Country entry guide · Asia
Traveling to Hong Kong with your dog
Hong Kong welcomes dogs, but every dog needs a Special Permit issued in advance by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) before it can be brought in — no permit, no entry. What else you must prepare depends mainly on where your dog is coming from. AFCD sorts countries and places into groups by rabies risk: Group I (rabies-free places such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Japan) and Group II (most of Europe, the United States, Canada) allow entry without quarantine when the permit conditions are met. Group IIIA adds a rabies antibody test and a 30-day quarantine, and Group IIIB (all other places) requires a 120-day quarantine. This guide explains each case so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes — with a Special Permit |
| Special import permit | Always required (obtain before travel) |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required for Group IIIA/IIIB origins |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — Group IIIA origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Required |
| Quarantine | None (Group I/II); 30 days (IIIA); 120 days (IIIB) |
⏱️ 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.
Find a flight to Hong Kong
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact procedure depends on three things — Hong Kong (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Hong Kong★★★★★
Hong Kong applies its own scheme under AFCD: a Special Permit must always be obtained in advance, and dogs over 5 months must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies after arrival.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
AFCD groups the place of export as I, II, IIIA or IIIB by rabies risk. This decides whether a rabies antibody test is needed and whether quarantine applies — from none, to 30 days, to 120 days.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
AFCD normally expects the dog to have resided in the exporting place; a recent stay in a higher-risk place can change your group. A Residence Certification Waiver Scheme exists for some cases.
So read the requirements below as Hong Kong's framework, then confirm your dog's exact group and history with AFCD and your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Permit (import/transit) | Required | Must be obtained from AFCD before travel; single consignment, valid 6 months. Fee HK$432 (first animal) + HK$102 each extra. | No exceptions — no dog may be imported or transhipped without a permit. | Public Health (Animals & Birds) Ordinance Cap. 139; Rabies Ordinance Cap. 421; AFCD |
| Microchip | Required | Must be readable by an AVID or ISO scanner; for Group IIIA/IIIB it must be implanted before rabies vaccination and blood sampling. | The microchip number must appear on the vaccination and health documents. | AFCD permit terms DC-06 (Group IIIA) / DC-03 (Group IIIB) |
| Rabies vaccination | Group IIIA/IIIB | Group IIIA: inactivated or recombinant vaccine 30 days to 1 year before export; primary shot at ≥90 days old. | For Group I/II a pre-export rabies vaccination is not part of the standard procedure; dogs are vaccinated after arrival under Hong Kong licensing. | AFCD permit terms DC-06V03 |
| Rabies antibody test (RNATT) | Conditional | Group IIIA only: blood drawn 90 days to 1 year before export (≥30 days after a primary vaccination), FAVN or RFFIT at an AFCD-approved lab, result ≥0.5 IU/ml. | Not required for Group I, Group II or Group IIIB origins. | AFCD permit terms DC-06V03 |
| Vaccination against other diseases | Group IIIA/IIIB | Full vaccination against canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and canine parvovirus, 14 days to 1 year before export. | See AFCD guideline G122 for the definition of full vaccination. | AFCD guideline G122; permit terms DC-03/DC-06 |
| Animal health certificate | Required | Issued by a government or registered vet in the exporting place; Group IIIA within 7 days of export and endorsed by a government vet; Group IIIB within 14 days. | AFCD provides templates VC-DC1/DC2/DC3A/DC3B per group; the microchip number must appear on it. | AFCD forms VC-DC1/DC2/DC3A/DC3B |
| Advance notification | Group IIIA/IIIB | Notify the AFCD Duty Officer of the Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before the dog's arrival. | The permit itself must already be granted before travel is finalised. | AFCD Group IIIA/IIIB application procedure |
| Quarantine | Group IIIA/IIIB | None for Group I/II; minimum 30 days for Group IIIA; minimum 120 days for Group IIIB, in an AFCD Animal Management Centre or a licensed quarantine centre at the owner's expense. | A quarantine space must be booked in advance (recommended up to 12 months ahead). | AFCD permit terms DC-06 (IIIA) / DC-03 (IIIB) |
| Dog licence (after arrival) | Dogs over 5 months | All dogs over 5 months in Hong Kong must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies; done on arrival at the permittee's expense. | — | Rabies Ordinance Cap. 421; AFCD dog licensing |
| Prohibited / restricted breeds | Applies | Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero and their crossbreeds are banned; a Staffordshire Bull Terrier needs a statutory declaration. | When in doubt about a breed, seek advice directly from AFCD before travel. | Dangerous Dogs Regulation Cap. 167 sub. leg. D, Schedule 1 |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Group I & II — no quarantine
From a Group I rabies-free place (Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan and others) or a Group II place (most of Europe, the United States, Canada and others), your dog is normally exempted from quarantine once the Special Permit conditions are met. You still need the permit, an animal health certificate on AFCD's form and full compliance with the permit terms. No rabies antibody test is required.
Group IIIA — antibody test + 30-day quarantine
From a Group IIIA place (Chinese Mainland, Macao, Malaysia, Thailand, Hungary, Lithuania), your dog needs a microchip, rabies vaccination, other core vaccinations and a satisfactory rabies antibody test (RNATT ≥0.5 IU/ml) with blood drawn 90 days to 1 year before export. A quarantine space must be booked and a minimum 30-day quarantine served on arrival.
Group IIIB — 120-day quarantine
From any place not in Group I, II or IIIA, your dog needs a microchip, full core vaccinations and an animal health certificate, and must serve a minimum 120-day quarantine in an AFCD Animal Management Centre or a licensed centre at your expense. A quarantine space must be booked well in advance (up to 12 months) as places are limited.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Hong Kong depends on the group of the place you flew from.
- Present the original (white copy) Special Permit at the AFCD office at Hong Kong International Airport, with the original vaccination and health documents.
- From Group I or II: your dog is normally released without quarantine once documents are verified.
- From Group IIIA or IIIB: AFCD staff escort your dog to the quarantine facility, and you arrange (and pay for) the transport and the 30-day or 120-day stay.
- Dogs with doubtful history or clinical signs of disease may have their quarantine extended; dogs without proper documentation face at least 4 months' quarantine or return to origin.
- Dogs over 5 months are licensed and vaccinated against rabies on arrival at the permittee's expense.
- Prohibited fighting-dog breeds are refused entry, including in transit or transshipment.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Hong Kong regulates fighting dogs under Schedule 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Regulation (Cap. 167, sub. leg. D). Certain breeds are banned from import and transshipment; others need extra documentation.
Prohibited breeds: the Pit Bull Terrier (also known as the American Staffordshire Terrier), the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, the Fila Braziliero and any of their crossbreeds are prohibited from being imported or transhipped into Hong Kong.
Extra documentation: for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier a statutory declaration must be submitted with the permit application. If you are unsure whether a breed can be imported, seek advice directly from AFCD before travel.
Regardless of breed, every dog over 5 months living in Hong Kong must hold a dog licence and be vaccinated against rabies, arranged on arrival at the owner's expense.
✈️ National airlines
Carriers registered in this country that accept dogs — see each airline's MyDogCanFly fiche.
🛂 Airports in Hong Kong
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Special Permit obtained from AFCD before booking final travel
- ☐Microchip (AVID or ISO) implanted before vaccination and blood test
- ☐Rabies vaccination and core vaccinations up to date (Group IIIA/IIIB)
- ☐Rabies antibody test (RNATT ≥0.5 IU/ml) — Group IIIA origins only
- ☐Quarantine space booked in advance (Group IIIA/IIIB)
- ☐Animal health certificate on AFCD's form, with the microchip number
- ☐Original permit and documents carried for airport clearance
- ☐Confirm your dog is not a prohibited fighting-dog breed
📚 Official sources
- AFCD — Import of Dogs and Cats (Special Permit, country groups)
- AFCD — Import from Group I countries/places
- AFCD — Import from Group II countries/places
- AFCD — Import from Group IIIA countries/places (antibody test + 30-day quarantine)
- AFCD — Import from Group IIIB countries/places (120-day quarantine)
- Hong Kong e-Legislation — Dangerous Dogs Regulation (Cap. 167D)
- Hong Kong e-Legislation — Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421)