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Vietnam to Albania

Requirements & Procedures for International Travel

Updated: April 2026

Government regulations change frequently. The information contained here is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but it may change at any time and should be verified before travelling.

There is no quarantine for cats and dogs in Albania if the import steps are followed correctly. We are here to help make the process easy for you.

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Overview

Before entering the destination country, your pet must have:

  • A microchip
  • Vaccinations against rabies and core dog or cat vaccines
  • Rabies antibody titre test (highly recommended)
  • Parasite treatment
  • Veterinary health certificate
  • Government international health certificate for travel

Microchip

Your pet must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If not, they will need to be vaccinated again.

  • The microchip is injected under your pet’s skin near the left shoulder blade.
  • This is not a tracking device, but a way to identify and register your dog or cat.

Rabies & Core Vaccinations

These must be administered no more than one year prior to departure and at least 30 days before travel.

  • Your pet must be at least 3 months old.
  • A rabies certificate is mandatory: it must be endorsed by a veterinarian.

Rabies Antibody Titre Test

This is required for pets travelling to the EU, UK, USA, Japan, Korea, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hawaii, and New Zealand. A blood sample is taken from your pet and sent to a certified laboratory in the United Kingdom. Results are typically received within 6 to 8 weeks.

  • Your pet must have received a rabies vaccination at least 1 month before the test.
  • A microchip is required for the test.
  • The test is valid for the pet’s lifetime in most countries, provided rabies booster vaccinations are given on time, before the previous vaccination expires.

Your pet cannot enter the EU until 3 months after the blood is drawn.

Parasite Treatment

Before entering the destination country, your pet should be treated for certain internal and external parasites by a licensed veterinarian. This is not mandatory, but is recommended by our team.

  • Treatment should be administered 1 to 5 days prior to entry.

Certificates

  • Veterinary Health Certificate: must be completed by a licensed veterinarian within 5 days of travel
  • Government International Health Certificate: must be completed 5 to 7 days prior to departure. Paws International Clinic will complete this step for you. Please bring the required documents to your appointment.

Import Permit

South Africa requires an import application to be submitted to the Director of Animal Health. Once the application form is complete, a Veterinary Import Permit will be issued. Our Pet Travel team will assist with and facilitate this process.

  • The permit is valid for 6 months from the date of issue
  • Two pages for cats: four pages for dogs

Cage Requirements

We highly recommend acclimating your pet to their travel crate in advance and practising crate training. This will help reduce stress during travel. During your Travel Consultation, we will measure and weigh your pet to determine the appropriate crate size. The carrier must be IATA-approved.

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Flight & Manifest Cargo

All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be registered as manifest cargo and cannot travel as excess baggage. Due to airline regulations, pets may only arrive as manifest air cargo or, on approved airlines, in the cabin with the owner. Each airline has its own requirements, so careful research is advised.

  1. Manifest cargo: the pet is booked on a separate ticket and may arrive before or after you.
  2. In-cabin: pets must still be registered as manifest cargo, and airline staff will take custody of the pet upon landing for unloading via the cargo terminal.
An import agent is required to clear your pet through customs upon arrival
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Quarantine

Upon arrival in South Africa, you must present the Veterinary Certificate and the approved Import Permit to the quarantine officer. Cats with correctly completed original documents will not be subject to quarantine.

Dogs will be subject to a minimum of 14 days of quarantine if arriving from certain countries, including Vietnam.

  1. Dogs requiring quarantine may only enter South Africa via Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airports
  2. Cats are permitted to enter South Africa by land from Mozambique
Government regulations change frequently. The information contained here is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but it may change at any time and should be verified before travelling.

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