Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Uruguay 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 12 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 Uruguay 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.
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 Uruguay in the group “Group IIIB place”. See every group
Official name: Group IIIB — at least 120 days' quarantine
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Uruguay → Hong Kong SAR China
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Uruguay (leaving) or Hong Kong SAR China (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Get ready
IdentificationUruguay and 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
Dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA): A dog leaving Uruguay must be microchipped and registered with the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal; the chip is linked to its international health certificate.
“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.”
“SI ES PERRO: Microchip y registrado en el Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal, el que estará asociado al Certificado Sanitario Internacional, según Resolución Nº 273 de la DGSG del 27/08/2018.”
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 Uruguay
Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet
Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).
Details and the official words
“Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”
“Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”
“01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”
PaperworkUruguay 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
MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.
“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.”
“Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
“Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”
“No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”
“Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”
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 destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
- If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.
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 Uruguay
Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet
Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).
Details and the official words
“Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”
“Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”
“01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”
PaperworkUruguay 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
MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.
“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.”
“Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
“Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”
“No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”
“Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”
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 destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
- If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Uruguay publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
MGAP official international veterinary certificate (CVI)Leaving Uruguay666 UYU
“Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP”
Solicitud de egreso de mascotas del Uruguay (MGAP, gub.uy trámites) · as of 2026-10-12
Professional stamp (timbre profesional, inciso A) on the accredited vet's certificate, 2026Leaving Uruguay650 UYU
“Timbre profesional para informe técnico, inciso A: 01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”
Solicitud de egreso de mascotas del Uruguay (MGAP, gub.uy trámites) · as of 2026-10-12
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: 1,316 UYU + 432 HKD (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Uruguay 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 Uruguay
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (dogs).
The trip back asks for 7 steps: dogs: microchip (ISO 11784, HDX or FDX-B), linked to the certificate, rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), dogs: negative leishmaniosis test within 60 days before entry and vet examination within 10 days before the certificate and more.
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (cats).
The trip back asks for 5 steps: rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), vet examination within 10 days before the certificate, internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before the certificate and international veterinary certificate (CVI) from the official authority 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)
- Solicitud de egreso de mascotas del Uruguay (MGAP, gub.uy trámites)
- Resolución N° 273/018 DGSG: control y certificación sanitaria de mascotas (microchip), MGAP
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Uruguay 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 Uruguay 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
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