Pet Shipping from the USA to Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a clear, permit-based system for bringing a pet from the United States, and because the continental US is treated as a Group II place, pets that meet the rules enter without quarantine and without a rabies blood titer test. Your pet needs a Special Permit issued in advance by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, an ISO microchip, and a current rabies vaccination. Pet Travel Advisors prepares the permit, coordinates the vet steps and documents, and arranges the crate and routing so the move stays organized and compliant.
Every Pet Travels
Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Because timelines, airline rules, and Hong Kong’s entry requirements all affect each other, we build a plan that fits your pet and your move date.
Destination-Focused Planning
We use Hong Kong's official AFCD import guidance as the baseline, then turn it into a simple checklist and timeline you can follow.
Smart Routing and Logistics
We help choose practical routes, travel windows, and handoff procedures so your pet’s trip is safer and more predictable.
Personalized Support
Pet Travel Advisors assigns a move coordinator who keeps you updated and checks details before travel so nothing important is missed.
Pet Shipping from the USA to Hong Kong
Moving a pet to Hong Kong is a permit-based process, and the steps depend on your pet and on the conditions set by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. The Special Permit has to be granted before you book travel, so we start it early. If you would like a simple overview of international moves first, start here. Bringing a pet the other way, into the United States? See our US import guide.
- confirm what applies to your pet and route
- map out a realistic timeline
- coordinate vet steps and paperwork
- support crate readiness and routing
confirm what applies to your pet and route
How Pet Shipping from the USA to Hong Kong Works
To keep everything clear, we break the process into steps:
Verify requirements and timing
We confirm what rules apply based on your pet and travel details.
Build your plan and timeline
We map out what happens when, so steps are completed in the right order.
Coordinate vet preparation
We help keep appointments and timing aligned with what’s required.
Review documents for consistency
We check the details that cause delays (microchip digits, dates, names, signatures).
Confirm crate readiness and routing
We help align crate setup and routing with airline handling expectations.
Travel and arrival processing
We guide you on travel-day handoff and what to expect on arrival.
We keep your checklist aligned with the official rules. For the US export side, we follow USDA APHIS guidance for US to Hong Kong travel. For the Hong Kong entry rules, we follow the AFCD guidance for Group II places.
Approved Routes and Entry into Hong Kong
Pets travel to Hong Kong as manifest cargo, or in cabin where an airline allows it, and the Special Permit must be granted before any travel is booked. We confirm the best practical route and make sure the permit and paperwork match the arrival plan.
- routing options can change based on airline availability and season
- we confirm the best practical route before booking
- we make sure your plan matches what’s expected at intake
Entry Requirements and Documentation for Hong Kong
Import Eligibility for Pets
Four dog types cannot be imported into Hong Kong at all: the Pit Bull Terrier, also known as the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Braziliero, along with any crossbreed of them. A Staffordshire Bull Terrier is allowed but travels with a statutory declaration confirming the breed. A dog or cat under five months old must not be imported, and neither may an animal more than four weeks pregnant.
Because the continental United States is a Group II place, pets that meet every requirement enter Hong Kong without quarantine. Pets are checked on arrival against their Special Permit, microchip, and paperwork, so we keep the documentation tight and the permit conditions fully met.
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether airline policies affect travel. Most moves are dogs and cats, though we handle other pets too, and the requirements can differ by species. Eligibility can come down to your pet’s type and health, airline rules for certain breeds or conditions, the documentation and timing, and which routes are available. Ready to start? Request a quote.
Health Preparation and Documentation
Your pet will need an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination, a valid Special Permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and supporting documents including an animal health certificate and the rabies vaccination certificate. A rabies blood titer test is not required for pets coming from a Group II place like the continental US. We line these steps up in the right order and check that microchip numbers, dates, names, and signatures all match across the paperwork.
| Requirement | Hong Kong, from the United States |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO microchip |
| Rabies vaccination | Current at the time of travel |
| Rabies titer | Not required from the continental United States, which Hong Kong treats as a Group II place |
| Import permit | Special Permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department |
| Health certificate | Animal health certificate plus the rabies vaccination certificate |
| Quarantine | None when every Special Permit condition is met |
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to Hong Kong
A move to Hong Kong is usually one of the quicker international routes once the Special Permit is in hand. A typical timeline runs like this: a consultation and an eligibility check, the microchip and rabies vaccination if needed, the Special Permit application (the department needs a few working days to issue it), then booking the route, getting the crate ready, the export health certificate, a document review, and travel.
Moving to mainland China instead? It is a separate set of rules, including a rabies titer, so start with our China page.
Taking a Dog or Cat to Hong Kong: What to Expect
Taking a dog or cat to Hong Kong turns on one document that the European routes do not have: the AFCD Special Permit, which has to be granted before your pet flies. With the permit in hand and the vet steps completed in order, pets arriving from the United States are not quarantined. The difficulty is the sequence rather than any single requirement, because the permit application depends on paperwork your vet has to complete first. The sections above walk through that order.
What does it cost to ship a pet from the USA to Hong Kong?
Costs depend on your pet’s size and crate, the route and airline, vet and document fees, and whether the move is door to door. The fastest way to get a real number is a quote based on your origin city and travel date. Request a quote here.
What are the requirements to bring a pet into Hong Kong from the USA?
Your pet needs a Special Permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and supporting documents such as an animal health certificate. Because the continental US is a Group II place, a rabies blood titer test is not required.
Does my pet have to go into quarantine in Hong Kong?
No. Pets arriving from the continental United States, a Group II place, enter Hong Kong without quarantine as long as every requirement is met and the Special Permit conditions are followed.
How long does the process take?
It is one of the quicker routes. The main lead time is the Special Permit, which the department issues in a few working days, so most moves come together within weeks once vaccinations are current.
Can any dog or cat qualify?
Most healthy dogs and cats qualify, though some breeds face restrictions. We check eligibility for your specific pet at the start.
How does Pet Travel Advisors help with a move to Hong Kong?
We prepare the Special Permit, coordinate the vet steps and documents, arrange a comfortable crate and routing, and stay with the move through arrival.
How do I take my dog to Hong Kong from the US?
Hong Kong adds a step the European routes do not have: an AFCD Special Permit, applied for before travel and issued against your pet microchip and vaccination record. With the permit granted and the vet steps done in order, pets arriving from the United States enter without quarantine.
Plan the permit first. The flight date has to sit inside its validity, so booking the flight before the permit is the way this route goes wrong.