Africa
Pet travel to Cape Town
DAFF import permit and South African biosecurity clearance handled end-to-end.
Clearance & Entry
What's required to enter.
- 1
DAFF import permit obtained prior to travel
- 2
ISO-compliant microchip (15-digit)
- 3
Rabies vaccination — minimum 30 days before entry, not older than 3 years
- 4
Health certificate endorsed by national competent authority
- 5
External and internal parasite treatments within 7 days of departure
These are the official entry rules for South Africa.
Read our step-by-step compliance guide covering every document, timing window, and government contact for South Africa.
Cape Town International Airport has a dedicated DAFF inspection point. South Africa's permit processing typically takes 4–6 weeks. We coordinate all DAFF submissions and ensure parasite treatment timing aligns precisely with your departure date.
— Paws en Route Compliance Team
Our process
How we handle Cape Town.
Documentation Review
We audit every certificate, vaccination record, and microchip date against the exact requirements for Cape Town.
Permit Filing
Our team files all import permits and advance notifications on your behalf, tracking approval status in real time.
Veterinary Coordination
We work with your vet or our partner clinics to issue compliant health certificates timed precisely to departure.
Airport Concierge
A dedicated chaperone manages customs inspection, APHIS or border authority clearance, and handover at destination.
Local Logistics
Getting your pet into Cape Town.
Cape Town International (CPT) has a dedicated DAFF veterinary inspection point. Permit processing takes 4–6 weeks. We coordinate all DAFF submissions, ensure parasite treatment timing aligns precisely with your departure date, and pre-arrange the CPT inspection slot.
Entry Airports
Supported Airlines
At a glance
Lead time
30–60 days
Ready to travel to Cape Town?
Get a custom quote with exact timelines and costs for your pet.
Pet-Friendly Stays
Where to rest in Cape Town.
Home Suite Hotels Sea Point
Home Suite Hotels Sea Point allows pets of any size for an additional fee of ZAR 250 per pet, per night. Both dogs and cats are welcome, but exotic pets
Hollywood Mansion Camps Bay
This 5-bedroom villa in Cape Town is pet friendly! Dogs of any size are welcome for no additional fee. Cats may also be allowed by request.
Victorskloof Lodge Guest house - Hout Bay
Victorskloof Lodge Guest house - Hout Bay allows dogs of any size for no additional fee, but pet-friendly rooms cannot be booked online. Guests with
Paws en Route
Not seeing your ideal stay? Our concierge knows every pet-friendly property in Cape Town.
Paws en route members get waived pet fees at select partner properties in Cape Town. Ask your concierge which properties are currently in the programme.
Getting Around
Navigating Cape Town with your pet.
One of the biggest anxieties of pet travel is local transit. Here's everything you need to know before you land.
Public Transit
Cape Town's MyCiTi bus system does not accommodate pets. Uber and Bolt are widely available and pet-tolerant at driver's discretion. We coordinate confirmed pet-friendly drivers for all transfers.
Private Cars
Our Cape Town network covers the city bowl, Atlantic Seaboard, and Winelands. Post-DAFF clearance airport pickup coordinated directly with inspection sign-off.
On Foot
Signal Hill, Camps Bay, and the Constantia Greenbelt are all supremely walkable. We map off-lead access windows, seasonal beach restrictions, and the coolest morning routes.
Private Ground Transport
Climate-controlled, GPS-tracked fleet. Seamless door-to-door service between cities or to your final destination.
Experiences & Culture
Cape Town, with your dog.
De Waal Park
De Waal Park is a community park situated in the heart of the City Bowl, Cape Town, South Africa. Originally noted for the wide variety of trees in the
Camp St and Orange St, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, ZA
Paws en Route
Want more to do with your dog? Our experts plan the perfect itinerary in Cape Town.
Local Infrastructure
Know before you land.
Emergency resources, export-certified clinics, and vetted boarding — vetted and saved before departure.
Emergency Vet
VetEmergency Cape Town
Export Clinic
Cape Animal Medical Centre
Boarding & Daycare
Dogwood Daycare Cape Town
Get a Quote
Get a custom quote for Cape Town.
We handle the flights, the veterinary compliance, and the door-to-door logistics. Tell us where you're starting from, and we'll calculate the route to Cape Town.
Travelling to
Pet type
No obligation · Concierge response within 24 hours
Paws en Route Concierge
Ready to turn this guide into a real trip?
Your Preparation Timeline
We build a personalised calendar for Cape Town: permits, vet appointments, and health certificates timed precisely to your departure window so nothing expires before you board.
Local Intelligence, Pre-loaded
Vetted stays, pet-safe transit routes, and emergency contacts, all curated for Cape Town and confirmed before you land, so your first day is calm.
Common questions about Cape Town.
Everything you're likely wondering before you start the process.
