Residence Certification Waiver Scheme

The Residence Certification Waiver Scheme

The Residence Certification Waiver Scheme aims to assist Hong Kong residents who take their dogs and cats to overseas countries/places for vacation or temporary stay. For pets which have undertaken a rabies antibody test and obtained a satisfactory level prior to leaving Hong Kong, a Residence Certification Waiver will be issued to waive the requirement of residing in the visiting country/place for 180 days prior to return to Hong Kong. This scheme is applicable for dogs and cats travelling to Group II countries/places only:

Austria	Bahamas	Bahrain	Bermuda	Belgium
Brunei	Canada	Cayman Island	Cyprus	Czech Republic
Denmark	Finland	France	Germany	Gibraltar
Guam	Iceland	Italy	Jamaica	Luxembourg
Maldives	Malta	Mauritius	Netherlands	New Caledonia
Norway	Papua New Guinea	Portugal	Republic of Korea	Seychelles
Singapore	Solomon Islands	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland
Taiwan	USA (Continental)	Vanuatu	Virgin Islands	--

Application for a Residence Certification Waiver is not required for dogs and cats which have been brought from Hong Kong to Group I countries / places (Australia, Bailiwick of Jersey, Fiji, Hawaii, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, and U.K.) for travelling.

Application Procedure

Microchipping of your dog/cat
- Your dog/cat must be implanted with a microchip which can be read with an AVID or ISO scanner (Note: dogs must be implanted with a 9-digit AVID microchip. If your dog has a valid dog licence, it already has an AVID microchip implanted).
Vaccination against rabies
- All dogs and cats have to be vaccinated against rabies. The latest rabies vaccination must be given not less than 30 days and not more than one year prior to return to Hong Kong. In the case of a primary vaccination, the animal must be aged 90 days or above when receiving the rabies vaccination.
Arrange Rabies Antibody Test for your dog/cat
- The Residence Certification Waiver will only be issued if your dog/cat took a rabies antibody test and obtained a satisfactory result, i.e. the antibody level is at least 0.5IU/ml. The test result is valid for one year from the date of blood sampling.
- The blood sample shall be taken not less than 30 days after receiving a primary or a booster rabies vaccination.
- You must take your dog/cat to a registered veterinary surgeon to perform the blood test. The veterinary surgeon will take a sample of blood from your dog/cat and send it to a laboratory recognized by AFCD for testing. For a list of recognised laboratories, please refer to “G113 Notes for Rabies Antibody Test”.
- After receiving the test report, please ask your veterinary surgeon to complete the Supplementary Certificate (Form No. PC103-Blood test-HK).
Vaccination against other common infectious diseases
- Your dog/cat must be fully vaccinated against the following canine/feline infectious diseases not less than 14 days and not more than one year prior to return to Hong Kong:
  - Dog – canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and canine parvovirus.
  - Cat – feline panleucopaenia (infectious enteritis) and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu).
Submit the application documents
- Submit the documents listed below, either in person or by post to the licensing office:
  - The Special Permit and Residence Certification Waiver Application form (Form No. AF240-return). If you need to authorize other person to handle the application, please also complete the Authorization form (No. UN110)
  - A valid rabies antibody test report
  - A Supplementary Certificate regarding the rabies antibody test issued by a registered veterinary surgeon (Form No. PC103-Blood test-HK)
  - A Declaration of Movement History
  - The pet’s vaccination certificate/booklet
  - A valid dog licence (if applicable)
  - HKID / Passport of the applicant
Pay the Permit Fee
- Fees must be paid at the time of the application. The fee for the first animal is HK$432 and HK$102 for every additional one.
Issuance of the Special Permit and Residence Certification Waiver
- Generally, it takes 5 working days from the date of receipt of the application to issue the Special Permit and Residence Certification Waiver, subject to the provision of all required information. If your dog/cat is not vaccinated or a satisfactory blood result has not been obtained, issue of the permit will be delayed.
- The permit will be sent by ordinary mail to the address as indicated in the application form. To avoid postal delay, the applicant may also choose to pick up the permit at the licensing office in person or by an appointed agent. The permit will not be dispatched by fax or e-mail.
Before your dog/cat’s departure
- You have to call our airport office at 2182-1001 two days in advance of your departure. On the date of departure, please bring your dog/cat together with the Residence Certification Waiver to the Import and Export Office of AFCD at the Hong Kong International airport where an AFCD officer will examine and stamp the Residence Certification Waiver to record that your dog/cat has left Hong Kong. IF YOU MISS THIS STEP, YOUR WAIVER WILL BE VOID.
Before my dog/cat returns to Hong Kong
- Please read the permit terms carefully to ensure the full compliance before importation of your animal. Failure to comply with the Permit Terms may render the animals to be returned to the country / place of export or quarantined for a period determined by the Senior Veterinary Officer at the cost and risk of the permittee / agent. The permittee / agent may be prosecuted.
- You should obtain an animal health certificate for your dog/cat. To facilitate correct certification, it is strongly recommended to use a prescribed form issued to you before departure (i.e. the form printed at the back page of the Waiver). This certificate should be issued by a registered veterinary surgeon in the country/place of your visit not more than 72 hours prior to export to Hong Kong.

Important Reminder

Your dog/cat must return on or before the expiry date of the Special Permit (valid for six months since the date of issue) or within one year from the date of blood sampling for rabies antibody test whichever the earliest to take advantage of the residence certification exemption. Any animals which have overstayed abroad will be deemed to be of foreign origin and the original import requirements applicable to that country will apply.
Upon arrival in Hong Kong, if all the documentation is in order (including the Special Permit, Residence Certification Waiver and Animal Health Certificate) then your pet will be released without quarantine.
For more details related to this Scheme, please refer to G115 guideline.

Where to Apply

Permit & Certification Section (Counter No. 10), Import & Export Division, 5th Floor,
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Office hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 noon, 1:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (Close on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.)

Enquiry

Tel：(852) - 1823
Email：icsenquiry@afcd.gov.hk