Destination: Hong Kong

Pet Travel to Hong Kong – What You Need to Know

Hong Kong’s pet import rules are managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). The UK is classed as a Group I origin, which is helpful because dogs and cats imported direct from Group I countries/places are normally exempt from quarantine – as long as every requirement and document is correct.

1) Import permit and pre-approval

Before any travel is booked, your pet must have an AFCD Special Permit in place. AFCD advises you not to make final travel arrangements until the permit has been granted. Processing time is typically at least 5 working days, and permits are normally valid for 6 months for one consignment. If you want 2 names on the permit, then it has to be couriered to the UK so takes long.

2) Quarantine rules (and when it can still happen)

For UK exports (Group I), quarantine is usually not required if fully compliant. However, AFCD warns that animals without proper documentation may be required to undertake a minimum 4-month quarantine (or be returned) at the owner’s expense.

3) Travel method – cargo rules matter

AFCD Group I permit terms specify that pets must travel as manifested cargo. Excess baggage or hand-carried baggage is not permitted. They also require the fastest and most direct route, and prior approval is needed if routing includes a stopover in certain country groups.

4) Microchipping and identification

Your pet must be microchipped with an ISO- or AVID-compliant chip readable by an appropriate scanner. If the chip cannot be found or read on arrival, AFCD may require the pet to be returned at the permittee’s expense.

5) Health certificate, residency certificate, vaccination certificate

AFCD’s Group I permit terms require your pet to arrive with certificates (in English or Chinese) including:

• Animal Health Certificate dated not more than 14 days before export, confirming your pet is fit to travel and free from clinical signs of infectious/contagious disease (and pregnancy limits for females).
• Residence Certificate confirming continuous residence in the country/place of origin for 180 days prior to export (or since birth), or since direct import from Hong Kong.
• Vaccination Certificate (core vaccines) given not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year prior to export:
  – Dogs: distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, parvovirus
  – Cats: panleucopaenia and feline respiratory disease complex

From the UK side, DEFRA/APHA provides an Export Health Certificate route for cats and dogs to Hong Kong (EHC 3472).

6) Age limits and breed restrictions

AFCD permit terms state dogs and cats less than 60 days old (and females more than 4 weeks pregnant) must not be imported. Hong Kong also restricts import/transhipment of certain fighting dog types (and crossbreeds), and has special requirements for Bengal cats (generation documentation).

7) Travel cabins and welfare standards

Your pet’s travel cabin must meet the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) standard used across airlines for humane and safe transport.

This is exactly where PetAir UK shines – we handle the permits, documentation timelines, veterinary checks, travel cabin compliance, routing approvals, airline liaison, and day-of-travel coordination so nothing is left to chance.