2025/05/13
Skip to content
Frequently Asked Questions about the quarantine arrangements for dogs and cats from Group IIIA countries/places

Frequently Asked Questions about the quarantine arrangements for dogs and cats from Group IIIA countries/places

Frequently Asked Questions about the quarantine arrangements for dogs and cats from Group IIIA countries/places

Q1. Why does the cat/dog need to wait for 90 days after satisfactory Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titer Test (RNATT) before it can be imported into Hong Kong?

This is due to the long incubation period of rabies. An antibody titer of 0.5iu/ml or above is considered acceptable for international travel as it indicates the presence of antibodies against rabies virus. The waiting period takes into account a possible exposure to rabies before the antibody level is confirmed. In case an animal is infected with rabies before the blood sampling for RNATT, it is highly likely that the animal will show clinical signs within the 3-month waiting period.

Q2. Why must the cat/dog be at least 90 days old when it received the first rabies vaccine?

Dogs and cats under the age of 90 days may not respond adequately to vaccination due to the presence of maternal antibodies. Most rabies vaccine manufacturers recommend vaccination at 12 weeks of age or above.

Q3. What if the cat/dog is already on the waiting list while the new quarantine protocol starts to apply?

The owner can choose to continue to do the 120 days quarantine without doing any additional tests, or follow the new rules so that the quarantine period can be shortened to 30 days.

Q4. Which laboratories are approved for the RNATT?

Please refer to the list attached to the permit terms for importation of cats and dogs from Group IIIA countries/places.

Q5. When should the RNATT be done?

The blood sampling for the RNATT must be done at least 90 days and not more than 1 year prior to export to Hong Kong. The sample must be taken at least 30 days after a primary vaccination. Given that there is a waiting period for quarantine spaces, there is a possibility that the RNATT validity may expire during the waiting period. In this case, the RNATT would need to be repeated (but it is not necessary to wait for 90 days after the repeat sampling as long as the rabies vaccination has been kept up to date). To avoid the possibility of needing to repeat the RNATT, importers may choose to wait for AFCD’s notification before doing the RNATT. AFCD will notify importers on the quarantine waiting list approximately 6 months prior to a quarantine space becoming available. Exporters may then arrange to conduct the RNATT within 3 months of the notification. However, exporters should be aware that the RNATT results may be affected by the time elapsed between vaccination and sampling and should discuss with their veterinary surgeon if necessary.

Q6. What other countries/places will be added to Group IIIA?

Group IIIB countries/places may be considered for addition to Group IIIA after AFCD’s assessment. Criteria to be assessed include the regulation of veterinary services; official government veterinary services; rabies surveillance and control; import controls; etc. AFCD will proactively contact some Group III countries to request information for assessment of the above factors.

Q7. My cat/dog is resident in Hong Kong and we would like to visit a Group IIIA country/place with them. Is there any special arrangement for travel of Hong Kong resident pets to Group IIIA countries/places and then return to Hong Kong?

Hong Kong does not have any restriction on the export of pets. Pet owners should check the requirements of the destination country/place initially.  Hong Kong resident cats and dogs returning from a Group IIIA country/place still have to meet all the requirements on the permit terms including microchipping, rabies vaccination, RNATT and 30 days quarantine.  The only difference is that if the RNATT is taken whilst the pet is resident in Hong Kong, it is not necessary to wait 90 days before the return trip since Hong Kong is free of rabies. However, the waiting period for a quarantine space should also be taken into account when planning such a trip.

Q8. Can I import cats or dogs from other cities of Mainland China besides Shenzhen? 

Staring from 3 Jun 2025, Mainland China will be reclassified from Group IIIB to Group IIIA. During the first phase of implementation, Shenzhen Customs will issue the relevant animal health certificates. If your cats or dogs are coming from other cities of Mainland China, please contact Shenzhen Customs to confirm their requirements and procedures for certificate issuance.