Hong Kong – Importing a Pet

Does Hong Kong allow pets to be imported, and are there restrictions on which animals are permitted?

Everyday companion animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, small pet mammals, and certain reptiles and birds may be brought into Hong Kong, provided they satisfy the applicable conditions. That said, the regulatory framework is considerably more detailed than in many other jurisdictions, and specific species, breeds, or categories may face outright bans or highly restrictive entry conditions.

Certain dog breeds are prohibited from being imported or transshipped into Hong Kong. These include fighting-type dogs such as the Pit Bull (also referred to as the American Staffordshire Terrier), the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Braziliero, as well as any crossbreeds of these types. Owners of Staffordshire Bull Terriers are required to submit a statutory declaration to Hong Kong authorities.

Bengal cats and Savannah cats are not permitted entry unless they are of the 5th generation or above and are accompanied by appropriate documentation confirming this lineage. The same generation threshold applies to wolf hybrids, which must be at least 5 generations removed from wild ancestry. These restrictions reflect the fact that such animals retain a degree of genetic closeness to wild species and may fall under wildlife conservation legislation.

Birds require both an import permit and a health certificate before they can enter Hong Kong, and certain countries are excluded from bird importation altogether — these include the US, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, Ivory Coast, and India. Hong Kong has additionally suspended the commercial, unaccompanied import of rodents and rabbits from all countries worldwide.

The movement of endangered species — whether alive or dead, in whole or in part — is governed by the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586). Any pet classified as a CITES-listed species will require a separate import licence obtained in advance from the AFCD for each individual shipment, in addition to the standard permit.

Dogs and cats entering Hong Kong must be at least five months old. Animals that are more than four months pregnant will not be permitted to enter.

What vaccinations and health requirements do pets need before entering Hong Kong?

Because Hong Kong is free of rabies, its pet import health requirements are detailed and must be followed precisely. Rather than applying a uniform rule such as a compulsory antibody titre test, Hong Kong’s system ties vaccination requirements to the country your pet is departing from, and the timing of those vaccinations must be carefully observed.

Dogs travelling to Hong Kong must have been vaccinated against canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus, and rabies. Cats must have received vaccinations against feline panleukopenia, feline respiratory disease complex, and rabies. For both species, these vaccinations must have been administered no fewer than 14 days and no more than one year before the date of entry into Hong Kong.

For pets arriving from Group I countries, rabies vaccination is not compulsory, though it is recommended. For pets coming from Group II or Group III countries, rabies vaccination is mandatory and must be given between 30 days and 12 months before the date of entry. No rabies vaccine may be administered before an animal reaches 90 days of age, and the vaccination must be given at the same time as, or after, the microchip is implanted.

Unlike entry requirements for countries such as Australia or Japan, a rabies antibody titre test is not required under any circumstances when importing a pet into Hong Kong. One notable exception applies to service or disability assistance dogs: these animals can qualify for quarantine exemption if a titre test was performed no sooner than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination and at least 6 months before arrival, with the test result remaining valid for one year. All other import conditions must still be fulfilled, and the dog must be certified as a service animal through the appropriate documentation.

Prior to entry, dogs and cats must also have been treated against ticks, tapeworm, nematodes, and cestodes. A veterinary health certificate is required, dated no more than 14 days before the animal’s departure. Crucially, this certificate must be endorsed by a government veterinary officer — it cannot be issued solely by a private veterinarian.

Requirements are subject to change. Always verify current vaccination timelines and health check requirements directly with the AFCD’s import of dogs and cats page before making travel arrangements.

What is the application process for importing a pet into Hong Kong, and what paperwork is required?

Under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Regulations (Cap. 139A) and the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) oversees the import of all animals through a permit system designed to protect Hong Kong from the introduction of animal diseases, including rabies. The process involves a series of steps that must be completed in the correct order, and owners should ideally begin preparations several months ahead of their planned travel date.

1. Identify your country group. Hong Kong assigns countries to one of four groups according to their rabies status. Group I comprises countries with no recorded rabies incidence — including Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom — and pets from these places are typically quarantine-free if all import conditions are satisfied. Group II covers countries with low or well-controlled rabies levels, and pets from these countries are similarly quarantine-exempt when conditions are met. Countries falling into Group IIIA or IIIB face mandatory quarantine periods upon arrival.
2. Microchip your pet. Before anything else, your dog, cat, or ferret must be fitted with either a 9- or 15-digit microchip. If the chip cannot be detected by a universal reader, you must travel with your own compatible scanner. The microchip must be implanted by a qualified veterinarian or trained veterinary nurse, and the chip number must appear consistently across all documentation.
3. Complete all required vaccinations. Administer the mandatory vaccinations within the timelines specified above. Where rabies vaccination is compulsory, it must be given at least 30 days and no more than 12 months before travel, and only after the microchip has been implanted.
4. Apply for a Special Permit. No dog or cat may be brought into Hong Kong without a Special Permit issued in advance by the AFCD. You will need to complete Form No. AF240/AF301 and submit this along with a copy of your passport or Hong Kong ID card, your pet’s vaccination records, date of birth, and microchip number. Applications can also be lodged through the Trade Single Window online platform.
5. Pay the permit fee. As of 2024, the fee for a single animal is HK$432. Where additional animals are included on the same permit for a single shipment, the fee is HK$102 per additional animal. Confirm current charges on the AFCD website before submitting your application.
6. Obtain an endorsed health certificate. No more than 14 days before your pet’s departure, a pre-export health examination must be carried out and the resulting health certificate endorsed by a government veterinary officer in your country of origin. The full set of documentation for entry into Hong Kong will include microchip confirmation, vaccination records, the import permit, residency certificates, a Captain’s Affidavit, and an internationally recognised health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian.
7. Notify AFCD ahead of arrival. You must inform AFCD Import and Export Officers at the airport of your pet’s precise arrival details at least 2 working days before the scheduled arrival.
8. Collect your pet on arrival. At Hong Kong International Airport, present your full documentation to AFCD Import Control Officers for clearance. Once a Shipment Release Form has been issued, present it to the relevant cargo handling agent’s supervisor and bring your pet to the AFCD offices for a health inspection and livestock clearance. Provided all permit conditions are met and documentation is complete, your pet will be released into your care.

The Special Permit remains valid for 6 months from the date of issue and applies to a single consignment of one cat or dog. As of 2024, processing takes a minimum of 3 working days, so applications should be submitted well before departure. Always confirm current processing times with the AFCD directly.

Does Hong Kong require pets to undergo quarantine on arrival?

Whether your pet is required to spend time in quarantine upon reaching Hong Kong depends entirely on the country from which it is travelling. The AFCD’s country group classification system determines the quarantine outcome, and the approach is more graduated than in destinations such as Australia, which applies mandatory quarantine universally regardless of origin. Hong Kong instead allows pets arriving from its lowest-risk groups to enter without any quarantine period at all.

Pets arriving from Group I countries — those with no recorded rabies — are generally exempt from quarantine, provided all other import conditions have been properly fulfilled. The same exemption extends to pets from Group II countries, where rabies incidence is low or effectively controlled, again subject to full compliance with all requirements.

With effect from 1 December 2024, Hong Kong revised its country groupings. Groups I and II remain unchanged. The former Group III was redesignated as Group IIIB, and a new Group IIIA was established with its own permit conditions and quarantine requirements. Pets arriving from Group IIIA countries are now subject to a mandatory 30-day quarantine, while those from Group IIIB countries face a mandatory 120-day quarantine period.

From 3 June 2025, mainland China has been placed within Group IIIA. Owners relocating from the mainland should therefore expect their pet to undergo a 30-day quarantine on arrival in Hong Kong. The AFCD website carries an up-to-date list of country group assignments, which is revised periodically and should be consulted before making any travel arrangements.

Quarantine periods can be extended at the AFCD’s discretion — for example, where an animal’s history is unclear or where clinical signs of illness are observed. Pets arriving without the required documentation may be placed in quarantine for a minimum of four months at the owner’s expense, compulsorily returned to their country of origin, or — in cases where neither option is feasible — euthanised. All associated costs fall to the importer. The importance of preparing thorough and accurate documentation cannot be overstated.

Is Hong Kong part of any international pet travel scheme?

Hong Kong has no involvement in any international pet travel or pet passport programme, whether the EU Pet Travel Scheme or any comparable regional initiative. Although the phrase “pet passport” sometimes appears informally when people discuss the collection of documents needed to enter Hong Kong, this should not be confused with the official EU Pet Passport, which is issued within the European Union for pets resident there.

What this means in practice is that no simplified or accelerated pathway exists for any owner, regardless of which country they are departing from. Whether your pet is travelling from a low-risk or high-risk rabies country, the same AFCD permit system applies in full. No reciprocal arrangement permits an EU-issued pet passport or any other foreign travel document to replace any element of Hong Kong’s own requirements.

The full documentation set required for entry into Hong Kong — comprising microchip proof, vaccination records, an import permit, residency certificates, a Captain’s Affidavit, and a health certificate endorsed by a government veterinarian in the country of origin — is sometimes referred to informally as a Hong Kong “pet passport.” Each component must, however, be obtained independently through the appropriate authority, and the entire package must satisfy the conditions set out in the AFCD’s Special Permit.

If your itinerary involves a transit through Hong Kong rather than final arrival, be aware that a transit permit is needed if your pet will be changing aircraft in Hong Kong or remaining in transit for more than 6 hours. Contact the AFCD in advance if transit forms part of your journey plan.

Do pet owners need to register or licence their pet after arriving in Hong Kong?

Yes — once your dog has passed through AFCD clearance and entered Hong Kong, there are ongoing legal obligations to meet. Cats are not currently subject to a separate licensing requirement in Hong Kong, but dogs fall under a mandatory licensing regime that owners must comply with promptly.

It is a legal offence in Hong Kong to keep a dog aged over 5 months without a valid licence. Owners are advised to apply for a licence at an AFCD licensing centre. The licensing process can conveniently be combined with rabies vaccination and microchipping, all of which can be carried out at AFCD licensing centres, registered private veterinary clinics, or through the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

The dog licensing process involves having the animal microchipped for identification purposes, vaccinated against rabies, and issued with both an A4-format paper licence and a collar tag. The licence remains valid for 3 years, after which time the dog must be revaccinated against rabies and the licence renewed.

Failure to obtain a licence for a dog over 5 months of age can result in a fine of up to HK$10,000 under the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A). Given this significant penalty, owners should attend to licensing without delay following their pet’s arrival.

In many cases, dogs arriving from overseas and aged over 5 months will have their first Hong Kong dog licence created on arrival at the airport’s cargo terminals by AFCD officers. It is worth confirming this with the AFCD when you notify them of your pet’s arrival details in advance.

Dog owners are also legally obliged to notify the AFCD within 5 days of any change in ownership or residential address. If you move home within Hong Kong after completing your initial registration, you must update your details promptly. The fee for dogs microchipped, vaccinated, and licensed by AFCD officers at their centres is HK$80 as of 2024, though fees at private veterinary practices will differ. Check with the AFCD or your chosen clinic for current charges.

Are there any additional rules or costs expats should be aware of when bringing a pet to Hong Kong?

Beyond the permit and vaccination requirements, a number of practical and financial factors deserve careful attention well before your travel date arrives.

Pets must travel as cargo. All animals imported into Hong Kong must be carried as manifested cargo. There is no provision for pets to travel in the cabin of an aircraft, regardless of their size or breed. This contrasts with many other destinations where small animals may fly in-cabin in an approved carrier. You will need to make cargo arrangements with your chosen airline and ensure that your pet’s travel crate complies with International Air Transport Association (IATA) live animal regulations.

The fastest and most direct routing is required. All animals must be transported to Hong Kong via the quickest, most direct route available. Itineraries involving unnecessary stopovers or extended indirect routing may not comply with permit conditions. Confirm your planned routing with both the AFCD and your airline before booking tickets.

One animal per health certificate. Each health certificate may list only a single animal. When importing more than one pet simultaneously, separate health certificates must be obtained for each, though they can be grouped under the same permit at a reduced additional fee per animal.

Designated entry points apply. Owners importing pets from mainland China are required to use one of three designated land border crossings: Shenzhen Bay, Lok Ma Chau, or Heung Yuen Wai, and must do so between 9am and 5pm. Pets arriving by air enter exclusively through Hong Kong International Airport, where AFCD officers are stationed in the cargo terminal area.

Quarantine and associated costs. For pets subject to the mandatory quarantine periods applicable to Group IIIA and IIIB countries, owners will be liable for the costs of housing, feeding, and caring for their animal throughout the quarantine stay. Health inspection fees are additionally charged for examinations conducted on arrival. For animals facing 30-day or 120-day quarantine periods, these expenses can accumulate to a considerable sum. Contact the AFCD directly for an up-to-date schedule of quarantine facility charges.

Residential restrictions. Before committing to a tenancy in Hong Kong, check whether your future home permits dogs. Hong Kong’s residential housing stock is characterised by compact apartments, and large or energetic breeds may not be well suited to confined living conditions or could create issues with neighbours. Many landlords and housing developments operate their own pet policies, so always clarify the terms of any prospective lease before signing.

Pet-friendly transport options. Since October 2024, a number of pet-friendly bus routes have been introduced to make weekend and holiday travel to pet-friendly destinations more accessible. Hong Kong has been progressively expanding its range of pet-friendly amenities, which will be welcome news for owners making the territory their long-term home.

Where can expats find official information about importing a pet into Hong Kong?

Given the frequency with which Hong Kong’s import requirements are updated — most recently illustrated by the December 2024 revision to country group classifications — it is vital to consult authoritative sources directly rather than relying on third-party guides or materials that may no longer reflect current rules.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) — the lead authority for all matters relating to pet imports, quarantine, and licensing. The AFCD’s dedicated import page at afcd.gov.hk provides comprehensive guidance on dogs and cats, with separate sections covering requirements for Groups I, II, IIIA, and IIIB countries. The AFCD also manages the online Trade Single Window for permit applications and handles all dog licensing. Their Import and Export Division is contactable by telephone and can also be visited in person at the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices.

AFCD Animal Management portal — pets.gov.hk covers dog licensing, microchipping, post-arrival vaccination requirements, and animal welfare information within Hong Kong. This is the most useful resource for understanding your ongoing legal obligations once your pet has cleared customs.

GovHK — Bringing Pets to Hong Kong — the official Hong Kong government portal at gov.hk offers a plain-English summary of the import process and links through to AFCD resources. It provides a helpful starting point for those new to the territory.

Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department — customs.gov.hk outlines the legal basis for controlled imports, including the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421) and the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance (Cap. 139), which form the legislative foundation of the entire pet import regime. Under the Rabies Ordinance, Cap. 421, no person may import into Hong Kong any animal, carcass, or animal product except under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Always verify all details — including current fees, country group assignments, and documentation requirements — directly with the AFCD before finalising any travel plans. Requirements for particular species, breeds, and countries are subject to revision.

Frequently asked questions about bringing a pet to Hong Kong

How long does the full process take from start to finish?

The overall timeline will depend on where your pet is coming from and whether its vaccination history is already current. Owners relocating from Group I or II countries can generally work through the process in six to eight weeks if vaccinations are already in order. If a fresh rabies vaccination is needed, a minimum of 30 days must elapse before travel to satisfy the valid window requirement. On top of this, allow time for health certificate endorsement — which must be issued within the 14 days before departure — and for permit processing. For pets subject to Group IIIA or IIIB quarantine, the 30- or 120-day quarantine period must be added to all pre-travel preparation time. It is advisable to begin the process at least three to six months before your intended departure date.

What happens if my pet arrives without the correct paperwork?

The consequences of incomplete or incorrect documentation are severe. Dogs and cats that arrive without proper paperwork may face a mandatory quarantine of at least four months at the owner’s expense, or be sent back to their country of origin. Where neither option is feasible, the animal may be euthanised, with all associated costs borne by the importer. No grace period or informal accommodation is available — every document must be in order before your pet sets foot on a plane.

Are the rules different for cats versus dogs?

In large part, the same rules govern both species: the country group classification, microchipping requirement, Special Permit application, and health certificate process all apply equally to dogs and cats. The distinction lies in the specific vaccines required — dogs must be covered for distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, while cats must be protected against feline panleukopenia and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu). Following arrival, dogs over 5 months of age must be licensed in Hong Kong, whereas cats are not currently subject to any equivalent licensing obligation under Hong Kong law.

Can I import a rescue animal into Hong Kong?

Rescue animals are eligible for import in principle, but they must satisfy exactly the same requirements as any other pet: microchipping, a verifiable vaccination history, an endorsed health certificate, and a Special Permit from the AFCD. The practical difficulty with rescue animals is that their previous medical and travel history is often incomplete or unverifiable, which may complicate documentation and potentially result in quarantine or additional veterinary scrutiny on arrival. If you have any doubt about whether a rescue animal’s records are adequate, contact the AFCD before proceeding.

Can my pet travel in the cabin with me on the flight to Hong Kong?

No. All dogs and cats must enter Hong Kong as manifested cargo — in-cabin travel and carriage as excess baggage are both prohibited, irrespective of the animal’s size. An exception exists for service and disability assistance dogs, for which special provisions may apply. If you travel with such an animal, contact the AFCD in advance, as a specific pathway exists — including a titre testing route — that may allow quarantine to be avoided.

Does my permit cover multiple animals?

Each Special Permit covers a single cat or dog and is valid for 6 months. If you are importing additional animals in the same shipment, they can be added to the same permit at a fee of HK$102 per additional animal as of 2024. Each animal will, however, require its own individual health certificate. If your animals are travelling on separate flights or at different times, each shipment will require its own permit application.

Do the same rules apply if I take my Hong Kong pet abroad and bring it back?

Yes. Animals that have left Hong Kong are treated as imports when they return, and the same permit and quarantine conditions apply. A Special Permit or Import Permit must be obtained from the AFCD before your pet re-enters Hong Kong, regardless of whether it was born and raised there. If you are travelling temporarily with your pet, plan the return journey as carefully as the outward one.

Are there any restrictions on how many pets I can bring to Hong Kong?

Hong Kong does not impose a specific numerical limit on the number of pets an individual owner may import, but every animal must have its own Special Permit, health certificate, and full compliance with all import conditions. Owners bringing animals for commercial or trading purposes — as opposed to keeping them as personal pets — must additionally hold an Animal Trader Licence obtained separately from the AFCD. If you intend to import a significant number of animals at once, contact the AFCD’s Import and Export Division directly, as additional scrutiny may apply.