Bringing Pets from Mainland China to Hong Kong
In recent years, a growing number of pet owners have needed to arrange for their pets to return to Hong Kong from Mainland China due to work, lifestyle, or family considerations. Wherever you are located in the Chinese Mainland, if you plan to bring your beloved pet back to Hong Kong, you must follow the regulations of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and complete a series of documentation, vaccination, and quarantine procedures. Pet Travel is a Hong Kong–based professional pet relocation and pet travel company licensed under Hong Kong Travel Industry Authority Licence No. 354618, and the only service provider in Hong Kong that holds both IATA Travel Agent and IATA Cargo Agent certifications while specialising exclusively in pet matters (IATA Travel Agent: 13335836 | IATA Cargo Agent: 13303910001). We provide a full range of services for pets entering Hong Kong from Mainland China — from vaccination planning and document preparation to import permit applications, quarantine bookings, and inspection appointments — all handled seamlessly under one roof. If needed, please feel free to contact our specialists or enquire about a quotation directly via WhatsApp at +852 6358 3131.
The process of bringing a pet from Mainland China to Hong Kong is complex, and every step must be completed in the correct order and within the specified timeframe. Inexperienced pet owners can easily make mistakes; should any document contain errors or any vaccination fall outside the required window, the application may be rejected and, more importantly, the pet’s safety and health may be put at risk. Professional matters are best left to professionals. Below, we provide a detailed overview of the fees, requirements, quarantine policy, transport options, and frequently asked questions concerning pet travel from Mainland China to Hong Kong, to help you plan the most secure journey home for your pet.
Service Fees and Procedure for Bringing Pets from Mainland China to Hong Kong
Pet Travel’s fees for bringing pets from Mainland China to Hong Kong are clear and transparent, with no hidden charges. Our service fee is HK$8,800 for the first pet and HK$3,000 for each additional pet. The quotation covers the key requirements for pet immigration from Mainland China to Hong Kong, including: microchipping (ISO standard), rabies vaccination, combined vaccination, and arrangements for the blood test (conducted at a nearby clinic under our guidance; clinic fees are not included in the quotation); import permit application, quarantine reservation, and inspection reservation; transfer from Hong Kong land border control points to the quarantine centre (for arrivals by air, an additional HK$2,000 per trip applies); as well as Pet Travel’s service fee, documentation fee, communication fee, and freight booking fee.
The following items are not included in our quotation and are for your budgeting reference only: First, quarantine centre fees (choose one of two options): AFCD quarantine centre fees (30 days) — HK$90 per day for each dog (approximately HK$2,700) and HK$46 per day for each cat (approximately HK$1,380); or SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) quarantine fees (30 days) — HK$350 per day for each dog (estimated from HK$11,140) and HK$300 per day for each cat (estimated from HK$9,640). Second, the Mainland export health certificate (HK$3,000 if handled by a Mainland agent, or HK$1,500 for our remote guidance service). Third, local pick-up services from veterinary clinics, government offices, or airports (arrangeable upon request). Fourth, pre-departure boarding for your pet (arrangeable upon request). Fifth, domestic flights, transit fees, and transportation and handling charges (where no direct flight to Hong Kong is available). Sixth, transfer from the quarantine centre to your home (arrangeable upon request).
As for the procedure, bringing a pet from Mainland China to Hong Kong generally requires a minimum of 12 months’ advance notice for us to begin preparations, during which the pet must visit a clinic at least three times to complete procedures such as microchip implantation, vaccinations, and the blood test. If you are interested in engaging our services, please fill in our quotation request form and provide us with your pet’s travel details, and we will assist in preparing a personalised pet relocation plan.
Basic Requirements and Documentation for Pets Travelling from Mainland China to Hong Kong
Under Hong Kong regulations, Mainland China is classified as a Group IIIA country/territory, and pets arriving from Mainland China are therefore subject to 30 days of quarantine. Cats and dogs entering Hong Kong from the Mainland must meet the following requirements: regardless of whether they enter by land or by air, a companion person must enter and clear customs together with the pet; the pet must be microchipped (Microchip, ISO standard); the pet must have complete vaccination records, including rabies vaccination and combined vaccination; the pet must hold an official Mainland health certificate with endorsement (Pet Health Certificate); and the health certificate must be endorsed by the Hong Kong AFCD (AFCD endorsement for health certificate).
It should be noted that this scheme covers cats and dogs only. There is currently no legal channel for transporting pets other than cats and dogs from Mainland China, and we do not provide any illegal services. In addition, certain claims in the market suggest that routing a pet through a third territory can exempt it from quarantine — in fact, transshipment does not exempt a pet from quarantine. To qualify for entry under another country/territory’s group classification, the pet must have resided in an approved country or territory for at least 180 days. Please do not believe the false claims of unscrupulous operators, so as to avoid exposing your pet to unnecessary risk.
Document preparation is the stage where mistakes most commonly occur. The health certificate should state the pet’s name, microchip number, identity details, and vaccination records, and must be completed and issued by an official veterinarian or an authorised veterinarian. Pet Travel is thoroughly familiar with every document required for bringing pets from Mainland China to Hong Kong, as well as the time limits attached to each. We handle all the paperwork and liaise with the relevant entry departments and border authorities prior to departure, ensuring that all formalities are completed correctly and avoiding entry refusal or additional costs due to incomplete documentation.
Quarantine Policy and Inspection Arrangements for Pets Entering Hong Kong from Mainland China
As mentioned above, pets entering Hong Kong from Mainland China must comply with the quarantine requirements for Group IIIA countries/territories and undergo 30 days of quarantine upon arrival. There are two quarantine centre options: the AFCD quarantine centre, at HK$90 per day for dogs and HK$46 per day for cats; or the SPCA quarantine centre, at HK$350 per day for dogs and HK$300 per day for cats. The two options differ in cost and facilities, and owners may choose according to their budget and needs. After the quarantine period ends, we can also arrange, if required, a transfer service to bring your pet from the quarantine centre to your home.
Before a pet enters Hong Kong from Mainland China, an import permit must be obtained in advance, and quarantine and inspection reservations must be completed — all of which are covered by our services. As quarantine centre spaces are limited and both vaccinations and the blood test are subject to strict timing requirements (for example, a waiting period applies after rabies vaccination, and the blood test must be completed within a designated timeframe), we recommend that owners plan as early as possible and notify us at least 12 months in advance, so that our professional team can keep every milestone on track.
Pet Travel’s consulting team is composed of professional veterinarians, import–export specialists, pet transportation experts, and itinerary planning specialists. We maintain long-standing partnerships with well-known veterinary clinics whose experienced veterinarians are thoroughly familiar with every quarantine procedure required for pets entering Hong Kong from Mainland China, greatly reducing the risk of error and safeguarding your pet’s health. Throughout the entire service process, every pet receives care as if it were part of our own family — you can rest assured leaving your beloved companion in our hands.
Transport Options for Pets Travelling from Mainland China to Hong Kong: Land Border Control Points and Air Arrivals
There are two main forms of entry for transporting pets from Mainland China to Hong Kong. The first is entry by land: pets may fly from a Mainland city to Shenzhen and then enter Hong Kong via Shenzhen Bay Port by land — this option suits owners whose pets are located outside Guangdong Province; for pets located within Guangdong Province, land border crossing can be arranged directly. Our quotation already includes the transfer service from Hong Kong land border control points to the quarantine centre. The second option is entry by air: pets flying into Hong Kong must travel as cargo or on a private jet; for air arrivals, an additional transfer fee of HK$2,000 per trip applies.
Whichever option you choose for transporting your pet from Mainland China to Hong Kong, a companion person must enter and clear customs together with the cat or dog — this is a firm requirement. As for transportation safety, when a pet is transported as air cargo, it will not be placed together with other cargo; instead, it is accommodated in a dedicated live-animal compartment (commonly known as the pet cabin), which is temperature-controlled to ensure your pet does not get too cold or too hot. Each pet also has an individually partitioned space, ensuring ample ventilation. We provide IATA-approved pet crates and strictly comply with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR) to guarantee the safety of your pet’s journey.
Pet Travel operates a well-established logistics network and maintains close partnerships with a number of world-class airlines and private jet operators. If you would like your pet to enjoy a more comfortable journey, we also offer a Pet Private Jet service, with aircraft models including the Bombardier Global 6000, Challenger 850, Challenger 605, and Challenger 350, as well as the Gulfstream G650 ER, G550, and G450, providing point-to-point charter arrangements. We assign dedicated personnel to handle the entire customs clearance and boarding process, arranging the fastest possible itinerary for your pet and minimising transit time, all to deliver the most comfortable and seamless journey.
Two-Way Services — Taking Pets to Mainland China and Bringing Them Back: Frequently Asked Questions and Important Notes
In addition to assisting pets returning to Hong Kong from the Mainland, many clients also enquire about arrangements for taking pets to Mainland China. Pet Travel’s services cover the globe, and our land transportation solutions specialise in safe cross-border transfers to Macau and Mainland China. Whether you need to take your pet to the Mainland or arrange for your beloved companion to return to Hong Kong from the Mainland, we can tailor a suitable transport plan to your itinerary and needs. If you plan to take your pet to Mainland China and bring it back to Hong Kong at a later date, you should plan even earlier, as the return journey must likewise satisfy the Group IIIA quarantine and isolation requirements, with vaccination and documentation schedules closely interlinked — early preparation is the only way to avoid delays.
Frequently asked questions:
First, does my pet need a pet passport?
Neither Hong Kong nor Mainland China operates a pet passport scheme; pet passports apply only to pets originating from the United States, the United Kingdom, and EU countries. In Hong Kong and Mainland China, a pet health certificate is used instead, completed and issued by an official veterinarian or an authorised veterinarian for import and export formalities.
Second, how long does document preparation take?
For pet travel between Mainland China and Hong Kong, we recommend notifying us at least 12 months in advance; for general pet relocation services, notice of at least 1.5 to 3 months before departure is recommended, as time is needed to prepare import and export documents and to liaise with airlines and customs.
Third, can I handle the process myself?
Certainly — but if you are not familiar with pet import and export policies, any mistake could result in additional quarantine for your pet, or even refusal of entry, ultimately costing you more in both time and money. Through our service, you can save a great deal of time, stress, and worry; we handle all the paperwork, and pet relocation has been our specialised field for many years.
Whether it is taking a pet to Mainland China, bringing a pet back to Hong Kong from the Mainland, or follow-up care during quarantine after arrival, Pet Travel provides one-on-one professional service: a dedicated consultant will accompany each owner from the initial consultation all the way through to the final transport operation, keeping you regularly updated with the most direct and timely information about your pet. We understand that cost is not your only concern — your pet’s safety, comfort, and timeliness matter even more. If you are planning to transport a pet from Mainland China to Hong Kong, or have any questions about pets entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, please fill in our quotation request form, or contact our professional consultants directly via WhatsApp at +852 6358 3131 for a quotation for entry into Hong Kong from Mainland China. Pet Travel — professional, attentive, and offering excellent value — making pet immigration and travel easy for you, and bringing your beloved pet home to Hong Kong safely and smoothly.
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