.

Make sure to have the correct pet carrier. We mentioned this before, but this is not one that you can easily skate by with. Airlines are very specific on their pet carrier requirements and that means if you show up with the wrong size carrier you will not be allowed to travel with your pet on the plane. Also, depending on how your dog is traveling (cargo or passenger), the carrier type requirement changes (hard vs soft), so make sure you have the right one.
Keep all documentation on hand. You never know when you may be asked for it.
Bring food! Your flight will likely be long. Make sure that your pet has enough food and water to sustain them and keep them comfortable throughout the flight.
Call the customs office for your destination country. Within 24 hours of your arrival, be sure to call the customs office of your destination country to find out if you need to set up a meeting upon arrival.
Get there early. With more steps involved with bringing your dog on your move, there are more things to slow you down and more things to go wrong. Getting there early can help you avoid issues.

Countries in Africa and their specific dog import rules

With any out of country move, it is imperative to continue to monitor any updates or changes to the rules, regulations and restrictions to your destination country. The website for United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is kept updated often and gives you most, if not all of the information you will need. Although they don’t have details on all countries.

Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland)
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Republic of Cabo Verde
Republic of South Africa
Rwanda
Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic
São Tomé & Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

If your destination country isn’t linked, it’s best to follow the requirements listed on this page. These basic requirements are good for your dog’s safety and it covers the basics in case you are questioned about your dog’s health.

What websites should you check before bringing your dog into Africa?

The website for APHIS is the best general website to check out before you decide to move from the United States to another country.

Call your vet

Now that you know what to do for your move, it’s time to schedule your pet’s trip to the vet! Again, be sure and check the link for your destination country to make sure that you ask your vet all the right questions and you get all of the needed testing done.

Once you arrive in Africa

When bringing your dog into Africa, or any new country, you should be sure to keep your dog’s paperwork (including their health certificate, rabies vaccination, and USDA forms) on hand for your first 90 days.