Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Kenya to Hong Kong SAR China: the rules
Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least about 3 months ahead for a dog (about 6 months for a cat). The main steps: microchip (ISO or AVID), core vaccinations (within the last year) and AFCD Special Permit and 4 more.
Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 9 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- Hong Kong SAR China puts Kenya in the group “Group IIIB place”, which decides part of the rules.
- On this route: import permit needed, quarantine on arrival and tell the authority in advance.
- Coming back to Kenya? 2 steps have to happen before your pet leaves.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Kenya publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services doesn't publish its export procedure for pets on its own website. We use KenTrade's InfoTrade description of the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), last updated in 2022. It gives no processing time, doesn't say how long before departure to apply, and lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. Confirm with the Directorate (infodvs@kilimo.go.ke) before you travel.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
about 3 months
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: Book quarantine (AFCD's estimated average wait for its centre is about 3 months for dogs — it may be shorter or longer)
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (dogs)
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine on arrival
- Tell the authority in advance
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
How early to start (cats)
about 6 months
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: Book quarantine (AFCD's estimated average wait for its centre is about 6 months for cats — it may be shorter or longer)
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (cats)
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine on arrival
- Tell the authority in advance
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
Which rules apply to you
Hong Kong SAR China puts Kenya in the group “Group IIIB place”. See every group
Official name: Group IIIB — at least 120 days' quarantine
Rule-change alertsChecked daily
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Rule change for pets travelling from Kenya to Hong Kong SAR China
Leaving rules: China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa and Kenya (short summaries, under review). Tap to see what changed.
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Kenya → Hong Kong SAR China
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Kenya (leaving) or Hong Kong SAR China (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Taking a dog or cat out of Kenya (DVS international veterinary certificate): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
IdentificationEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Microchip (ISO or AVID)
Your pet needs a microchip readable by an AVID or ISO scanner. From Group IIIA it must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and blood sample.
Details and the official words
“Your dog/cat must be implanted with a microchip which can be read with an AVID or ISO scanner prior to rabies vaccination and blood sampling.”
VaccinationEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Core vaccinations (within the last year)
Dogs: distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and parvovirus. Cats: panleucopaenia and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu). Given between 1 year and 14 days before export.
Details and the official words
“not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year prior to export”
PermitEntering Hong Kong SAR China
AFCD Special Permit
Apply to AFCD in advance (in person, by post or via the Trade Single Window). It's issued 5 working days after a complete application, costs HK$432 for one animal (+HK$102 per extra animal on the same permit), and is valid for 6 months for one trip.
Details and the official words
“Dogs and cats should not be brought into Hong Kong (either import or transshipment/transit) unless a Special Permit to do so is obtained in advance from this Department.”
“it takes 5 working days from the date of receipt of application and permit fee to the date of issue”
“Valid for 6 months and for one consignment only.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Kenya
Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board
A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”
PaperworkKenya and Hong Kong SAR China
Animal health certificate
Issued no more than 14 days before export (from Group IIIA: no more than 7 days), signed by a government vet — or by a registered vet and endorsed by a government vet. It must show the microchip number.
Details and the official words
International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.
Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.
InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.
“Dated not more than 14 days before the export”
“The animal health certificate must be issued not more than 7 days prior to export.”
“The animal health certificate must be issued not more than 14 days prior to export.”
“The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”
“Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”
“From the country of destination.”
“EU export health certificate (copy)”
“For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”
“KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”
NoticeEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Notify AFCD before arrival
Tell the AFCD Duty Officer (Import & Export Section) at least 24 hours before your pet's expected arrival time.
Details and the official words
“You should notify the Duty Officer of the Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before your dog/cat’s anticipated arrival time in Hong Kong.”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Hong Kong dog licence and rabies shot on arrival
Dogs 5 months or older get a Hong Kong dog licence and a rabies vaccination on arrival, at your cost.
Details and the official words
“all dogs over 5 months of age in Hong Kong are required by law to obtain a dog licence and vaccination against rabies.”
QuarantineEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Book quarantine
Pets from Group IIIA stay at least 30 days, and from Group IIIB at least 120 days, in quarantine (AFCD's Animal Management Centre or the SPCA licensed centre), at your cost. Submit the booking form (PC100) with your documents to join the waiting list.
Details and the official words
“The estimated average waiting time for AFCD quarantine facility is approximately 3 months for dogs and 6 months for cats at present.”
“Dogs and cats imported from Group IIIA countries / places are subject to a minimum of 30 days quarantine period”
“Dogs and cats imported from Group IIIB countries / places are subject to a minimum of 120-day quarantine period”
Good to know
- Pets must arrive in Hong Kong as manifested cargo — not in the cabin or as excess baggage — by the fastest, most direct route.
- AFCD: don't make final travel arrangements until your Special Permit has been granted.
- Banned in Hong Kong: Pit Bull Terrier (American Staffordshire Terrier), Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and their crosses (Staffordshire Bull Terriers need a statutory declaration). Bengal cats need proof of 5th generation or later.
- The Directorate of Veterinary Services issues the certificate only once the destination's conditions are met and your pet is healthy and free of disease, so find out your destination's requirements first.
Cats
Taking a dog or cat out of Kenya (DVS international veterinary certificate): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
IdentificationEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Microchip (ISO or AVID)
Your pet needs a microchip readable by an AVID or ISO scanner. From Group IIIA it must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and blood sample.
Details and the official words
“Your dog/cat must be implanted with a microchip which can be read with an AVID or ISO scanner prior to rabies vaccination and blood sampling.”
VaccinationEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Core vaccinations (within the last year)
Dogs: distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and parvovirus. Cats: panleucopaenia and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu). Given between 1 year and 14 days before export.
Details and the official words
“not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year prior to export”
PermitEntering Hong Kong SAR China
AFCD Special Permit
Apply to AFCD in advance (in person, by post or via the Trade Single Window). It's issued 5 working days after a complete application, costs HK$432 for one animal (+HK$102 per extra animal on the same permit), and is valid for 6 months for one trip.
Details and the official words
“Dogs and cats should not be brought into Hong Kong (either import or transshipment/transit) unless a Special Permit to do so is obtained in advance from this Department.”
“it takes 5 working days from the date of receipt of application and permit fee to the date of issue”
“Valid for 6 months and for one consignment only.”
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Kenya
Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board
A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”
PaperworkKenya and Hong Kong SAR China
Animal health certificate
Issued no more than 14 days before export (from Group IIIA: no more than 7 days), signed by a government vet — or by a registered vet and endorsed by a government vet. It must show the microchip number.
Details and the official words
International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.
Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.
InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.
“Dated not more than 14 days before the export”
“The animal health certificate must be issued not more than 7 days prior to export.”
“The animal health certificate must be issued not more than 14 days prior to export.”
“The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”
“Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”
“From the country of destination.”
“EU export health certificate (copy)”
“For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”
“KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”
NoticeEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Notify AFCD before arrival
Tell the AFCD Duty Officer (Import & Export Section) at least 24 hours before your pet's expected arrival time.
Details and the official words
“You should notify the Duty Officer of the Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before your dog/cat’s anticipated arrival time in Hong Kong.”
Travel day and arrival
QuarantineEntering Hong Kong SAR China
Book quarantine
Pets from Group IIIA stay at least 30 days, and from Group IIIB at least 120 days, in quarantine (AFCD's Animal Management Centre or the SPCA licensed centre), at your cost. Submit the booking form (PC100) with your documents to join the waiting list.
Details and the official words
“The estimated average waiting time for AFCD quarantine facility is approximately 3 months for dogs and 6 months for cats at present.”
“Dogs and cats imported from Group IIIA countries / places are subject to a minimum of 30 days quarantine period”
“Dogs and cats imported from Group IIIB countries / places are subject to a minimum of 120-day quarantine period”
Good to know
- Pets must arrive in Hong Kong as manifested cargo — not in the cabin or as excess baggage — by the fastest, most direct route.
- AFCD: don't make final travel arrangements until your Special Permit has been granted.
- Banned in Hong Kong: Pit Bull Terrier (American Staffordshire Terrier), Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and their crosses (Staffordshire Bull Terriers need a statutory declaration). Bengal cats need proof of 5th generation or later.
- The Directorate of Veterinary Services issues the certificate only once the destination's conditions are met and your pet is healthy and free of disease, so find out your destination's requirements first.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Kenya publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
AFCD Special PermitEntering Hong Kong SAR China · 102 HKD for each extra pet432 HKD
“Permit fee for a single animal is HK$432. Fee for each additional animal is HK$102 under a same permit for a single shipment.”
Import of dogs and cats from Group I countries/places · as of 2026-10-08
Government fees in total: 432 HKD (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Kenya yet.
Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices
Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.
Round trip
Coming back to Kenya
Do before your pet leaves Kenya (dogs)
- Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment
- Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 8 steps: import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and more.
Do before your pet leaves Kenya (cats)
- Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment
- Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 8 steps: import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Import of dogs and cats (groups and special permit)
- Import of dogs and cats from Group I countries/places
- Import of dogs and cats from Group II countries/places
- Import of dogs and cats from Group IIIA countries/places
- Import of dogs and cats from Group IIIB countries/places
- Permit terms DC-01v05 (Group I)
- Permit terms DC-02v05 (Group II)
- International veterinary certificate for dogs & cats (VS16): export procedure (InfoTrade Kenya, KenTrade)
- International veterinary certificate for dogs & cats (VS16), step 1: apply, generate an e-slip and pay (InfoTrade Kenya, last modified 15/03/2022)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Kenya to Hong Kong SAR China?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Hong Kong SAR China?
Yes: Apply to AFCD in advance (in person, by post or via the Trade Single Window).
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Hong Kong SAR China?
It can be: Pets from Group IIIA stay at least 30 days, and from Group IIIB at least 120 days, in quarantine (AFCD's Animal Management Centre or the SPCA licensed centre), at your cost.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Kenya to Hong Kong SAR China?
With nothing done yet, start at least about 3 months ahead for a dog (about 6 months for a cat). The main steps: microchip (ISO or AVID), core vaccinations (within the last year) and AFCD Special Permit and 4 more.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
Read next
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Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.