United States
Hong Kong
Pet relocation from the United States to Hong Kong
Hong Kong places the continental US in Group II: no titer test and no quarantine for a compliant pet, but an AFCD special permit in advance and one rule that shapes the whole move — pets must arrive as manifested cargo.
At a glance
Rules on this page apply to: dogs and cats.
- US classification
- Continental US and Guam: Group II. Hawaii: Group I.
- Special permit
- From AFCD before travel; HK$432 for one animal, valid 6 months.
- Transport
- Manifested cargo only; not as excess or hand-carried baggage.
- Minimum age
- No dogs or cats under 5 months old.
- Rabies vaccine
- 30 days to 1 year before export; no titer test in the permit terms.
- Health certificate
- Issued within 14 days of departure; one pet per certificate; USDA-endorsed.
Who this guide is for
Families and employees moving a dog or cat from the continental US to Hong Kong, including corporate transferees on a set start date. It also notes where Hawaii differs.
Hong Kong's rules for pets from the US are among the lighter ones in Asia on medical steps, and among the strictest on logistics. Most delays come from the cargo booking, not the vet.
What we coordinate
- The AFCD special permit application and its conditions.
- Vaccine timing with your veterinarian, the USDA certificate and its endorsement.
- A manifested-cargo booking with an airline that accepts live animals on your route, and an IATA-compliant crate.
- The 24-hour arrival notice to AFCD's airport office.
- Clearance, the dog license on arrival, and delivery through local partners where available.
Relocating to Hong Kong with a pet?
Get My Free Quote (opens the enquiry form in a new tab)Dogs and cats
Dogs and cats share the same permit terms: chip, rabies vaccine, core vaccines, residence and health certificates.
Breed rules differ. Hong Kong prohibits the import of the Pit Bull Terrier (also known as the American Staffordshire Terrier), Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro, and their crosses. A Staffordshire Bull Terrier needs a statutory declaration of breed. Bengal cats need proof of at least five generations of domestic ancestry, and Savannah cats are outside these permit terms.
How long it takes
For an adult pet with a current rabies vaccine, about three to six weeks is realistic: permit processing (AFCD says at least 3 working days, about 5 working days from receipt of the application and fee), the health certificate within 14 days of departure, and a cargo booking that can take longer than the paperwork.
If your pet needs a first or booster rabies vaccine, add at least 30 days. A puppy or kitten must be at least 5 months old on arrival. These are our planning estimates, not official figures.
Microchip
The chip must meet ISO or AVID standards and be readable by an AVID or other ISO-compatible reader. If AFCD cannot read it on arrival, you or your agent must supply a reader, or the animal may be returned. The chip number on the certificate must match the chip scanned; a mismatch makes the animal ineligible.
Rabies and other vaccines
- Rabies: not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year before export. For a primary vaccination, the animal must have been at least 90 days old.
- Dogs: distemper, infectious hepatitis and parvovirus, 14 days to 1 year before export.
- Cats: feline panleukopenia and feline respiratory disease complex, 14 days to 1 year before export.
A US three-year rabies vaccine given more than a year before export does not count. Plan a booster at least 30 days before departure.
Titer test
AFCD's Group II permit terms do not list a rabies antibody (titer) test, so pets from the continental US do not need one. Pets that lived elsewhere recently may fall under a different group; we check the 180-day residence history.
AFCD special permit
A special permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is required before the pet travels, and AFCD advises not to finalize travel until it is granted.
- Fee: HK$432 for one animal, plus HK$102 for each additional animal in the same shipment, paid with the application.
- Processing: at least 3 working days with complete information; AFCD also states about 5 working days from receipt of application and fee.
- Validity: 6 months, for a single consignment. A 30-day extension can be requested before expiry.
Certificates on arrival
Your pet arrives with these, in English or Chinese, each for a single animal:
- Animal health certificate, dated not more than 14 days before export: no signs of infectious disease, fit to travel, not more than 4 weeks pregnant, with the chip details.
- Residence certificate: resident in the US for at least 180 days or since birth, and no rabies cases (excluding bats) within 10 km of the residence for 180 days.
- Rabies and other vaccination certificates, with the records attached.
- Airline certificate (captain's affidavit): the animal stayed in its crate and, if transshipped, did not leave the cargo transshipment area.
APHIS uses a VEHCS certificate "Pet Dogs and Cats – From Continental U.S." for these attestations. It must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 14 days of departure, with only one pet per certificate.
USDA endorsement
Hong Kong requires a government veterinary signature or endorsement. APHIS endorses the certificate through VEHCS; for Hong Kong it can endorse digitally, and the endorsed certificate is printed and travels with the animal. Hawaii has its own certificate. See US pet export.
Airlines
Because AFCD requires manifested cargo, the question is which airline's cargo division accepts live animals on your route and season, and what crate and breed limits it applies. AFCD also asks for the fastest, most direct route, and prior approval for a stopover in a Group IIIA or IIIB country.
Airline policies change; we confirm the carrier, aircraft and routing for your pet.
Manifested cargo only
AFCD's permit terms are explicit: animals must arrive as manifested cargo. Transport as excess baggage or in the cabin as hand-carried baggage is not permitted. Your pet is booked on its own air waybill, whatever flight you take.
The crate must meet IATA Live Animals Regulations, with labels. See airline cargo and crate guidance.
Arrival at Hong Kong International Airport
AFCD's airport duty office must be notified during office hours at least 24 hours before the expected arrival. Officers check documents and the chip.
Dogs 5 months or older must obtain a Hong Kong dog license on arrival, which includes rabies vaccination and, if the existing chip does not meet Hong Kong's identification rules, a new chip, at the permittee's expense.
Quarantine
Dogs and cats that fully comply with the permit terms may be exempt from quarantine. A pet that does not comply may be returned or quarantined for a period set by AFCD's Senior Veterinary Officer; AFCD states that animals without proper documentation face at least 4 months of quarantine or return.
From Hawaii (Group I), the requirements and certificate are different. If a Hawaii pet is held on the US mainland before export, the continental certificate applies.
What drives the cost
- The AFCD permit fee (HK$432 for one animal, HK$102 for each additional animal).
- Cargo charges, driven by crate dimensions and weight, and handling at both ends.
- Vet visits, vaccine boosters and the APHIS endorsement fee.
- The Hong Kong dog license and on-arrival vaccination for dogs.
- Ground transport on each side.
We quote each move individually and do not publish averages.
Mistakes we see most
- Planning to check the pet in as baggage or carry it in the cabin.
- Booking flights before the permit is issued.
- A health certificate issued more than 14 days before departure.
- A three-year rabies vaccine older than one year.
- Forgetting the 24-hour arrival notice to AFCD.
- Bringing a dog or cat under 5 months old.
Questions about this route
Does Hong Kong require a rabies titer test for pets from the US?
Not for the continental US. It is in Group II, and AFCD's Group II permit terms do not include a titer test.
Will my pet be quarantined in Hong Kong?
A pet that fully complies with the permit terms may be exempt. Non-compliance can mean return, or quarantine of at least 4 months where documentation is missing.
Can my small dog fly in the cabin to Hong Kong?
No. AFCD requires dogs and cats from Group II places to arrive as manifested cargo; excess baggage and hand-carried transport are not permitted.
How long is the AFCD permit valid?
Six months, for one consignment. AFCD can extend it by 30 days if you apply before it expires.
We live in Hawaii. Is it different?
Yes. Hawaii is in Group I, with its own APHIS certificate and AFCD requirements. We check them with you before booking.
Official sources
The requirements on this page come from these authorities.
- AFCD (Hong Kong) — Import of dogs and cats (country groups; page dated 2026/09/15)
- AFCD — Import of dogs and cats from Group II countries/places (page dated 2026/09/08)
- AFCD — Permit terms for the importation of dogs and cats from Group II countries/places (DC-02v05)
- USDA APHIS — Pet travel from the United States to Hong Kong (modified July 22, 2026)
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
Relocating to Hong Kong with a pet?
Send us your move date and your pet's vaccine records. We will check the permit timing and the cargo options for your route.
Takes a few minutes. No account needed.