Frequently Asked Questions

A: According to Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance Cap. 139, and the Rabies Ordinance Cap. 421, any person must obtain a Special Permit from this Department in advance before importing animals from the overseas to Hong Kong. For application procedure, please refer to the link: Import of Animals and Birds

 

Q: If my pet arrives Hong Kong in mid-night, are the AFCD offices at the cargo terminals open? Can I collect my pet immediately? 

A: Our Airport Offices at the cargo terminals are operated 24 hours per day. If your pet arrives Hong Kong in mid-night and has complied with the relevant import requirements, then you can collect your pet within a short period.

 

Q: If my pet arrives Hong Kong by air, can I collect it the next day?

A: Since your pet will be kept at the cargo terminal pending for your collection, so you are advised to collect it as soon as possible to avoid your pet from unnecessary waiting.

 

Q: If my cat/dog has visited Mainland China, will it be subject to 4-month quarantine at the AFCD quarantine centre upon arrival in Hong Kong?

A: Yes, your dog/cat will be subject to 4-month quarantine at our quarantine centre upon arrival in Hong Kong after visiting Mainland China. Before coming back to Hong Kong, please obtain an Import Permit and reserve the quarantine space in advance. Dog/cat will be released from quarantine under the condition that it has no clinical signs of rabies and the quarantine fee has been settled.

 

Q: Is it necessary to apply for an import permit if importing animal skin or feather to Hong Kong?

A: This Department has no control on the import of animal skin or feather (excluding the products derived from dog/cat or endangered species), so it is not necessary to apply for an import permit from this Department before the import. For information about the import control of animal products, please refer to the link: Import of Animal Carcasses and Animal Products

 

 

Q:    Before taking my dog/cat to other country/place, do I need to apply for an export permit from your Department?

A:    As Hong Kong does not impose export control on dog/cat, so you do not need to apply for an export permit from this Department. Since the import requirements as stipulated by the destination government authorities may vary, so please contact them to enquire if an import permit must be granted before the shipment and obtain the information about the animal health certificate and vaccination requirement.

 

Q:     How to take a dog/cat to Mainland China? What are the procedures?

A:      If travelling a dog/cat to Shenzhen by road, please arrange a vehicle to transport the dog/cat to Shenzhen Bay Port or Lok Ma Chau Port. According to the import requirements of Mainland China, each person can take one dog/cat to Mainland China. Within 10 days of departure, please bring your dog/cat to a private animal clinic for the issue of an animal health certificate. On the certificate, please indicate the dog/cat health status and vaccination date (including the rabies vaccination date) etc. After that, please bring along the completed animal health certificate and vaccination records to our office for endorsement application. The endorsement takes 1 working day to process.