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China’s pet import regulations are governed by GACC Announcement No. 5 of 2019. The rules apply to dogs and cats travelling as accompanied pets and are non-negotiable. If your documentation isn’t completed correctly, then your furry friend must enter a 30 day quarantine at a government facility.
For UK pet owners, the core legal requirements are:
The microchip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination used for travel. If microchipping happened after vaccination, the vaccination record is invalid and a full course must be repeated.
The vaccine must be administered at least 30 days before the Export Health Certificate appointment date, and must remain valid at the time of arrival. Dogs must be at least 90 days old; cats at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.
This is the current UK Government-issued certificate for dogs and cats travelling to China. It must be issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) and is only valid for 10 days from the date of issue. For any questions about export health certificates, you can see our full guide here.
It’s also important to note that China enforces a strict one pet per passenger rule. Attempts to enter with two or more animals on one passport can result in immediate confiscation or repatriation of your pets.
In addition to a valid Export Health Certificate, pet owners are also required to provide a rabies vaccination certificate.
All documentation must list the same microchip number.
“Pet travel to China is a manageable process for most pet owners, as long as you plan ahead and start the process early.”
While there are no government regulations on whether your pet travels to China in cabin or in cargo, individual airlines have their own restrictions.
Before booking any flights, it is good to confirm with your airline:
This is where UK pet owners need to be especially careful. The UK’s designated-country status applies only to pets travelling directly to China. If your route involves transiting through another country, the rules become more complex.
The safest approach is a direct flight. If a layover is unavoidable, confirm the transit rules with the airline, the transit country’s authorities, and the Chinese importing authority (GACC) before booking. Make sure to start this process early, as approvals can take time.
Pets may only enter China through four authorised airports, all of which have GACC-approved quarantine facilities:
On arrival, GACC officers will verify all of your documentation. Once everything is confirmed as correct, your pet will be released immediately and you can continue your journey. If any of your documentation happens to be missing, then your pet enters a mandatory 30 day quarantine in a government facility at your expense.
Pet travel to China is a manageable process for most pet owners, as long as you plan ahead and start the process early. The 10-day EHC window, the pre-travel vaccination timing, and the transit country considerations all require careful sequencing.
At our practice in Kensington, both of our vets are qualified as Official Veterinarians. For any questions regarding your upcoming travel, get in touch with us or arrange a vet consultation today.
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