Pet Travel From the United States to China

Electronic Signature ACCEPTED; Original Ink Endorsement REQUIRED

For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Original ink endorsement REQUIRED

USDA-accredited veterinarians can electronically issue health certificates and use VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System) to submit them to USDA for endorsement.

USDA must ink-sign and emboss the health certificate.

Accredited Veterinarians: Use the links below to access or get help with VEHCS. Learn more about how to issue export health certificates.

Animal Owners/Shippers: You can arrange to have your health certificate returned by mail (a prepaid, preaddressed return label must be provided during certificate submission). The endorsed health certificate—ink-signed and embossed—must accompany the animal(s) during shipment or travel.

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

Carefully read ALL of the requirements related to your pet on this page.

• This page provides the most recent entry requirements and can change without notice.
• It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to make sure the pet has met all health requirements of the destination country before issuing a health certificate.
• Failure to meet the requirements may result in problems gaining certificate endorsement or difficulties upon arrival in the destination country.
• Health certificates must be legible, accurate, and complete.
  

***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.
  Step 3: Proof of rabies titer tests
  • 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

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

    Step 4: International Health Certificate
    • 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.
    Step 5: Documentation upon arrival
    • 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.

      Step 6 registering your pet upon arrival in China

      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.
      Pet Dogs and Cats for Entry into a Designated Port and Quarantine Required

      ***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

      Shanghai International Passenger Transport Center

      Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal

      Urumqi Diwopu International Airport

      Urumqi Airport Customs

      Guangzhou Baiyun Airport