Moving Your Pet to Hong Kong: 2026 Requirements for Dogs and Cats

Hong Kong is one of the most rewarding moves we handle, and one of the most exacting. The rules themselves are clear and well published. What catches families out is how little room there is for error. A microchip number that does not match the paperwork, a vaccination that falls a few days outside the window, or a flight booked before the permit arrives can leave your pet held at the airport, sent back to the United States, or placed in quarantine at your expense.

We have been handling both imports and exports for Hong Kong for years, so we see this move from both ends. Below is how the Hong Kong pet import process works in 2026 for dogs and cats relocating from the United States, with links to the official Hong Kong and USDA sources so you can confirm every detail.

 

A Brief Summary of Requirements Dogs and cats from the continental United States can enter Hong Kong without quarantine, provided every condition of the import permit is met. Your pet needs an AFCD Special Permit issued before you travel, a readable microchip, a rabies vaccination given between 30 days and 1 year before export, core vaccinations, at least 180 days of residence in the U.S. (or since birth), and a health certificate issued within 14 days of export and endorsed by USDA. Your pet must also fly to Hong Kong as manifested cargo, not in the cabin or as checked baggage, according to the AFCD permit terms.

 

Does my pet need to quarantine in Hong Kong?

Not if your pet is coming from the continental United States and everything is in order. The U.S. mainland is in Hong Kong’s Group II, and Group II dogs and cats may be exempted from quarantine subject to full compliance with the permit conditions, according to Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).

AFCD sorts origin countries into four groups based on rabies risk. It revised the grouping effective December 1, 2024, keeping Groups I and II unchanged, renaming the old Group III as Group IIIB, and creating a new Group IIIA. The Chinese Mainland was moved into Group IIIA on June 3, 2025. Here is how the groups compare:

Group	Examples	Quarantine on arrival
Group I	Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom	Normally exempt when permit terms are met
Group II	Continental USA, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, Republic of Korea, and others	Exempt with full compliance
Group IIIA	Chinese Mainland, Hungary, Lithuania, Macao, Malaysia, Thailand	Minimum 30 days, plus a rabies antibody test
Group IIIB	All countries not listed in Groups I, II, or IIIA	Minimum 120 days (the long-standing rule for the former Group III)

Sources: AFCD country groupings, AFCD Group IIIA requirements, and a 2017 Legislative Council reply confirming the minimum 120-day quarantine for what is now Group IIIB.

Important The quarantine exemption depends on full compliance. AFCD states that dogs and cats without proper documentation may be required to undertake a minimum of 4 months of quarantine at the owner’s expense or be returned to the country of origin. This is why we check every document against the permit terms before a pet ever leaves home.

 

What does Hong Kong require for dogs and cats coming from the U.S.?

All of the requirements below come from AFCD’s Permit Terms for the Importation of Dogs and Cats from Group II Countries (DC-02v05). Read them in order, because several depend on the one before.

1. Age and pregnancy. Dogs and cats must be at least 5 months old, and females cannot be more than 4 weeks pregnant.
2. Your pet needs a microchip that meets ISO or AVID standards and can be read by an AVID or ISO compatible reader. If the chip cannot be found or read on arrival, you (or your agent) must provide a reader, or your pet may be returned to the U.S. at your expense. The chip number on the health certificate must match the chip scanned in Hong Kong exactly, or your pet is ineligible for import. Our guide to microchips for international travel explains ISO chips and how to check yours.
3. Rabies vaccination. Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days and no more than 1 year before export. For a first (primary) vaccination, your pet must have been at least 90 days old when it was given.
4. Core vaccinations. Dogs need distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, and parvovirus vaccines. Cats need feline panleukopenia and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu) vaccines. These must be given at least 14 days and no more than 1 year before export.
5. Your pet must have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least 180 days before export, or since birth. The area within 10 km of your home must also have had no reported rabies cases in any species other than bats for at least 180 days.
6. AFCD Special Permit. Required before travel. We cover the application in the next section.
7. Animal health certificate. Issued no more than 14 days before export, covering one animal only, and signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian (USDA APHIS). AFCD’s form for this is the VC-DC2.
8. Airline certificate (captain’s affidavit). Form PC101, completed by the airline, confirming your pet traveled the entire journey without leaving its crate and without contact with other animals.

Watch the rabies window if your pet has a 3-year vaccine Many U.S. rabies vaccines are licensed for three years, but Hong Kong counts from the date the shot was given. A 3-year vaccine given 14 months ago is still valid in the U.S. but falls outside Hong Kong’s 1-year window. In that case, your pet needs a booster, and you must then wait at least 30 days before export. This is one of the most common timing problems we catch.

Which microchip should my pet have?

Although AFCD accepts ISO or AVID chips for entry, we recommend a standard 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 chip for dogs. Here is why: every dog 5 months or older is licensed on arrival in Hong Kong, and if the existing microchip does not comply with Hong Kong’s legal requirements for identifying dogs, a conforming microchip is implanted on arrival at the owner’s expense. An ISO chip placed before the rabies vaccination avoids a second chip and keeps your records clean for any future moves.

What if my pet has not lived in the U.S. for 180 days?

If you recently moved to the U.S. with your pet, the 180-day residence rule can be a problem. AFCD runs a Residence Certification Waiver Scheme that may apply depending on your pet’s history. The details vary case by case, so talk to us before you book anything.

 

How do I apply for a Hong Kong Special Permit for my pet?

The Special Permit is issued by AFCD, and it is the document everything else hangs on. According to AFCD’s Group II application procedure:

• Forms: Submit Form AF240 (the Special Permit application) and Form UN110 (declaration and authorization), plus a copy of your passport or Hong Kong ID.
• Fee: HK$432 for a single animal, plus HK$102 for each additional animal on the same permit and shipment. Overseas applicants must pay by bank draft in Hong Kong dollars drawn on a Hong Kong bank, or nominate a person or agent in Hong Kong to apply for them.
• Processing time: 5 working days from receipt of the complete application and fee.
• Validity: 6 months, for one shipment only. Extensions of 30 days are possible if you apply before the permit expires.
• Copies: You receive two carbon copies. Keep the original white copy to collect your pet on arrival. The airline may ask to see the yellow duplicate before accepting your pet.

 

Can my pet fly in the cabin to Hong Kong?

No. Under the Group II permit terms, dogs and cats must be transported to Hong Kong as manifested cargo. Travel as excess baggage or hand-carried baggage is not permitted. Your pet must also travel by the fastest and most direct route, and any stopover in a Group IIIA or IIIB country needs AFCD’s prior approval.

This surprises many families who have flown with a small pet in the cabin before. Airlines reflect the same rule; our guide to pets as carry-on luggage lists Hong Kong among the destinations where in-cabin pets are not accepted. For what cargo travel actually involves, see our guide to pet cargo and air freight.

Your pet’s crate must meet the current IATA Live Animals Regulations, which the permit terms require. Our guide to choosing an airline approved kennel walks through sizing and the details that get crates rejected at check-in.

Exception for Assistance dogs Hong Kong has a separate policy for Disability Assistance Dogs, which can travel in the cabin with prior AFCD approval. AFCD notes that emotional support dogs are not currently considered Disability Assistance Dogs, so they follow the standard cargo rules.

 

What happens when my pet arrives at Hong Kong International Airport?

AFCD must be notified at least 24 hours before your pet’s expected arrival, according to the permit terms. On arrival, AFCD staff check the documents and scan the microchip. Then:

• Dogs 5 months or older are licensed and vaccinated against rabies on the spot, with a license fee of HK$80. This is the Hong Kong dog license your dog will need for as long as it lives there.
• Dogs with a nonconforming microchip receive a new one at the owner’s expense before the license is issued.
• Pets that do not meet the permit terms can be held at the Airport Animal Hostel, quarantined, or returned to the U.S., all at the owner’s cost.

When the paperwork is right, this part is quick. Your pet is released, and you can head home together.

 

Which dog and cat breeds cannot enter Hong Kong?

Hong Kong prohibits the import of four fighting dog types listed in its Dangerous Dogs Regulation, and any crossbreeds of them, according to AFCD:

• Pit Bull Terrier (which Hong Kong law treats as also covering the American Staffordshire Terrier)
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier can be imported, but the application must include a statutory declaration confirming the breed. For cats, Bengals and Bengal crosses need documentation showing they are at least five generations removed from their wild ancestor, and the standard Group II permit terms do not apply to Savannah cats. If your pet is a breed AFCD might question, contact AFCD directly or ask us before you begin.

Snub-nosed breeds are not banned by Hong Kong, but many airlines restrict them in cargo. If you have a bulldog, pug, or Persian, read our guide to flying with snub-nosed breeds early in your planning.

 

How long does it take to move a pet to Hong Kong?

For a U.S. pet that already has a valid microchip, current vaccines, and more than 180 days of U.S. residence, the paperwork itself moves fairly quickly. The permit takes about a week, and the health certificate must be done within 14 days of export. The risk is in the details, so we recommend starting at least 8 weeks before your move. Here is a typical working timeline:

When	What happens
8+ weeks before	Confirm your pet’s age, breed eligibility, microchip, and residence history. Check that the rabies vaccine date will still be within 1 year on export day. Book a booster now if it will not.
6 to 8 weeks before	Apply for the AFCD Special Permit. Confirm the airline, routing, and an IATA-compliant crate.
After the permit arrives	Lock in the flight. Make sure core vaccines will be at least 14 days old on export day.
Within 14 days of export	USDA Accredited Veterinarian completes the health certificate; USDA APHIS endorses it.
At least 24 hours before arrival	Notify AFCD of the arrival time.
Arrival day	Document check and chip scan; dogs are licensed and vaccinated against rabies.

 

If your pet is moving from a Group IIIA country instead, plan for much longer. AFCD currently estimates a wait of about 3 months for dogs and 6 months for cats for a government quarantine space, on top of the rabies antibody test requirements. Our international pet relocation cost guide covers what drives the total price of a move like this.

 

How does the USDA health certificate work for Hong Kong?

Hong Kong uses its own health certificate rather than the generic APHIS 7001 form, so this is not a document your regular vet will have on file. The certificate must be issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 14 days of departure and then endorsed by USDA APHIS. According to the USDA APHIS Hong Kong page, for the “Pet Dogs and Cats, From Continental U.S.” certificate only, both the veterinarian’s digital signature and APHIS digital endorsement are accepted through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). That can save several days compared with mailed paperwork.

Pets traveling from Hawaii use a separate certificate, and Hawaii is in Hong Kong’s Group I rather than Group II. For the full endorsement process, including fees and timing, see our guide to getting a USDA endorsed health certificate.

 

What rules apply once you are living in Hong Kong with a pet?

Getting your pet into Hong Kong is the first half. Hong Kong also has clear rules for day-to-day pet ownership that are worth knowing before you choose where to live.

• Dog license renewal. A Hong Kong dog license is valid for 3 years, and your dog must be revaccinated against rabies each time it is renewed. Keeping a dog without a valid license carries a maximum fine of HK$10,000.
• Active enforcement. In June 2026, AFCD began regular license inspections at public places where dogs gather, scanning dogs for microchips and valid licenses, and stated that it will prosecute unlicensed keepers without prior warning.
• Leash rules. All dogs must be leashed or kept under control in public places. Dogs weighing 20 kg or more must be on a leash no longer than 2 meters in public, according to Family CLIC, a Hong Kong community legal information resource.
• Dogs have been banned in public housing since August 1, 2003. If you are renting privately, confirm pet permission in your lease and building rules before you sign.
• There is no license requirement for cats in Hong Kong, although microchipping is strongly recommended by AFCD and animal welfare groups.

If you are relocating to more than one destination, or want to compare how pet welfare rules differ around the world, our updated guide to international animal welfare laws covers the rules that most often affect relocating pets.

 

Why use a pet relocation service for a move to Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is a destination where the requirements are achievable but unforgiving. Every date has to line up, every certificate must match the microchip exactly, and the permit, the airline booking, and the USDA endorsement all have to happen in the right order. A single slip can mean months of quarantine or a return flight.

With an office in Hong Kong and more than 25 years of international pet relocation behind us, we manage both ends of the move: the permit application and payment in Hong Kong dollars, vaccine timing, the USDA health certificate, IATA-compliant crating, cargo booking on a direct routing, and arrival clearance. You can read more about how our international pet relocation service works, or see what a pet moving service actually does if you are weighing a do-it-yourself move.

 

Ready to plan your pet’s move to Hong Kong? Tell us about your pet, your travel dates, and where you are moving from, and we will map out every step. Request your free price quote and a Personal Move Counselor will be in touch.

 

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Frequently asked questions about moving a pet to Hong Kong

Is there quarantine for dogs and cats moving from the U.S. to Hong Kong?

No, as long as your pet is coming from the continental U.S. and fully meets AFCD’s permit terms. The continental U.S. is in Group II, which is exempt from quarantine with full compliance. Pets without proper documentation may face a minimum of 4 months of quarantine or be returned.

How much does the Hong Kong pet import permit cost?

The AFCD Special Permit costs HK$432 for one animal, plus HK$102 for each additional animal on the same permit and shipment. Dogs also pay an HK$80 license fee on arrival.

Can I bring my dog or cat to Hong Kong in the airplane cabin?

No. Hong Kong requires pets to arrive as manifested cargo. Excess baggage and hand-carried pets are not permitted. Only approved Disability Assistance Dogs may travel in the cabin, with prior AFCD approval.

Does Hong Kong require a rabies titer test for pets from the U.S.?

No. The Group II permit terms that apply to the continental U.S. do not list a rabies antibody (titer) test. A titer test is required for Group IIIA countries.

How far in advance should I start planning a pet move to Hong Kong?

We recommend starting at least 8 weeks before your move. That leaves time to fix a rabies vaccine that will fall outside the 1-year window, apply for the permit, and complete the USDA health certificate within 14 days of export.

Can my pet return to Hong Kong after leaving?

Yes, but pets that leave Hong Kong are subject to the same import and quarantine rules when they come back, and you need a new permit from AFCD in advance.

A note on changing requirements Hong Kong’s import rules, fees, and country groupings are updated from time to time, and AFCD reviews its list of countries on an ongoing basis. This guide reflects the requirements published by AFCD and USDA APHIS as of September 2026. Always confirm the current permit terms for your pet before you travel, or ask us to confirm them for you.

This article was originally published in August 2013 and was fully updated in September 2026 to reflect current AFCD permit terms, Hong Kong’s revised country groupings, and USDA APHIS digital endorsement for Hong Kong health certificates.