Moving Your Pet to Hong Kong
What the Process Actually Looks Like
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most active expat hubs, and a common destination for US professionals relocating in finance, law, and corporate roles. Getting a pet there is manageable — no titer test, no mandatory quarantine for compliant arrivals — but two requirements catch nearly every first-timer off guard: pets from the US must travel as manifested cargo (not excess baggage or in-cabin), and an import permit from Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) must be secured before your pet can depart.
Know those two things going in and the rest of the process is well-structured.
Moderate. The US is classified as a Group II country by Hong Kong, which removes the titer test requirement and puts compliant arrivals in a favorable position at entry. What makes the process notable is the combination of the advance import permit and the cargo-only travel requirement. Neither is complicated — but both require planning ahead, and the cargo rule in particular changes how you think about the logistics from the start.
Complexity level: Moderate
Recommended start time: 6–8 weeks minimum (longer if vaccines need updating)
Titer test required: No
Post-arrival quarantine: None for compliant documentation
Is Hong Kong Difficult for Pet Relocation?
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How Will Your Pet Travel?
One option only: manifested cargo. Hong Kong’s import rules for pets from Group II countries explicitly prohibit transport as excess baggage or hand-carried baggage. This is a fixed requirement — not airline-specific. Your pet travels as freight, on a cargo booking that may or may not be on the same flight as you, and Global Tails handles all of that logistics.
Manifest Cargo
Entry Point
All pets enter Hong Kong through HKG — Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok). AFCD maintains import inspection offices at multiple cargo terminals at HKG. Your pet will be inspected there on arrival before it can be released.
Step-by-Step: How Pet Relocation to Hong Kong Works
Step 1 — Apply for the AFCD Import Permit
Before your pet can travel, you need a Special Permit issued by AFCD (Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department). This permit must be in hand before departure — cargo cannot move without it.
The permit is applied for through AFCD and is valid for six months from the date of issue, so it can be secured well ahead of travel. Owners can apply online directly through AFCD, which keeps costs down. If you choose to engage a Hong Kong import agent, Global Tails will coordinate with them on your behalf.
AFCD contact for permit inquiries: Tel. (852) 2182 1001, Email: foii_airport@afcd.gov.hk, Mon–Fri 09:00–17:30 Hong Kong time.
Step 2 — Confirm Your Pet’s Age and Microchip
Age minimum: Pets under 5 months old cannot be imported to Hong Kong without restriction — pets under 5 months are subject to post-arrival quarantine until they reach 5 months, and pets under 60 days old cannot be imported at all.
Microchip: Your pet must have an ISO-standard microchip or an AVID-compatible chip that can be read by an AVID or other ISO-compatible reader. The microchip number must appear on the health certificate and must match the number scanned on arrival exactly. A mismatch makes the animal ineligible for import.
If your pet isn’t chipped yet, schedule this first.
Step 3 — Vaccinations
All vaccinations must fall within a specific validity window and must be documented with full details in the vaccination record.
Rabies: Not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year before export. For a primary (first-time) rabies vaccination, the pet must be at least 90 days old at time of vaccination. The complete rabies vaccination history must be attached to the health certificate.
Core vaccines: Not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year before export. - Dogs: canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus - Cats: feline panleukopenia (infectious enteritis) and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu)
Both the vaccination dates and the gap windows must be satisfied on the actual day of departure, not just the day of the vet exam. We check this at the start of every case.
Step 4 — Health Certificate and USDA Endorsement
A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the health certificate using USDA’s Hong Kong-specific template. The certificate must be issued within 14 days of departure and must apply to one animal only — each pet needs its own health certificate.
Digital APHIS endorsement via VEHCS is accepted for Hong Kong. Allow 3–5 business days for APHIS processing; APHIS operates Monday–Friday, 7am–4:30pm CT, excluding federal holidays.
AFCD strongly recommends submitting copies of all documents for prior screening before the shipment departs — by fax (852) 2769 8600 or email foii_airport@afcd.gov.hk. This is a free service that can prevent detention on arrival if there’s a documentation issue. We build this into the process.
Step 5 — Airline Captain’s Affidavit
An additional document unique to Hong Kong is the Airline Certificate (Captain’s Affidavit) — AFCD Form PC101. This must be completed by the captain, their delegate, or airline staff, and certifies that your pet traveled the entire journey without leaving its crate and without contact with any other animals. If the routing involved a connection, the form covers each leg separately.
Global Tails coordinates this document as part of the cargo booking process.
Step 6 — Advance Notification and Arrival
24 hours before arrival: The permittee or authorized agent must notify the AFCD Duty Officer at least 24 hours before the pet’s anticipated arrival. Contact: Tel. (852) 2182 1001, Email: foii_airport@afcd.gov.hk.
On arrival: AFCD officers at the cargo terminal inspect your pet and verify all documentation. The permit and all original certificates must be present. Your pet will not be released from Customs until AFCD has completed the inspection and issued an Authorization for Release. Global Tails’ receiving agent at HKG handles the arrival coordination.
Dogs 5 months and older: All dogs must obtain a Hong Kong Dog Licence on arrival, at the permittee’s expense. This requires an ISO-standard microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. A US dog moving through the standard process — properly chipped and vaccinated — will typically meet both conditions. If the existing microchip doesn’t meet HK standards, AFCD will implant a conforming chip on arrival.
What Documents Travel With Your Pet
AFCD Special Permit
Complete vaccination record (rabies + core vaccines — all within valid windows)
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USDA-endorsed health certificate — one per pet, issued within 14 days of departure
Airway Bill (AWB)
Common Questions
6–8 weeks is workable if your pet’s vaccines are current and within the valid windows. If any vaccines need to be given fresh, add at least 5 weeks to account for the 30-day rabies window. If it’s a primary rabies vaccination and your pet is young, also factor in the 90-day age requirement at time of vaccination.
The permit can be applied for well in advance since it’s valid for six months from issue.
Not for compliant arrivals. Hong Kong’s Group II classification for the US means that a compliant documentation package — valid permit, correct vaccination windows, complete health certificate — goes through inspection and receives an Authorization for Release without quarantine. Detention is a consequence of documentation problems, not a routine part of the process.
They can travel on the same cargo booking, but each pet requires its own health certificate, and the full vaccination certification must apply to each animal individually. The permit can cover multiple animals in a single consignment.
The following dog breeds are prohibited: Pit Bull Terrier (also known as American Staffordshire Terrier), Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Braziliero, and any crossbreeds of these four. Staffordshire Bull Terriers may be imported, but a statutory declaration attesting to the breed is required.
For cats: Bengal cats and crossbreeds cannot be imported unless documentation certifying 5th generation or above domestic ancestry is provided. Savannah cats are subject to different import conditions not covered by the standard Group II permit — contact us before booking if you’re moving a Savannah.
We coordinate health certificate scheduling, USDA endorsement, prior document screening with AFCD, cargo booking, and arrival coordination through our HKG receiving agent. Vaccination appointments happen at your local vet — we tell you exactly what to ask for and when. The Captain’s Affidavit is coordinated through the airline at the cargo level. The permit can be applied for online directly by the owner, which keeps costs down. If you choose to engage a Hong Kong import agent, we’ll coordinate with them on your behalf.
A Note on Timing
The cargo-only rule is the first thing to plan around. Unlike most US-origin routes where excess baggage is an option, Hong Kong requires manifested cargo — which means a separate cargo booking, its own timeline, and coordination with the cargo terminal rather than the passenger checkin counter. We handle that, but it’s important to build it into your planning from the start rather than treating it as an afterthought.
On the documentation side, the 14-day health certificate window is the tightest constraint. The vet exam, APHIS endorsement, and prior screening submission to AFCD all need to happen within approximately two weeks of departure — in that order. We plan the back half of the timeline around that sequence so nothing is rushed at the end.
Ready to Get Started?
Hong Kong moves work well when the permit and cargo booking are started early. The best first step is a conversation.
Requirements sourced from Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), pets.gov.hk, and AFCD Permit Terms DC-02v05 (revised June 2025). Last verified: July 2026. Requirements can change without notice — we verify current conditions for every case before proceeding.