Veterinary Certificate of Identity, Rabies Vaccination and Movement Permit for Dogs and Cats

1. Before you visit your Veterinary Official you will need to check that the dogs and or cats have a:
   1. valid rabies immunisation record;
   2. or in the case of kittens and puppies under 3 months old, the mother (dam) was vaccinated against at least one month but not more than 12 months prior to giving birth, and
   3. there are no movement restrictions for rabies control in your area.
2. Your local certifying official veterinarian will require you to present your pet for examination before issuing a "Veterinary Certificate of Identity, Rabies Vaccination and Movement Permit for Dogs and Cats" to satisfy themselves on the health status and fitness to travel.
3. The certificate for movement will be issued immediately upon submission of application and if all the above requirements are met. The certificate must accompany your pet whilst travelling as it also serves as a movement permit within Botswana.

Import Permit

For other SADC Member States not listed above, owners will need to apply for a veterinary import permit from the respective country before the official veterinarian in Botswana can issue a veterinary health certificate to move the animals out of Botswana. This will apply to all other countries in the rest of the world and the reverse will also apply if dogs and cats are to be moved into Botswana.

List down the documents required for successfully completing the procedure.

e.g.
1. Proof of child birth from the Hospital.

Ministry of Agriculture
Private Bag 003, Gaborone
Tel: +267-3368 9000
Email: moa@gov.bw

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Some member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) went into an agreement to develop and harmonise pet travel conditions that will facilitate pet travel within the member states. The agreement stated that they will no longer require presentation of veterinary import permit from the country of destination before a health certificate can be issued. Dogs and cats may be imported into Botswana from the following countries or exported out of Botswana to the following countries within (SADC):

Country of Origin or Destination:

• Lesotho
• Namibia
• Malawi
• South Africa
• Swaziland
• Zimbabwe

You will need a "Veterinary Certificate of Identity, Rabies Vaccination and Movement Permit for Dogs and Cats" to able to travel with your pets in the countries mentioned above.

For other SADC Member States not listed above, owners will need to apply for a veterinary import permit from the respective country before the official veterinarian in Botswana can issue a veterinary health certificate to move the animals out of Botswana. This will apply to all other countries in the rest of the world and the reverse will also apply if dogs and cats are to be moved into Botswana.

If you will be bringing your pet to a country outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

It is the responsibility of the owner/ agent or custodian of the animals to seek intransit permit for such countries. Permits office may assist in providing contact details of the authorities to seek for intransit permits.

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Please provide the need for the procedure.
e.g. Birth Certificate - why do we need to have a birth certificate? .

Travelling by air

Pets may be transported unaccompanied as cargo by air. Various pet travel agencies exists including airlines that may be contacted for further details.

The "Veterinary Certificate of Identity, Rabies Vaccination and Movement Permit for Dogs and Cats" must accompany your pet whilst travelling as it also serves as a movement permit within Botswana.

Government of Botswana Website

More information which might help people.