How to Bring Your Pets to China

Each City has different regulations in China, however most cities allowed only one pet per adult passport. A “Z-visa” (official employment visa) is required if you import your pet as unaccompanied live animal air cargo. Pets also must undergo a 15-30 day quarantine at a special facility in China.

The following documents are required to clear health and quarantine:

Certificate of rabies vaccination for each pet, stating pet’s current rabies vaccination, vaccine’s manufacturer, batch number and expiration. The vaccination should be administered between 30 days prior to arrival in China and not more than 12 months prior to arrival. China does not recognize 2 and 3 year vaccines.

 Dog vaccination for kennel cough (Bordetella), canine distemper, parvovirus and coronavirus and cats for feline distemper, peritonitis and feline leucopenia are also required. An official certificate from your Government Office for exporting your pet outside of the country must be issued.

 China does not require pets to be microchipped with an ISO 11784. Nevertheless, microchips are an important in identifying your pets and guaranteed that you will be contacted should your pet be separated from you.

A health certificate prepared by your veterinarian in your current country 14 days of entry and stamped (endorsed), attesting to the health of your pet is also needed.

Pets traveling unaided as manifest cargo requires an Import Permit. The permit should be obtained by someone acting on behalf of the owner or an agent in China.

Check with local vet and government department in your country in getting the required documents mentioned above. Authenticated or Certified copies of Chinese translation of these documents will help upon arrival in China.

As of November 1, 2012, pets entering China at Beijing must undergo 7-30 days mandatory quarantine. The length of the quarantine period will depend on the rabies status of the country from which the pet is entering into China. Pets entering China at Shanghai will serve a minimum of 30 days of quarantine – 7 days at a government facility and the balance as home quarantine.

Pets entering to China via Beijing from the Philippines will require 30 days of quarantine.

Owners can checked in pets as baggage, in cabin or air cargo at International Airports in Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Guangzhou.

We advise to use services of a company that specializes in the entry process and enter China at a no-quarantine zone. Doing so may lessen the requirement for 7 days of quarantine.