Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa, bordered by Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana, home to Victoria Falls and the capital Harare. Pet relocation here involves a dual-permit process and detailed documentation — working with a specialist familiar with Southern Africa is strongly recommended.
At a Glance
Bringing a pet into Zimbabwe requires a microchip, rabies and core vaccinations, both an import permit and a movement permit, and a government-endorsed health certificate — dogs from the US or Canada additionally need a negative heartworm test, and quarantine of up to 30 days can apply if documentation is incomplete.
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Health Certificate
Required
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Blood Test
Required (US/Canada origins)
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Import Permit
Required (plus movement permit)
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Min. Age
3 months*
*conditional exceptions apply
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Min. Prep Time
6–8 weeks
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Difficulty
Difficult
Key Requirements
Microchip + Vaccinations
ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip required (tattoos also accepted). Rabies vaccination needed at least 30 days before entry, but no more than 1 year before for a primary dose, 3 years for revaccinated dogs, or 1 year for revaccinated cats. If the pet’s origin area has had recent rabies cases or movement restrictions, the waiting period extends to 60 days.
Minimum Age
Pets under 3 months can still travel if the mother was rabies-vaccinated between 30 days and 12 months before the litter’s birth, provided the young pet stays under the dam’s protection. Puppies imported under 12 weeks must be vaccinated once they reach that age, with proof sent to the State Veterinarian.
Core Vaccinations
Dogs need vaccines against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, and Parvovirus. Cats need Rabies, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (often given as the combined FVRCP vaccine). All vaccinations must be under 1 year old at entry.
Heartworm Test (Dogs from US/Canada)
Dogs travelling from the United States or Canada must test negative for heartworm via a microfilarial filtration test, performed within 30 days before export. Results are valid for 30 days. Dogs will need to be retested again 3 months after entering Zimbabwe.
Parasite Treatments
Internal and external parasite treatments must be administered by a certified vet between 24 hours and 21 days before travel, with the product, dosage, and date documented on the health certificate.
Import Permit
Mandatory for all pets entering Zimbabwe, obtained from the Zimbabwean veterinary authorities before travel. Contact directly — allow extra time.
Movement Permit
Required — issued by a veterinarian in the country of origin and countersigned by the official government veterinary authority.
Health Certificate
Issued no more than 21 days before departure, in English, following Zimbabwe’s specific template, signed and stamped by the state veterinarian of the exporting country. Must include all test results, vaccination details, and parasite treatment records.
Quarantine
Pets may be subject to up to 30 days of quarantine on arrival, depending on documentation compliance.
Routing + Entry
Pets typically connect via Johannesburg or Dubai, arriving at Harare (HRE). A customs broker and destination agent are both required.
⚠️ Requirements change frequently and without notice. Always verify with a certified pet relocation specialist before making any arrangements.
Preparation Timeline
1
Microchip + Vaccinations
~8 weeks before travel
2
Apply for Import + Movement Permits
~6 weeks before travel
3
Heartworm Test (if from US/Canada)
Within 30 days before travel
4
Parasite Treatments
24 hours to 21 days before travel
5
Health Certificate
Within 21 days before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there quarantine in Zimbabwe?
Pets may be subject to up to 30 days of quarantine on arrival, depending on documentation compliance. Verify directly with Zimbabwean authorities before travel.
Do requirements change depending on which country I’m travelling from?
Most of the process — microchip, core vaccinations, permits, and health certificate — applies the same way regardless of origin country. The one notable exception is the heartworm test, which is required only for dogs travelling from the United States or Canada. If the pet’s origin area has had recent rabies cases or movement restrictions, the rabies vaccination waiting period also extends from 30 to 60 days. Always confirm the exact requirements for your specific country of departure with a certified pet relocation specialist.
Does my dog need a heartworm test?
Only if travelling from the United States or Canada. The test must be done within 30 days before export, and results are valid for 30 days. Dogs are also retested 3 months after arrival in Zimbabwe.
Which major airports have direct flights to Zimbabwe?
Direct flight availability depends on your departure country. Most routes connect via Johannesburg or Dubai before arriving at Harare (HRE). Check with a certified agent for your specific route.
Why do I need two permits for Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe requires both an import permit from their authorities and a movement permit countersigned by the official veterinary authority in your origin country.
What vaccinations does my pet need?
Dogs need Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, and Parvovirus vaccines. Cats need Rabies, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. All vaccinations must be under 1 year old at entry.
How much does it cost?
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⚠️ The information on this page is provided for reference only and may not reflect the most current regulations. Always verify all requirements with a certified pet relocation specialist before booking travel or making any arrangements for your pet.