China requires pets to have two lifetime rabies vaccinations, a rabies titer test from an approved laboratory, and health certificates endorsed by USDA APHIS. Pets meeting all requirements can avoid the 30-day quarantine at GACC-designated facilities. Each adult traveler may bring only one dog or cat per trip, and dogs must be registered with local police within one month.
Companies Listed
19
Quarantine
Yes (30 days)
Common Pets
dogs, cats
Requirements
8 documented
Key Import Requirements
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required (15-digit numeric code)
Two lifetime rabies vaccinations required
Rabies titer test showing at least 0.5 IU/mL from USDA/GACC-approved lab
Health certificate electronically endorsed by USDA APHIS via VEHCS
30-day quarantine if documentation requirements not fully met
Only one dog or cat per adult traveler per trip
Dogs must be registered with local police within 30 days of arrival
Pets from 19 designated countries/regions exempt from titer test
Import requirements by pet type
Requirements for relocating a pet to China vary significantly by species. Below are the rules for birds, horses, and exotic pets — dogs and cats are covered in the key requirements above.
Birds
Generally not permitted
China limits carried-in live animals to dogs and cats for the personal-pet channel. Pet birds fall outside this process and require a separate import permit and health certificate, with avian-influenza controls on affected regions. In practice, importing a pet bird as a private traveller is rarely permitted and is widely treated as not feasible.
Carried-in personal pets are limited to dogs and cats; birds are not covered by this process and need a separate import permit and health certificate
Birds from regions China considers affected by avian influenza face restrictions or prohibition
CITES permits required for any protected species
Anyone seeking to bring a bird should contact GACC (General Administration of Customs) and the Chinese embassy/consulate directly before making travel arrangements
Per APHIS, carried-in live animals to China are limited to dogs or cats, and owners of other species must contact GACC and the Chinese embassy/consulate before travelling. Specific permit numbers, fees and quarantine day-counts for private bird import are not publicly published; contact GACC and a licensed agent before any attempt.
Horses
Import permitted
Horses can be imported into China under bilateral GACC protocols. Requirements include a government-endorsed veterinary health certificate, extensive pre-export quarantine (around 30 days) with disease testing, parasite and leptospirosis treatment, and post-arrival quarantine. Conditions are negotiated country-by-country, so the exact protocol depends on the exporting nation.
Import handled under a bilateral protocol between China's GACC and the exporting country's veterinary authority
Health certificate digitally endorsed by the official veterinary authority (e.g. APHIS via VEHCS for US exports), with a printed copy accompanying the shipment
Pre-export quarantine (commonly around 30 days) at an approved premise with individual clinical examination
Laboratory testing for relevant equine diseases (e.g. African horse sickness, glanders, dourine, equine encephalomyelitides) with negative results
Treatment against internal/external parasites and leptospirosis during quarantine under supervision
Post-arrival quarantine per GACC requirements
Exact tests, quarantine lengths and treatments vary by the specific GACC bilateral protocol for each origin country; the ~30-day figure reflects published US/Australia protocols. Verify the current protocol for your origin country with GACC before planning.
Reptiles
Generally not permitted
China does not treat reptiles as standard personal pets. Carried-in live animals are limited to dogs and cats, so reptiles fall outside that channel and require an import permit, health certificate and CITES documentation for protected species. There is no clear private-traveller pathway, making reptile import effectively impractical for most owners.
Carried-in personal pets are limited to dogs and cats; reptiles are not covered by this process
Import permit and health certificate required for reptiles, handled through GACC
CITES permits required for any protected species (many reptiles and turtles are CITES-listed)
No published private-traveller pet pathway; anyone seeking to bring a reptile should contact GACC and the Chinese embassy/consulate before travelling
Per APHIS, carried-in live animals are limited to dogs or cats; reptiles need a separate import permit and health certificate and owners must contact GACC and the Chinese embassy/consulate before travel. No clear private-pet procedure, fees or quarantine day-counts are published. Treat as not feasible for typical pet relocation; consult GACC and a licensed agent before any attempt.
Pet-type requirements researched and last updated June 2026. Always confirm current rules with the destination’s government authority before booking — regulations change frequently.
How much does it cost to ship a pet to China?
Estimate the airline, crate, vet, and documentation costs for your move — with a full breakdown.
