Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from the United States → Hong Kong SAR China
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
4 weeks
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
The United States is in the group “Group II — rabies vaccination; may be exempt from quarantine” in Hong Kong’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Hong Kong SAR China
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine possible
- Advance notice to authority
What your dog needs
Dogs
Permit
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.”
Identification
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.”
Age rule
Minimum age
Pets from Group I must be at least 60 days old; from Group II at least 5 months old. Females more than 4 weeks pregnant can't be imported.
Details and the official words
“Dogs and cats less than 60 days old or more than 4 weeks pregnant must NOT be imported.”
“Dogs and cats less than 5 months old or more than 4 weeks pregnant must NOT be imported.”
Residence rule
Residence certificate
Your pet must have lived in the country it's coming from for at least 180 days (or since birth), and there must have been no rabies cases in any animal (except bats) within 10 km of its home for 180 days before export.
Details and the official words
“during the preceding 180 days prior to export or since birth”
“has not reported any cases of rabies in any species (excluding bats) for at least 180 days prior to export to Hong Kong”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination (primary course)
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated or recombinant vaccine; a first (primary) vaccination must be given at 90 days old or older.
Details and the official words
“In case of primary vaccination, it must be given at 90 days old or above.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination within the last year
Hong Kong needs a rabies vaccination given between 1 year and 30 days before export. If your pet's last shot will be more than a year old on export day, give a booster at least 30 days before departure.
Details and the official words
Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.
“Your dog/cat must be vaccinated against rabies using either an inactivated or recombinant anti-rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.”
“The animal was vaccinated against rabies not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.”
Vaccination
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”
Paperwork
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
USDA APHIS endorsement: Your accredited vet submits the certificate to USDA APHIS (usually electronically through VEHCS) for endorsement; the endorsement date counts as the issue date for the destination.
“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.”
“assist you through the process of obtaining a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate”
Transport
Airline certificate (captain's affidavit)
The airline completes form PC101 confirming your pet travelled the whole way in its crate without contact with other animals (and stayed in the cargo area during any transit).
Details and the official words
“The animal has travelled the entire journey without leaving its crate and did not come into contact with any other animals.”
Notice
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.”
On arrival
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.”
Vet exam
Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian
Only a USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue your pet's international health certificate. Tell them the destination, any transit countries, your departure date and whether the pet travels in the cabin or as cargo.
Details and the official words
“contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel”
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.
- USDA: destination requirements can change at any time — check them every time you travel.
What your cat needs
Cats
Permit
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.”
Identification
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.”
Age rule
Minimum age
Pets from Group I must be at least 60 days old; from Group II at least 5 months old. Females more than 4 weeks pregnant can't be imported.
Details and the official words
“Dogs and cats less than 60 days old or more than 4 weeks pregnant must NOT be imported.”
“Dogs and cats less than 5 months old or more than 4 weeks pregnant must NOT be imported.”
Residence rule
Residence certificate
Your pet must have lived in the country it's coming from for at least 180 days (or since birth), and there must have been no rabies cases in any animal (except bats) within 10 km of its home for 180 days before export.
Details and the official words
“during the preceding 180 days prior to export or since birth”
“has not reported any cases of rabies in any species (excluding bats) for at least 180 days prior to export to Hong Kong”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination (primary course)
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated or recombinant vaccine; a first (primary) vaccination must be given at 90 days old or older.
Details and the official words
“In case of primary vaccination, it must be given at 90 days old or above.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination within the last year
Hong Kong needs a rabies vaccination given between 1 year and 30 days before export. If your pet's last shot will be more than a year old on export day, give a booster at least 30 days before departure.
Details and the official words
Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.
“Your dog/cat must be vaccinated against rabies using either an inactivated or recombinant anti-rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.”
“The animal was vaccinated against rabies not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.”
Vaccination
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”
Paperwork
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
USDA APHIS endorsement: Your accredited vet submits the certificate to USDA APHIS (usually electronically through VEHCS) for endorsement; the endorsement date counts as the issue date for the destination.
“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.”
“assist you through the process of obtaining a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate”
Transport
Airline certificate (captain's affidavit)
The airline completes form PC101 confirming your pet travelled the whole way in its crate without contact with other animals (and stayed in the cargo area during any transit).
Details and the official words
“The animal has travelled the entire journey without leaving its crate and did not come into contact with any other animals.”
Notice
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.”
Vet exam
Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian
Only a USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue your pet's international health certificate. Tell them the destination, any transit countries, your departure date and whether the pet travels in the cabin or as cargo.
Details and the official words
“contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel”
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.
- USDA: destination requirements can change at any time — check them every time you travel.
Government fees we know of
- USDA APHIS health certificate endorsement101 USD
- AFCD Special Permit432 HKD (+102 per extra pet)
Vet, lab and courier costs are not included. The final amount can depend on how many tests or pets are on the certificate.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from the United States 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 into Hong Kong SAR China?
Yes: Apply to AFCD in advance (in person, by post or via the Trade Single Window).
Will my dog be quarantined in Hong Kong SAR China?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet needs a microchip readable by an AVID or ISO scanner.