Published in 2025 / Updated in 2026
The list of documents required to bring a pet into Hong Kong depends on which group of countries your country belongs to, from which you are travelling with your pet.
There are 4 groups of countries:
| Group | Countries |
| I | Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Bailiwick of Jersey |
| II | Austria, Bahrain ,Bermuda, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Guam, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Vanuatu, Bahamas, Belgium, Brunei, Cayman Islands, Denmark, France, Gibraltar, Iceland, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Netherlands, United States (Continental), Virgin Islands |
| III A | Hungary, Lithuania, Macau SAR, Mainland China, Malaysia |
| III B | Other countries/places that are not included in the categories of Group I, Group II and Group IIIA |
Step-by-step instructions for those entering Hong Kong from Group I countries
Dogs and cats imported directly from Group I countries/places are generally exempt from quarantine provided the conditions of the permit are fully complied with.
Documents for group I:
- Permit Terms DC-01V05
- Forms of Animal Health Certificate – VC-DC1 (Sample Document)
- Airline Certificate (Captain’s Affidavit) – PC101 (Sample Document)
1. Apply for an Import Permit
2. Please attach a copy of the applicant’s passport.
Require at least 3 working days to process the application (Not include application day and dispatch day)
3. Pay the application fee – $43.00
The import permit is valid for 6 months.
4. Install a chip for your pet
5. Get Vaccinated
Not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year prior to export to Hong Kong
Dogs – Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus
Cats – Feline Panleucopaenia (Infectious Enteritis) and Feline Respiratory
Disease Complex (Cat Flu)
6. Prepare Animal Health Certificate and Residence Certificate, issued not more than 14 days before export
7. Submit copies of documents to Airport Office for checking
8. Notify Duty Officer of the Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before the anticipated time of arrival
9. Transport the animal to Hong Kong as Manifested Cargo and Prepare Airline Certificate (Captain’s Affidavit)
Step-by-step instructions for those entering Hong Kong from Group II countries
The procedure for processing documents is the same as in Group I. If everything is in order, the pet can be brought in without quarantine.
Documents for group II:
- Permit Terms DC-02v05
- Forms of Animal Health Certificate – VC-DC2 (Sample Document)
- Airline Certificate (Captain’s Affidavit) – PC101 (Sample Document)
1. Apply for an Import Permit
2. Please attach a copy of the applicant’s passport.
Require at least 3 working days to process the application (Not include application day and dispatch day)
3. Pay the application fee – $43.00
The import permit is valid for 6 months.
4. Install a chip for your pet
5. Get Vaccinated
Not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year prior to export to Hong Kong
Dogs – Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus
Cats – Feline Panleucopaenia (Infectious Enteritis) and Feline Respiratory
Disease Complex (Cat Flu)
6. Prepare Animal Health Certificate and Residence Certificate, issued not more than 14 days before export
7. Submit copies of documents to Airport Office for checking
8. Notify Duty Officer of the Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before the anticipated time of arrival
9. Transport the animal to Hong Kong as Manifested Cargo and Prepare Airline Certificate (Captain’s Affidavit)
Step-by-step instructions for those entering Hong Kong from Group III A countries
Documents for group III A:
- Permit Terms DC-06V02 Submit the application documents by email: icsenquiry@afcd.gov.hk
- Forms of Animal Health Certificate – VC-DC3A (Sample Document)
- Quarantine Period – Minimum of 30 days
- Quarantine facilities booking PC100
1. Microchip implantation prior to rabies vaccination and blood sampling.
2. Anti-rabies vaccination. Your dog/cat must be vaccinated against rabies using either an inactivated or recombinant anti-rabies vaccine not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.
3. Vaccination against other diseases. Your dog/cat must have full vaccination against canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and canine parvovirus (for dogs) and against feline panleucopaenia and feline respiratory disease complex (for cats) not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year prior to export.
4. Obtain satisfactory Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titer Test (RNATT) result. Your dog/cat must undergo a RNATT on a blood sample collected not less than 90 days and not more than 1 year prior to export. In the case of primary anti-rabies vaccination, at least 30 days must elapse between the date of vaccination and the date of blood sampling.
5. Testing must be conducted at a laboratory approved by AFCD using FAVN or RFFIT method with a result of at least 0.5iu/ml. For a list of recognised laboratories. Microchip number of your dog/cat must appear on the lab report.
6. Reserve quarantine facility.
7. And only after that you can apply for an import permit.
Please provide the following documents along with your application:
- Application Form
- Booking of Quarantine Facility for Imported Dogs and Cats (Form No. PC100)
- Copy of vaccination record (rabies and other diseases)
- RNATT lab report
- Copy of HKID/passport
8. After making application and obtaining a reference number from AFCD, your dog/cat will be on the waiting list for a quarantine space in the government Animal Management Centre.
The estimated waiting time for AFCD quarantine facility is 6 to 9 months for dogs and 12 to 15 months for cats at present. Please note that while you are waiting in line for quarantine, the import permit (6 months) may expire. And you will have to go through the entire procedure of vaccination and blood donation for rabies antibodies again. If after this you still want to import your pet to Hong Kong, then read on, because there is more.
9. You should arrange appropriate transportation so that your dog/cat is transported by the fastest and most direct route to Hong Kong.
10. Obtain an animal health certificate. The animal health certificate must be issued not more than 7 days prior to export.
11. Notify AFCD at least 24 hours before your dog/cat’s anticipated arrival time in Hong Kong.
12. Arrival at Hong Kong border:
- Original Import/Special Permit issued by AFCD.
- Original vaccination record (rabies and other diseases).
- Original RNATT report.
- Original veterinary health certificate
Applicant is responsible for arranging transportation of the animal from the border to the quarantine facility. AFCD staff will escort the animal during the transportation.
Step-by-step instructions for those entering Hong Kong from Group III B countries
Documents for group III B:
- Permit Terms DC-03V04 Submit the application documents by email: icsenquiry@afcd.gov.hk
- Forms of Animal Health Certificate – VC-DC3B (Sample Document)
- Quarantine Period minimum of 120 days
- Quarantine facilities booking PC100
All steps are the same as in group III A. The only difference is the quarantine period for pets, it has been increased from 30 days to 120 days. Please note that the queue for the quarantine center is approximately 12-15 months. Keep this in mind when planning a trip with a pet.
The import permit fee for one animal is US$43.
The pet’s stay in the quarantine center is at the owner’s expense.
Оther pets
The following breeds of dogs are prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong:
- Dogo Argentino
- Staffordshire Terrier (Pit Bull Terrier)
- Tosa Inu
- Fila Brasileiro
Bengal cats should not be imported/transferred unless documentation certifies that the cat is fifth or more generations old.
Leave a Reply