Pet Travel From the United States to China

Last Modified: April 22, 2024
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Welcome! This page will guide you through the rules and requirements for traveling internationally with your pet.

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Before You Start the Process

Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

With help from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, you can learn more about your destination country's entry requirements for pets, including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments. We recommend creating a schedule to make sure you meet all requirements within the specified timeframe.

Gather This Information for Your USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

  • The type of pet traveling
  • The destination country
  • If applicable, countries where your pet will stop (for customs clearance or upon leaving the airport or seaport) on the way to the destination country
  • The date of departure from the United States
  • Whether the pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane
  • Note: If you're traveling with a pet bird or exotic animal, you may need to work with additional agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1.41 MB) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read These Resources

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

***IF A PET DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS BELOW, IT MUST ENTER THROUGH A DESIGNATED PORT (as outlined in the “Pet Dogs and Cats for Entry into a Designated Port and Quarantine Required” dropdown menu), OR IT WILL BE EUTHANIZED OR RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES.***

Effective May 1, 2019, China will allow entry of U.S. pets (dogs and cats) to enter through any port of arrival in China without a quarantine, ONLY IF ALL the following conditions are met.

  • Your pet must have been vaccinated at least TWICE in its lifetime, and be current on rabies vaccinations at the time of arrival in China.
  • An original copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate must accompany the APHIS-endorsed health certificate, and at the time of arrival in China will need to be provided to, and may be kept by, the Quarantine Officials.
  • Please travel with photocopies of your pet’s rabies vaccine certificate, as they may be requested.
  • Your pet must be individually identified by microchip.
  • Your pet should be implanted with an ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchip. ISO compliant microchips are 15 digits long.
    • If your pet does not have an ISO compliant microchip, you will need to travel with a microchip reader that can read your pet’s microchip.
  • Your pet must be accompanied by an original rabies titer test laboratory report which states the pet has an antibody titer of at least 0.5 IU/mL and this report must accompany the APHIS-endorsed health certificate, and at the time of arrival in China will need to be provided to, and may be kept by, the Quarantine Officials. 
  • Rabies testing must be performed at one of the following approved laboratories:
    • DoD Food Analysis & Diagnostic Laboratory
    • Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory
    • Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology Virology Laboratory
  • Testing must occur on the same day as, or any day after administration of the second rabies vaccination.
  • Rabies titer test sampling date, laboratory name and test results must be recorded on the health certificate, and are considered valid for up to one year after the sampling date, unless there has been no lapse in rabies vaccinations since the sampling date, and all rabies vaccinations subsequent to the sampling date are recorded in the “other vaccines, treatments, and/or test and results” section.

NOTE: Pets originating from Hawaii or Guam are exempt from the rabies titer testing requirement.

  • Only one (1) pet per traveler is allowed. The traveler’s name must be on the pet’s veterinary health certificate (Ex: Consignor’s Name) and match the name on the traveler’s passport. 
  • Each pet must have its own veterinary health certificate, and only one (1) pet may be listed per certificate.
  • Health certificates must be issued by your USDA accredited veterinarian within 14 days of arrival in China, and be endorsed by USDA-APHIS. 
  • Health certificates must contain all of the following information about the pet:
  1. Microchip number, date and location of implantation
  2. Date of birth or age
  3. Rabies vaccine information, including:
    • Type (inactive, modified or recombinant)
    • Date of administration
    • Date of vaccine validity expiration
    • Name of the vaccine administered
    • Name of the vaccine manufacturing company
  4. Rabies antibody titer test information, including:
    • Sample collection date
    • Name of laboratory used
    • Rabies titer test results 
  5. Attestation that the pet has undergone clinical examination and is free of signs of disease. 
  • Health certificates must be accompanied by an original copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate and the rabies titer laboratory report.  At the time of arrival in China, all three documents will need to be provided to, and may be kept by, the Quarantine Officials.

Health Certificate for Dog(s) - May 2019 (469.74 KB)
Health Certificate for Cat(s) - May 2019 (489.75 KB)

 
  • The pet's APHIS-endorsed health certificate must be accompanied by an original copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate and the rabies titer laboratory report. 
  • One photocopy of the traveler’s passport is required for each pet.
  • A digital photo of the pet printed on regular paper, and one photocopy, are also required.
    • For large dogs it is best to have something in the photo to help judge the size of the animal.

Upon arrival, you will need to take the pet, fees, and all documents to the General Administration of Customs of the Peoples Republic of China (GACC) office at the airport and these documents may be kept by the Quarantine Officials.

Dogs need to be registered with the local police of your place of residence within one month of arrival in China.

  • Contact the local police office for further information on registering your pet.
***UNLESS A PET CAN MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS ABOVE (as outlined in the “Pet Dogs and Cats for Entry into ANY Port and No Quarantine Required” dropdown menu), IT MUST ENTER THROUGH A DESIGNATED PORT, OR IT WILL BE EUTHANIZED OR RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES.***
Effective May 1, 2019, China will allow entry of U.S. pets (dogs and cats) to enter China through any port without a quarantine ONLY IF the pet has been vaccinated twice for rabies, is microchipped, and has a valid rabies titer (except for pets from Hawaii and Guam).

Any pet that cannot meet those requirements MUST enter China through one of the designated ports listed below, and will be required to complete a 30-day post-arrival quarantine: 

Port Name

Customs Name

Beijing Capital Airport

Capital Airport Customs

Beijing West Railway Station

Beijing West Railway Station Customs

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Hongqiao International Airport Customs

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Pudong International Airport Customs

Shanghai Railway Station

Station Customs

Shanghai International Passenger Transport Center

Pujiang Customs

Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal

Wusong Customs

Urumqi Diwopu International Airport

Urumqi Airport Customs

Alashankou

Alashankou Customs

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport

Guangzhou Customs

  • Your pet must be current on rabies vaccinations at the time of arrival in China.
  • An original copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate will need to be provided to, and may be kept by, the Quarantine Officials upon arrival in China.
  • Please travel with photocopies of your pet’s rabies vaccine certificate, as they may be requested.
  • Only one (1) pet per traveler is allowed. The traveler’s name must be on the pet’s veterinary health certificate (Ex: Consignor’s Name) and match the name on the traveler’s passport.           
  • Each pet must have its own veterinary health certificate, and only one (1) pet may be listed per certificate.
  • Health certificates must be issued by your USDA accredited veterinarian within 14 days of arrival in China, and be endorsed by USDA-APHIS. 
  • Health certificates must contain all of the following information about the pet:
  1. Date of birth or age
  2. Rabies vaccine information, including:
    • Type (inactive, modified or recombinant)
    • Date of administration
    • Date of vaccine validity expiration
    • Name of the vaccine administered
    • Name of the vaccine manufacturing company
  3. Attestation that the pet has undergone clinical examination and is free of signs of disease.

Health Certificate for Dog(s)- June 2019
Health Certificate for Cat(s)- June 2019

 
  • Chinese Customs needs to be notified of your pet’s arrival in advance of travel.
  • On arrival, you will need to take the pet, fees, and certificates to the General Administration of Customs of the Peoples Republic of China (GACC) office at the airport.
  • The pet is required to complete a 30-day quarantine in the GACC designated facility.
    • During quarantine, if clinical symptoms are observed, pets will be required to have an examination and undergo laboratory testing.
    • The pet will be released only after the pet is determined to be healthy and has passed the required testing.
    • Learn more about quarantine.


 

Dogs need to be registered with the local police of your place of residence within one month of arrival in China.

  • Contact the local police office for further information on registering your pet.

For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommend that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Country of Destination Contact Information

World Organisation for Animal Health: Members

U.S. Department of State: Foreign Embassies and Consulates

Important Travel Considerations

If you are transiting (passing through) the European Union:

If your pet is traveling through (transiting) a country in the European Union (EU) on the way to a third, non-EU country, you will also need a transit health certificate for your pet for the EU. The transit health certificate will be the same as if your pet’s final destination was the EU country. Use the information and steps above under “Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type” to determine which health certificate should be used. View a list of EU countries.

Considerations for airline travel:

Airlines and shipping lines have their own policies and requirements for transporting pets. Check with your airline or shipping representative to determine what requirements they may have.

View additional information for pet owners, airlines, and others about APHIS endorsement of international health certificates.


Will you be returning to the United States with your pet?

View the Requirements

ALERT: Read the CDC Notice of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States From Countries Classified as High Risk for Dog Rabies.

 

Information for Accredited Veterinarians

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For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Original ink endorsement REQUIRED

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Save Time and Money With VEHCS!

USDA-accredited veterinarians can submit health certificates for electronic signature through VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System).