Country entry guide · Asia
Traveling to China with your dog
Mainland China runs its own national pet-entry scheme through the General Administration of Customs (GACC) — it is not part of the EU system. Each traveller may bring only one dog (or one cat) per entry, and the dog needs an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an official quarantine and vaccination certificate from the exit country. The key question is where your dog is coming from: dogs from GACC-designated countries or regions, and dogs from other countries carrying a valid rabies antibody test, are released after an on-site check, while dogs without a valid antibody test face 30 days of isolation quarantine on arrival. This guide explains each path so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes — one pet per person per entry |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-designated origins, to avoid quarantine |
| Veterinary certificate | Required — official quarantine & vaccination certificate |
| Quarantine | 30 days unless exempt |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
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🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact procedure depends on three things — China (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — China★★★★★
China applies the GACC scheme: one pet per person, an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an official exit certificate are always required, and entry must be at a designated port.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
Whether your dog leaves from a GACC-designated country/region or a non-designated one decides whether a rabies antibody test is needed to avoid the 30-day isolation quarantine.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
A recent stay or transit in a non-designated country can change your dog's classification, so its real origin and travel history matter — not only the last airport.
So read the requirements below as China's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin and history with your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One pet per person | Required | Limited to one dog or one cat per person per entry; more is treated as a commercial import. | Multiple pets require a licensed agent and different rules. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. I |
| ISO microchip | Required | The pet must carry an electronic chip; an ISO 11784/11785 15-digit chip is the standard. | If the chip is not ISO-standard, bring a compatible scanner. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. I |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | Valid rabies vaccination attested by the exit country's official authority; China does not recognise multi-year vaccines. | Assistance dogs without a vaccination certificate may be vaccinated at a qualified institution on the carrier's application. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. I & III |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Non-designated origins: report from a GACC-designated laboratory with an antibody level above 0.5 IU/ml, to be exempt from the 30-day quarantine. | Not required from GACC-designated countries or regions. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. II(2) |
| Official quarantine & vaccination certificate | Required | Issued by the official animal quarantine authority of the exit country or region; identifies the pet and its microchip. | Missing or invalid certificates lead to return or disposal of the pet. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. I & III |
| Import permit / advance notification | Generally not required | No import permit for one accompanied pet on a short-term visa; unaccompanied or commercial imports have separate rules. | Some visa categories or agents may require additional documents. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5 |
| Designated port of entry | Required | Any pet that may need isolation must enter through a port equipped with isolation and quarantine facilities (list set by GACC). | Exempt pets may enter through other ports, but confirm the current GACC list. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. II & III |
| On-arrival quarantine | 30 days unless exempt | 30 days of isolation at a customs-designated facility (withholding period included), unless the pet qualifies for exemption. | Exempt: designated-country pets, or non-designated pets with a valid antibody test, that pass the on-site quarantine; also qualified assistance dogs. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. II |
| Assistance dogs (guide / hearing / search-and-rescue) | Special path | May be exempt from isolation with a valid microchip plus user and professional-training certificates, on passing on-site quarantine. | Assistance dogs without a vaccination certificate may be vaccinated on arrival on application. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5, Art. II(3) & III |
| Parasite (tick / tapeworm) treatment | Recommended, not mandatory | GACC does not mandate a tapeworm treatment; treating against ticks and worms before travel is good practice. | Confirm any additional treatments with your vet. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5 |
| Minimum age / puppies | Not specified | GACC's announcement sets no explicit minimum age; a valid rabies vaccination is nonetheless required. | Unknown — confirm with the destination customs district for very young puppies. | GACC Announcement [2019] No. 5 |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Designated country/region — no isolation
A dog coming from a GACC-designated country or region needs a valid electronic microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the official quarantine and vaccination certificate from the exit authority. No rabies antibody test is required: if the dog passes the on-site quarantine at the port, it is released without the 30-day isolation. The list of designated countries/regions is set by GACC and can change — verify it before you travel.
Non-designated + rabies antibody test
From a non-designated country, add a rabies antibody test: a report from a GACC-designated laboratory showing an antibody level above 0.5 IU/ml. With the microchip, valid rabies vaccination, official exit certificate and this test, and after passing the on-site quarantine, the dog is exempt from the 30-day isolation. Plan ahead: the blood test and its processing take time.
No valid antibody test — 30-day quarantine
A dog from a non-designated country without a valid rabies antibody test is placed in isolation quarantine for 30 days (withholding period included) at a customs-designated facility, and must enter through a port equipped with quarantine facilities. The owner bears all costs. If the quota, certificates or port conditions are not met, customs may return or dispose of the pet.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches China depends on its classification and your documents.
- Enter through a port with isolation and quarantine facilities if your dog may need quarantine; the list of such ports is published by GACC.
- Declare the pet to Customs (red channel) and present the microchip, rabies vaccination certificate, official quarantine certificate and, if applicable, the rabies antibody test report.
- Customs carries out an on-site quarantine check; dogs that qualify for exemption are released, others are held for 30 days of isolation.
- Only one dog or one cat per person is accepted; exceeding the quota triggers return or disposal of the extra pet.
- If certificates are missing or invalid, or the dog fails the on-site check, customs may return the pet within a set period or dispose of it — at the owner's expense.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
China sets no national breed ban for importing pet dogs — dogs and cats are admitted as pets under customs rules. However, many Chinese cities restrict large or so-called 'fierce' dogs locally, so a dog you may legally import can still be barred from being kept in a given city.
City-level bans: Beijing, for example, prohibits keeping dogs taller than about 35 cm at the shoulder in its central management districts and lists dozens of large breeds; Shanghai and Chengdu publish their own lists of restricted 'fierce' breeds (mastiff types, pit bull / Staffordshire types, Rottweiler and similar). These are local dog-keeping rules, not import rules.
These municipal lists vary from city to city and are updated periodically. Confirm the current rules with the local public-security bureau or dog-registration authority of your destination city before you travel.
A dog that clears customs may still be un-keepable in a particular city because of its breed or size. Always check the destination city's list, not only the national import scheme.
✈️ National airlines
Carriers registered in this country that accept dogs — see each airline's MyDogCanFly fiche.
🛂 Airports in China
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Only one dog (or one cat) per person for this trip
- ☐ISO microchip implanted and readable
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination (no multi-year vaccine)
- ☐Rabies antibody test ≥0.5 IU/ml from a GACC-designated lab — non-designated origins
- ☐Official quarantine & vaccination certificate from the exit country authority
- ☐Confirm your arrival port has isolation/quarantine facilities if needed
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option and IATA crate if in the hold
- ☐Check the destination city's restricted-breed and size rules