Taiwan – Importing a Pet

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

Taiwan does accept imported domestic pets and has established itself as one of Asia’s more accommodating destinations for animal owners in recent years. That said, the rules vary depending on species and breed, and owners must review the relevant regulations thoroughly before committing to any travel plans.

When travelling as accompanied baggage with an arriving passenger, only dogs, cats, and rabbits are permitted. Any other live animals — whether parrots, reptiles, or other exotic species — must be shipped as cargo or unaccompanied baggage, and considerably more complex rules govern those imports.

The Ministry of Agriculture (formerly the Council of Agriculture) has prohibited both the breeding and importation of Pit Bull Terriers effective March 1, 2022. The American Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, and the American Staffordshire Terrier are all listed as breeds banned from importation into Taiwan. No exemption exists for these breeds, and owners should not assume any workaround is available.

Wolf hybrids, Savannah cats, and Bengal cats are subject to restrictions unless the animal is at least five generations removed from the wild ancestor in its pedigree. Bengal cats are not banned outright, but they are subject to additional scrutiny. If your cat is a hybrid breed, clarify its generation classification with your veterinarian and contact the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) before making any booking.

Owners should also determine whether their pet is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This consideration is particularly relevant for animals other than cats and dogs — for instance, turtles or parrots — as additional CITES permits will be required for those species.

Hares of the genus Lepus are not allowed into Taiwan. Domestic rabbits may be imported, but owners should confirm the applicable subspecies rules with APHIA directly prior to travelling.

What vaccinations and health requirements do pets need before entering Taiwan?

As a rabies-free country, Taiwan has designed its pet import framework with the primary aim of keeping that designation intact. Rabies vaccination and antibody testing requirements are therefore the most demanding elements of the process, regardless of which country your pet is travelling from.

All pets must be vaccinated against rabies, and only inactivated vaccines are accepted — modified live virus formulations, including certain USDA-approved products, will not be recognised by Taiwan. Dogs and cats must be at least 90 days old at the time of vaccination, and the vaccine must have been administered no fewer than 30 days and no more than one year before the date of shipment.

Pets that have spent the 180 days prior to importation entirely within one of the following recognised rabies-free countries or territories will be subject to a more straightforward import process: Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, Estonia, Japan, Norway (excluding the Svalbard Islands), Hawaii, Guam, or Singapore. All other pets are treated as originating from a rabies-affected area and must satisfy more stringent requirements.

Pets arriving from countries not on the rabies-free list must undergo a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT). This test must be performed at a laboratory approved by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) or designated by APHIA. A blood sample must be collected at least 90 days before arrival, and the result must demonstrate an antibody level of 0.5 IU/mL or higher. The test may not be carried out sooner than 30 days after the initial rabies vaccination.

While not currently mandated by Taiwan for import purposes, veterinary professionals also advise keeping pets current on other core vaccines. Recommended vaccinations for dogs include canine parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, and leptospirosis. For cats, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and rhinotracheitis vaccines are similarly recommended. These protect your pet’s health as it adjusts to a new environment.

All figures above reflect the position as of 2025. Because vaccination windows and testing standards are subject to revision, owners should always confirm the current requirements directly with APHIA before starting preparations.

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

Bringing a pet into Taiwan involves a sequence of interdependent steps that must be completed in the correct order and over a defined timeframe. Unlike destinations where a single veterinary health certificate suffices, Taiwan requires multiple documents that are linked to one another. If your pet is travelling from a country where rabies is present, begin the process at least six to nine months before your departure date.

1. Implant a microchip. Your pet must carry a microchip that meets ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. AVID 9 and AVID 10 microchips are also accepted. The chip must be implanted before any vaccinations are given. A licensed veterinarian should perform the procedure and issue written confirmation of the chip number.
2. Administer the rabies vaccination. Only an inactivated rabies vaccine is accepted. The vaccination must be given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival, and your pet must be at least 90 days old at the time. The vaccination certificate must explicitly state that an inactivated (killed) virus product was used, as this detail will be scrutinised during the documentation review.
3. Conduct the rabies titre test (where required). If your pet has not spent the six months prior to import in a recognised rabies-free country, a rabies titre test is mandatory. The blood sample must be drawn at a WOAH-approved or APHIA-designated laboratory, no earlier than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination, and at least 90 days before your arrival date. Results must show antibody levels of 0.5 IU/mL or above.
4. Apply for an import permit. An import permit must be obtained from the animal quarantine authority at the intended port of entry, with the application submitted at least 20 days before shipment. As of 2025, the permit is issued at no charge. Applications are submitted through APHIA’s online system at https://pet-epermit.aphia.gov.tw/. If your pet will require quarantine, you must also reserve a place at an approved facility at this stage.
5. Obtain an official export health certificate. Once vaccinations and titre testing are complete, a licensed veterinarian in your country of origin must issue a health certificate — written in either Chinese or English — within 10 days of entry into Taiwan. The certificate must then be officially endorsed by the veterinary authority of the exporting country. It must include your pet’s species, microchip number, and all other required identifying information.
6. Ensure consistent documentation. Cross-check all documents to confirm that the microchip number, pet details, and dates are identical across every form. Even a minor discrepancy between the import permit and the health certificate can result in your pet being detained or refused entry at the border.
7. Present documents on arrival. When you land at the port of entry, approach the local APHIA branch to apply for quarantine inspection and submit your import permit, original endorsed health certificate, and completed customs declaration form. Passengers carrying pets must pass through the red (goods to declare) channel during customs clearance.

Attempting to import a dog or cat without a fully compliant original veterinary certificate can lead to the animal being refused entry or destroyed. The severity of this outcome makes it essential that every step is followed precisely before travel commences.

Does Taiwan require pets to undergo quarantine on arrival?

Whether your pet must spend time in a quarantine facility — and for how long — depends primarily on the country from which it has travelled. Taiwan categorises origin countries as either rabies-free or rabies-affected, and the procedures that follow differ considerably between the two.

When a pet arrives from a recognised rabies-free country, the APHIA officer at the port of entry reviews the veterinary certificate and inspects the animal. If the documentation meets all requirements and the pet appears visibly healthy, an import veterinary certificate is issued and the animal is released. In principle, pets arriving from rabies-free countries can be cleared without a stay in a quarantine facility, provided their paperwork is entirely in order.

Pets originating from rabies-affected countries undergo a document check and physical inspection on arrival and are then quarantined for a minimum period. Taiwan offers a shortened seven-day quarantine for pets meeting certain health conditions, while animals that do not qualify for the shorter period face a 21-day stay. By comparison, countries such as Australia and New Zealand may impose quarantine periods of 10 days or longer even for compliant animals, making Taiwan’s approach broadly in line with regional norms for high-risk origin countries.

Owners arriving from rabies-affected countries have another option available to them: by extending the waiting period after the RNATT blood draw to 180 days or more before shipment, it may be possible to avoid the quarantine facility requirement on arrival altogether. Pet owners who cannot or do not wish to follow that timeline should plan for at least seven days of quarantine.

Taiwan has introduced a conditional pathway through which eligible dogs and cats can be released directly to their owners after the entry inspection, rather than being admitted to a government quarantine premises. This is not a relaxation of standards — it is a more demanding system in which fewer animals qualify, and only those owners who have planned meticulously and met all criteria in advance will be eligible.

According to APHIA, there is no mechanism for shortening a quarantine stay once it has begun. It is the owner’s responsibility to arrange transport to the designated quarantine facility. Public transport is not permitted for this journey; private cars, taxis, and hire vehicles are all acceptable. The transfer must take place under the supervision of an APHIA officer.

The Taipei Animal Quarantine Station serves as the principal quarantine facility in Taiwan. Quarantine can also be accommodated at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Center in Guanyin and at approved university veterinary facilities. Costs vary between facilities; contact the relevant premises directly for up-to-date fee information, as of 2025.

Is Taiwan part of any international pet travel scheme?

Taiwan does not participate in the EU Pet Travel Scheme or any equivalent multilateral arrangement recognised by bodies such as the European Commission or WOAH. No existing document from another country — including an official EU Pet Passport — serves as a substitute for Taiwan’s own import documentation package.

The phrase “pet passport” is sometimes used informally to describe the bundle of documents compiled to meet Taiwan’s import requirements for dogs or cats. This is not an official EU Pet Passport. The set of materials typically includes proof of microchipping, rabies and other vaccinations, rabies titre test results, an import permit, and a government-endorsed export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin.

Pet owners who are used to travelling within the EU — where a single standardised passport is accepted across dozens of countries — will find Taiwan’s system quite different. The most important practical distinction is that no document issued elsewhere replaces Taiwan’s own import permit, which must be applied for through APHIA specifically for each trip.

Some simplified procedures do exist in limited circumstances. For example, pets returning to Taiwan from recognised rabies-free countries within six months may be eligible for a streamlined re-import process. Check with APHIA for the rules applicable to your pet’s particular origin country, as these provisions can be updated.

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

Yes — registering your pet is a legal requirement in Taiwan, and the rules have been extended in recent years to cover cats alongside dogs. Expats moving to Taiwan should include registration on their post-arrival to-do list as a matter of priority.

Under rules that took effect on January 1, 2025, both dogs and domesticated cats must be microchipped and registered with the local authorities. Previously, this obligation applied only to dogs — a requirement that had been in place since August 1999. The extension to cats reflects the significant growth in cat ownership across Taiwan in recent years.

From January 1, 2026, cats are formally included in Taiwan’s compulsory pet registration framework. Cat owners who have not had their animals microchipped and registered by that date face fines of between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 under the Animal Protection Act — the same penalties that have long applied to dog owners.

To complete registration, owners must bring identification and their cat or dog to an animal protection agency, a public animal shelter, or an authorised pet registration station. After registering, owners are encouraged to verify that all stored information — particularly the microchip number and associated records — is accurate.

The registration fee at authorised stations is set at NT$250 for the microchip implantation procedure (as of 2024). Since most imported pets will already be chipped before arriving in Taiwan, the registration process primarily involves presenting the animal and its documentation at an approved local facility and enrolling the pet in Taiwan’s Pet Registration Information System. Confirm the current fee with your local animal protection office, as charges may differ between municipalities.

Registration supports the recovery of lost animals and assists with rescue, medical treatment, and disease monitoring through reliable identification. For expats who may eventually relocate again, keeping registration records up to date is also important, as this information will be needed when arranging the export process on departure from Taiwan.

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

Several practical matters beyond the core health and documentation requirements can have a meaningful impact on your travel plans, budget, and schedule.

Approved ports of entry. Pets must enter Taiwan through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport, Taichung Airport, or Kaohsiung Airport. Arriving via a port that lacks APHIA quarantine inspection facilities can cause serious delays. Confirm that your intended point of entry is fully staffed for animal inspection before finalising your route.

Customs clearance hours. A customs declaration form must be completed on arrival, and pets must clear customs at that time. Customs services for animals operate only during normal business hours, so arriving on a weekend or outside working hours may mean your pet is held until services resume. Factor this into your flight planning.

Crate sealing requirements. Unless you are travelling directly from a recognised rabies-free country, your pet’s crate must be sealed by government officials in the country of departure. If your route includes a transit stop, you will also need documentation from the airline or shipping company confirming that your pet did not leave the airport and was not in contact with other animals during the layover.

Airline and carrier policies. Airlines each set their own rules on whether pets may travel in the passenger cabin or must be transported as cargo or checked baggage, and these policies differ widely. Smaller animals may be permitted in-cabin on certain carriers flying to Taiwan; larger animals typically travel in the hold. Contact your airline directly and well in advance, as restrictions may apply on specific routes or during particular weather periods.

Customs duty exemptions. Passengers arriving with pets must declare them on the customs declaration form and proceed through the red channel. Each traveller is entitled to a NT$20,000 exemption covering personal and household items, including pets. Amounts exceeding this threshold may attract import duty. Consult Taiwan Customs for the latest duty thresholds before travelling.

Facility closures and seasonal suspensions. Taiwan’s government quarantine facilities periodically suspend admissions for cleaning and disinfection. These closures can affect when your pet is admitted, so allow at least four hours for customs clearance and check APHIA’s website for any scheduled suspension dates before booking your travel.

Number of pets. Taiwan does not specify a fixed limit on how many animals a single person may import, but anyone travelling with multiple pets should contact APHIA in advance to confirm permit requirements and check whether sufficient quarantine space is available, as capacity at facilities can be limited.

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

Because regulations, fees, and quarantine schedules change over time, it is vital to rely on official sources rather than third-party websites or online forums when making your preparations.

• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA), Ministry of Agriculture — APHIA is the principal authority governing animal quarantine and import permits in Taiwan. Its English-language website at www.aphia.gov.tw covers import requirements, approved laboratories, permit application forms, and quarantine facility details. The online system for submitting dog and cat import permit applications is at pet-epermit.aphia.gov.tw. This is the most authoritative source available and should always be your first point of reference.
• Taiwan Customs Administration — For guidance on declaring pets at the border, applicable duty exemptions, and clearance procedures at Taoyuan International Airport, visit web.customs.gov.tw. The Taipei Customs office also publishes dedicated information for passengers travelling with animals.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of China (Taiwan) — For broader animal welfare legislation, including the domestic registration requirements now covering both cats and dogs, the Ministry’s website at www.moa.gov.tw provides relevant laws and policy updates.
• Your origin country’s national veterinary authority — The authority in your home country responsible for endorsing export health certificates — for example, the USDA APHIS in the United States, the APHA in Great Britain, or the equivalent body in your jurisdiction — will supply the correct certificate template and explain the endorsement procedure. Always use the specific template required by Taiwan rather than a generic or state-level document.

Rules in this area are revised periodically — quarantine exemption pathways, facility suspension schedules, and breed restrictions have all been updated in the past several years. Always confirm current requirements directly with APHIA and your origin country’s veterinary authority well ahead of your travel date, and ideally at least six months in advance if your pet is coming from a country where rabies is present.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my pet arrives in Taiwan without the correct paperwork?

Bringing a dog or cat into Taiwan without a fully compliant original veterinary certificate can result in the animal being denied entry or destroyed. There is no opportunity to rectify missing documentation after arrival — both the import permit and the government-endorsed health certificate must be produced at the port of entry. If there is any uncertainty about whether your documents are complete, contact APHIA before boarding your flight.

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

For pets coming from countries where rabies is present, the process can take six months or longer. The inactivated rabies vaccination must be administered at least 180 days before departure, and a minimum of 180 days must elapse between the primary vaccination and shipment. The titre test blood draw follows, and the import permit application must be lodged at least 20 days before travel. Time must also be allowed for the health certificate endorsement and reserving quarantine space. For pets arriving from recognised rabies-free countries, the timeline is shorter — potentially two to three months — but thorough planning is still essential.

Are the rules different for cats versus dogs?

The fundamental import requirements — microchipping, inactivated rabies vaccination, endorsed health certificate, and import permit — apply equally to both dogs and cats. Both species must be at least 90 days old and vaccinated within the specified timeframe. The most significant recent development concerns domestic registration: cats became subject to mandatory registration alongside dogs from January 2025, with fines for non-compliance taking effect from January 2026. Current breed-specific bans focus on certain dog breeds, while some hybrid cat breeds face additional import conditions.

Can I bring a rescue animal into Taiwan?

Rescue animals are eligible for import into Taiwan, but they must satisfy the same health, vaccination, documentation, and microchipping requirements as any other pet. This can be challenging where vaccination history is incomplete or unknown. If a full vaccination and titre test record cannot be established, the animal may be subject to an extended quarantine period. Reach out to APHIA early and work with an accredited veterinarian in the country where the animal is currently located to compile a thorough and compliant medical history.

Is quarantine ever avoidable for pets coming from rabies-affected countries?

Yes, under certain conditions. If an owner satisfies the stricter eligibility criteria and submits all required materials sufficiently in advance, APHIA may approve an import pathway that does not require the animal to be held in a quarantine facility. To qualify for this exemption, the RNATT blood draw must have been completed at least 180 days before importation, and all documentation must be submitted and verified beforehand. The exemption is not granted automatically — eligibility must be established through the permit application process.

Does Taiwan accept pets in the cabin on flights?

In-cabin travel for pets is determined by individual airlines rather than Taiwanese regulations. Some carriers operating routes to Taiwan allow small animals in the cabin in an approved carrier; others require all pets to travel as checked baggage or air cargo. Contact your airline well before travel, as policies differ based on route, aircraft type, and animal size. Bear in mind that customs services for pets at Taiwan’s airports operate only during standard business hours, so the time of your arrival matters regardless of how your pet travels.

Do I need to register my pet with a local authority if I am only staying in Taiwan temporarily?

Taiwan’s mandatory pet registration provisions under the Animal Protection Act are directed at pet owners who are resident in Taiwan. The position for short-term visitors is less clear-cut, but all import documentation requirements apply upon arrival regardless of length of stay. If your stay extends or becomes permanent, registration at a local authorised facility becomes a legal obligation. Seek guidance from the animal protection office of the city or county in which you are residing for advice specific to your circumstances.

What approved laboratories can perform the rabies titre test?

APHIA maintains and publishes a list of laboratories approved to conduct rabies neutralising antibody tests for dogs and cats being imported into Taiwan. This list is available on the APHIA website and is updated from time to time. Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralisation (FAVN) tests are widely recommended because they are accepted by every country that requires this type of testing. Always verify that your chosen laboratory appears on APHIA’s current approved list before submitting a blood sample, as results from non-listed laboratories will not be accepted.

What should I do if my travel dates change after I receive an import permit?

The import permit specifies the approved dates for importation and, where applicable, the designated quarantine facility. If it becomes impossible to bring the animal into Taiwan within the validity window shown on the permit, an application for an extension should be submitted to APHIA — together with the original permit — within 30 days of the permit’s expiry date. Travelling outside the approved date range without first securing an extension risks the animal being refused entry at the border.