Hong Kong
United States
Pet relocation from Hong Kong to the United States
For CDC, Hong Kong is not high-risk, so a dog needs only a microchip, the online Dog Import Form and to be at least 6 months old. USDA adds the real deadline: an AFCD screwworm inspection within 5 days before the flight.
At a glance
Rules on this page apply to: dogs and cats.
- CDC status
- Hong Kong is excluded from CDC's China high-risk entry.
- Dog age
- At least 6 months old on arrival in the US.
- CDC Dog Import Form
- Free online receipt; the only CDC document for a low-risk dog.
- Screwworm (USDA)
- Official vet inspection within 5 days before shipment, for dogs.
- AFCD booking
- Official examination booked at least 10 working days ahead.
- Cats
- No CDC rabies proof; the cat must appear healthy.
Who this guide is for
Owners moving a dog or cat from Hong Kong to the continental US: returning American expats, Hong Kong families emigrating or studying, and corporate transferees. Hawaii and Guam are covered briefly.
It assumes the pet has been only in Hong Kong, or other places CDC does not list as high-risk, during the past 6 months.
What we coordinate
- Checking your dog's age and 6-month travel history, and the CDC Dog Import Form.
- Booking AFCD's official veterinary examination so it lands inside the USDA 5-day window.
- Airline, mode, crate and the booking.
- Arrival at the US airport and ground transport through local partners where available.
Moving from Hong Kong to the US?
Get My Free Quote (opens the enquiry form in a new tab)Dogs versus cats
CDC's import rules apply to dogs only, and so does the USDA screwworm certificate rule for pet dogs. A cat entering the US needs no proof of rabies vaccination under CDC rules and no general health certificate, although a state or airline may require one.
So a cat's move is driven by the airline. A dog's move is driven by two timing rules: 6 months of age and the 5-day inspection.
How long it takes
AFCD asks for the official examination to be booked at least 10 working days before the inspection, and the inspection must fall within 5 days of the flight. In practice that means about three to four weeks from the decision to fly for an adult dog, if a suitable flight is available. This is our planning estimate, not an official figure.
Cats can often move faster, depending on the airline's own document requirements.
CDC rules for dogs from Hong Kong
CDC's high-risk list (dated April 15, 2026) includes "China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)". A dog that has been only in Hong Kong or other low-risk or rabies-free countries in the 6 months before arrival needs:
- to be at least 6 months old;
- a microchip detectable with a universal scanner;
- a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, free and online, for each dog;
- to appear healthy on arrival.
It can enter at any US airport. The receipt is valid for 6 months for entries from the same country, and becomes invalid if the dog visits a high-risk country.
If your dog spent time in mainland China within the past 6 months, it is a high-risk dog for CDC, with very different rules. Tell us its full travel history. See CDC dog import rules.
Microchip
CDC requires a chip that a universal scanner can detect. Hong Kong-licensed dogs already carry a chip; make sure the same number appears on the CDC form, the AFCD certificate and the airline booking.
Rabies vaccination
CDC does not ask for a rabies certificate from a low-risk dog. Keep the vaccine current anyway: AFCD's endorsement route asks for vaccination records and, for dogs, the dog license, and your US destination or airline may want proof.
Titer test
The continental US does not require a titer test for dogs or cats from Hong Kong. Hawaii does, as part of its own program (see state rules below).
Permits
No US import permit is needed for a pet dog or cat from Hong Kong. The CDC receipt is the advance step for dogs. AFCD advises checking whether the destination requires an import permit; the US does not, but Hawaii and Guam have their own procedures.
The screwworm certificate for dogs
USDA APHIS lists Hong Kong as affected by screwworm on its region health-status page (modified October 27, 2026); APHIS added it in a Federal Register notice of May 23, 2024, effective from June 8, 2022. Pet dogs from such regions need a certificate:
- signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of Hong Kong, meaning AFCD;
- stating the dog was inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment;
- and that it is free of screwworm, or was treated until free.
APHIS provides no template, so it can be part of an export health certificate. A private vet's certificate alone does not meet the rule. We confirm the wording AFCD will use for your dog.
AFCD certificates
AFCD offers two routes:
- Official Animal Health Certificate: a Government Veterinary Officer examines the animal. Book at least 10 working days ahead on 2150 7062; issued in two working days. This is the route we use for USDA's screwworm rule for dogs.
- Official endorsement of a certificate already issued by a registered vet (normally within 10 days before departure), with vaccination records and, for dogs, the dog license; one working day.
Applications are made in person at the Certification Desk, Counter 9, 5th Floor, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, Monday to Friday. Fees follow AFCD's published schedule.
Airlines
Hong Kong–US flights are long-haul, and carriers differ on cabin acceptance, checked pets, cargo-only policies, snub-nosed breeds and summer heat limits.
Airline policies change; we confirm the carrier, aircraft and mode for your pet before you book.
Cabin, checked baggage or cargo
Leaving Hong Kong, the mode depends on the airline, not on AFCD. Do not assume a cabin option exists on transpacific flights; for many pets, cargo is the only practical choice. Read about airline cargo.
Arrival in the US
Officials check the dog's CDC receipt and the screwworm certificate, and that the dog looks healthy.
APHIS does not list Hong Kong among regions free of foot-and-mouth disease, so we plan for its FMD steps for dogs: clean fur and bedding, a bath on arrival, and 5 days away from livestock. No document is required. See US airport arrivals.
Quarantine
No federal quarantine applies to a compliant low-risk dog or a healthy cat arriving in the continental US. Hawaii and Guam run their own programs.
State and territory rules
Hawaii: only the British Isles, Australia, Guam and New Zealand follow its exempt checklist. Pets from Hong Kong need two rabies vaccinations, a passing FAVN test from an approved lab, and documents at the Animal Quarantine Station at least 10 days before arrival to qualify for direct airport release; otherwise quarantine can last up to 120 days.
Guam and individual states have their own rules; we confirm them with the relevant state or territory veterinarian for your dates.
What drives the cost
- Airline or cargo charges, based on crate size and weight.
- AFCD's examination or endorsement fee, per its published schedule.
- Vet visits and crate.
- US-side transport, and Hawaii program fees if relevant.
We quote each move individually.
Mistakes we see most
- Booking the AFCD examination too late to get a slot inside the 5-day window.
- Relying on a private vet certificate for the screwworm statement.
- Forgetting a recent trip to mainland China, which changes the dog's CDC category.
- Flying a dog under 6 months old.
- Assuming a cabin seat is available on a transpacific flight.
Questions about this route
Is Hong Kong high-risk for dog rabies under CDC rules?
No. CDC's high-risk list names China but excludes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Why does my dog need a screwworm certificate?
APHIS lists Hong Kong as affected by screwworm. Dogs from listed regions need a government veterinarian's certificate of inspection within 5 days before shipment.
Can a private vet in Hong Kong sign the screwworm certificate?
The APHIS rule calls for a full-time salaried veterinary official. In Hong Kong that means AFCD, so we book AFCD's official examination.
What does my cat need?
CDC requires no rabies proof for cats, only that the cat appears healthy. The airline may ask for a health certificate.
How early should I book AFCD?
AFCD asks for at least 10 working days' notice for an official examination. We book as soon as the flight date is fixed.
Official sources
The requirements on this page come from these authorities.
- CDC — High-risk countries for dog rabies (dated April 15, 2026)
- CDC — Entry requirements for dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries
- CDC — Bringing a cat into the United States (August 22, 2025)
- USDA APHIS — Bring a pet dog into the United States (modified April 1, 2026)
- USDA APHIS — Animal health status of regions (modified October 27, 2026): Hong Kong listed under Screwworm
- Federal Register 89 FR 45626 (May 23, 2024) — Hong Kong added to the list of regions affected by screwworm
- AFCD (Hong Kong) — Animal health certificate for export (page dated 2026/10/07)
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture — Animal Quarantine
Requirements last verified against these sources on .
Requirements change. Before anything is booked, we confirm each one again with the authorities, the airline and your veterinarian for your pet and your dates.
Going the other way?
Other destinations
Moving from Hong Kong to the US?
Send us your dates and your pet's details. We will line up the AFCD examination, the CDC form and the flight.
Takes a few minutes. No account needed.