Imported racing horse

About applying for import or export permit temporarily for specific purposes

If you want to import/ export animals temporarily into or  out of South Africa for specific purposes such as shows, exhibitions, competitions and stud mating/ veterinary services, you must apply for and be granted animal improvement permit from the Registrar of Animal Improvement.

You must also apply for veterinary import permit from the Directorate of Animal Health and Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country.

You must apply 30 days before you import/ export. 

What you should do

• Complete application form: Application to import/export animals for certain purposes (Shows)
• If temporarily importing an animal for stud mating/ veterinary services purposes, you must have a:
• Certificate from a recognised Registrar in the country where you are importing the animal from. The certificate must indicate a DNA blood type of the animal and the animal profile.
  
• Recommendation from the relevant South African Breeder’s Society specifically for landrace breeds.
  

• You can also pay by cheque or postal order to:
  
• Director General: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  Standard Bank of South Africa
  Branch: Arcadia
  Account No: 011219556
  Branch code: 000845/ 010845
  Reference must be your name and surname.
  
• You are responsible for bank charges as well as the Foreign Bank charges. The Department will not issue a permit if the full fee of R302 is not received.
• Payments can also be made at the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries listed under contact details.
• In cases where you are applying on behalf of someone else, please make sure that you pay in the name of that person or company’s name.
• No application will be processed without proof of payment. 
• Send the form and proof of payment  to:
  The Registrar of Animal Improvement
  Private Bag X138
  Pretoria
  0001
  South Africa
  Or fax to (012) 319 7570/7425
• Following receipt of the completed application form and proof of payment, animal improvement permit will be issued and be given to the Director Animal Health to issue veterinary import permit.
• After applying for animal improvement import permit, you must apply for veterinary import permit from the Director Animal health. For enquiries regarding veterinary import permit please phone (012) 319 7514.
• Animal Improvement will process your application form and issue you with a certificate and give it to Directorate Animal Health for your veterinary import permit.
• You must apply for veterinary certificate from the Director Animal Health.
  
• You have to present both the original permits to the veterinary  officials at the port of entry together with veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country.

Note : Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant and no responsibility for any inconvenience will be accepted.

How long does it take

It will take 30 days to process your application.

How much does it cost

R312

Forms to complete

(Form is provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

Application to import/export animals for certain purposes (Shows)

Who to contact

Directorate Animal Production
Tel: (012) 319 7424; (012) 319 7576; (012) 319 7590; (012) 319 7429; (012) 319 7434 and/or (012) 319 7486
Fax: (012) 319 7570/7425
City/Town: Pretoria
Province: Gauteng
Physical Address: Delpen Building, Cnr Annie Botha Avenue and Union Street, Riviera, Pretoria
Postal Address: The Registrar of Animal improvement Private Bag X138, Pretoria, 0001