A move from United Kingdom to Botswana with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Expect about 6-10 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. There is no routine quarantine, …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Botswana
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Botswana pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Rabies vaccination given or booster confirmed current, timed so it's at least 30 days old on the pet's arrival date in Botswana.
Responsible: UK vet
As early as reasonably possible.
2
Book an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian for the Export Health Certificate; not every UK practice offers this service.
Responsible: Owner
4-6 weeks before the intended travel date.
3
Apply for the Botswana DVS import permit, including the movement-restriction attestation for the UK area of origin.
Responsible: Owner or agent
As early as practical, though DVS's stated turnaround is fast once the file is complete.
4
Cargo routing booked: British Airways London to Johannesburg, then Airlink or Air Botswana onward to Gaborone.
Responsible: Owner or IPATA agent
Once the import permit is confirmed.
5
OV completes the physical check and issues the EHC within APHA's fixed pre-departure window.
Responsible: Official Veterinarian
Close to the flight date, per APHA's published window for this destination.
6
Arrival at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE): present the EHC and DVS import permit, and confirm the microchip scans correctly.
Responsible: Owner or receiving agent, plus DVS staff at GBE
On landing.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Botswana
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted and recorded before the DVS import permit application is submitted.
Rabies vaccination
Required, and must have been administered at least 30 days before the pet's arrival date. No fixed upper age is set beyond the vaccine manufacturer's own stated validity. Source: gov.bw, Botswana Department of Veterinary Services, 2026.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Botswana doesn't ask for a rabies antibody blood test from a UK-origin pet, unlike the reverse route into Great Britain.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for a pet arriving with complete, compliant documentation.
Import permit
Import permit required in advance from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). DVS's own published guidance states a target of a single working day once the application is complete, though allowing a working week is the more realistic planning figure. Source: gov.bw, 2026.
Health certificate
UK Export Health Certificate presented alongside the DVS import permit on arrival, together with proof that the pet's current vaccination record is valid rabies immunisation, not merely a lapsed course.
Export permit (United Kingdom)
No general UK export permit for a pet dog or cat. The controlling document is the Export Health Certificate (EHC) below.
Government endorsement
EHC issued on behalf of Defra and APHA, drafted to Botswana's specific import requirements rather than a generic UK template.
Cargo, London to Gaborone via Johannesburg: GBP 1,300-2,800 depending on crate size and season
Agent fee for the Johannesburg handover, where used: GBP 200-450
Total typical range: GBP 1,700-3,700 over 6-10 weeks
Critical points to read before you book
The movement-restriction attestation is the detail most UK owners miss. DVS wants written confirmation that no animal disease control zone currently applies in the area the pet is leaving from, a requirement that doesn't show up on most EU or North American import checklists.
There is no direct flight from London to Gaborone. Every booking transfers through Johannesburg, on British Airways first, then Airlink or Air Botswana into GBE.
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone is the entry point consistently used for pet imports. Plan the whole itinerary around landing there rather than at a regional Botswana airport.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
BRITISH
British Airways
Flies Heathrow (LHR) to O.R. Tambo, Johannesburg (JNB) daily. The natural first leg for a pet leaving the UK for Southern Africa, handled through IAG Cargo's established live-animal service out of Heathrow.
Cargo Only
AIRLINK
Airlink
Regional connector from Johannesburg to Sir Seretse Khama International (GBE), the onward leg most bookings use to finish the journey into Gaborone. Runs multiple times daily.
Cargo Only
AIR BOTSWANA
Air Botswana
The national carrier also serves the JNB to GBE sector. Confirm live animal acceptance and current capacity directly, since it operates a smaller fleet than the regional alternative.
Cargo Only
What Botswana requires
The path into Botswana is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.
Avoiding the common mistakes
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
FAQ
Common questions about United Kingdom to Botswana pet transport
No. Botswana doesn’t ask for a rabies antibody titre test from any country of origin, the UK included. The rabies vaccination itself has to be at least 30 days old on arrival, but there’s no blood test or fixed post-vaccination wait beyond that.
A written statement, part of the DVS import permit application, confirming that no animal disease control zone or movement restriction currently applies in the area the pet is travelling from. It’s easy to overlook because most EU and North American destinations don’t ask for anything similar.
No. The standard routing is British Airways from Heathrow to Johannesburg, then Airlink or Air Botswana onward into Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE).
Around 6 to 10 weeks, driven mainly by the Export Health Certificate booking window and the DVS import permit application, not by any lengthy wait after vaccination since no titre test applies.
Airline guides
British Airways
Airlink
Air Botswana
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
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