Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Serbia 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 Serbia 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.
- No rabies blood test on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Serbia publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Serbia's Veterinary Directorate publishes its request form for an export certificate for live animals, with notes for pets, and answers on travelling to the EU. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply. Send the request early: the form gives the inspection up to 30 days to decide.
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)
- No rabies blood test
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine on arrival
- Tell the authority in advance
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)
- No rabies blood test
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine on arrival
- Tell the authority in advance
Which rules apply to you
Hong Kong SAR China puts Serbia in the group “Group IIIB place”. See every group
Official name: Group IIIB — at least 120 days' quarantine
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Serbia → Hong Kong SAR China
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Serbia (leaving) or Hong Kong SAR China (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
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 Serbia
Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old
A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”
“Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”
PaperworkSerbia 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
Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.
The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.
“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.”
“За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”
“ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”
“Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”
“Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”
“Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”
“vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”
“Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”
“420,00 РСД”
“Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”
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
CheckLeaving Serbia
Pet passport (original)
Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.
Details and the official words
“Пасош за животиње”
“За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”
“Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”
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.
Cats
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 Serbia
Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old
A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”
“Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”
PaperworkSerbia 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
Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.
The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.
“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.”
“За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”
“ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”
“Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”
“Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”
“Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”
“vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”
“Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”
“420,00 РСД”
“Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”
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
CheckLeaving Serbia
Pet passport (original)
Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.
Details and the official words
“Пасош за животиње”
“За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”
“Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”
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.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Serbia publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
Republic administrative tax for the requestLeaving Serbia420 RSD
“Износ издатка 420,00 РСД”
Захтев за издавање сертификата за извоз живих животиња (procedure 16.01.0054, Uprava za veterinu, veterinary inspection; PDF of 13 Aug 2025) · as of 2026-10-13
Republic administrative tax for issuing the veterinary export certificateLeaving Serbia9,160 RSD
“Износ издатка 9160,00 РСД”
Захтев за издавање сертификата за извоз живих животиња (procedure 16.01.0054, Uprava za veterinu, veterinary inspection; PDF of 13 Aug 2025) · as of 2026-10-13
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: 9,580 RSD + 432 HKD (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Serbia 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 Serbia
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Serbia (dogs).
The trip back asks for 3 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry and serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days.
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Serbia (cats).
The trip back asks for 3 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry and serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days.
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)
- Најчешћа питања и одговори – Кретање кућних љубимаца из Републике Србије у Европску унију (Uprava za veterinu, 17 June 2026)
- Захтев за издавање сертификата за извоз живих животиња (procedure 16.01.0054, Uprava za veterinu, veterinary inspection; PDF of 13 Aug 2025)
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 Serbia to Hong Kong SAR China?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
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 Serbia 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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