China Pet Import Regulations 2026: What GACC Requires for Dogs and Cats from Vietnam

China pet import regulations for dogs and cats from Vietnam come from one authority, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Vietnam is not on China’s list of designated countries, so a pet from Vietnam needs a passing rabies titer test to avoid 30 days of quarantine. A missing or defective certificate is more serious: the pet is returned or destroyed.

Short Answer: Can You Bring a Dog or Cat from Vietnam into China?

• Is it allowed? Yes. A traveller may bring one dog or cat per entry.
• What does the pet need? An ISO microchip, at least two rabies vaccinations, a titer test from a GACC-approved laboratory and an official health certificate.
• Is there quarantine? No, if every document is correct. Without a valid chip or titer result, the pet goes into quarantine.
• Which airport? Any port of entry, if the pet meets every rule. A pet that needs quarantine can only enter at 10 listed ports.
• How long does it take? About 2–3 months for a pet with no rabies history.

The day-by-day plan is in our pet shipping timeline from Vietnam to China.

Which Chinese Rules Apply to Pets from Vietnam?

GACC took over China’s border inspection and quarantine bureaus in 2018, so customs officers now inspect pets at the port. Three documents set the rules for pets entering with a traveller.

• GACC Announcement No. 5 of 2019 and its Annex 1, in force since 1 May 2019. These set the documents, the titer test and the quarantine ports. The full text is published on the Chinese government portal.
• The rules on items carried by travellers, amended in 2018. These limit travellers to one dog or cat each and cover baggage shipped separately.
• GACC Announcement No. 43 of 2025, in force since 1 April 2025. It requires a written declaration for animals and for baggage shipped separately (full text).

An official English translation of the 2019 announcement is published by the Beijing municipal government. The 2019 announcement has not changed since. Beijing’s public hotline still cited it in March 2026.

Is Vietnam a Designated Country for China Pet Import?

No. China lists 19 designated countries and regions, including Japan, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Macao. Pets from those places need no titer test. Every other country, including Vietnam, is non-designated. A pet from Vietnam therefore needs the full set of documents below.

What Documents Does a Dog or Cat from Vietnam Need for China?

Each requirement below comes from Annex 1 of GACC Announcement No. 5 of 2019. Dogs and cats follow the same rules.

Microchip

The pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 microchip with 15 digits. If the chip does not meet that standard, you must bring a reader that can scan it. A pet without a readable chip goes into quarantine. See our guide to microchips for international pet travel.

Rabies Vaccination: Why Two Doses?

The vaccine must be inactivated or recombinant. China does not accept live rabies vaccines. Annex 1 says the titer blood sample cannot be taken before the second rabies vaccination, so a pet needs at least two doses. The latest dose must still be valid when the pet arrives. GACC sets no minimum gap between the doses; Daisy Pet keeps at least 30 days.

Rabies Titer Test

The result must show at least 0.5 IU/ml. It must come from a laboratory on the GACC-approved list, and no laboratory in Vietnam is on that list. There is no waiting period after a passing result. The result is valid for 12 months from the blood sample, and it stays valid if the pet gets a booster while its vaccine is still valid. Read how the rabies titer test is done.

Official Health Certificate

The certificate must come from the official veterinary authority of the exporting country. In Vietnam, that is the Department of Animal Health (DAH). The clinical examination must fall within 14 days before the pet arrives in China. The certificate must show:

• the pet’s details, including date of birth or age;
• the chip number, implant date and implant site;
• each rabies vaccination date and validity, with vaccine type, product name and manufacturer;
• the titer blood sample date, the laboratory name and the result;
• the examination result and date.

The certificate cannot show corrections. A defective certificate is treated like a missing one. Our page on the animal health certificate explains how it is issued.

Registration Form at the Port

On arrival, you fill in the pet registration form at the customs counter. You can also pre-declare the pet through the customs mini-program on WeChat or Alipay before landing.

When Is a Pet Quarantined, Returned or Destroyed in China?

A returned pet must leave China within the deadline set by customs. A pet not collected in time is destroyed. Guide, hearing and search-and-rescue dogs with training papers are exempt from quarantine.

Which Ports Can a Pet from Vietnam Enter?

A pet that meets every rule can enter China at any port. A pet that needs quarantine can only enter at a port with a GACC quarantine facility. There are 10 such ports:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing West Railway Station;
• Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) airports, Shanghai Railway Station, the Shanghai International Cruise Terminal and the Wusongkou cruise terminal;
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN);
• Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) and the Alashankou land port.

Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shenzhen, Chengdu and the land crossings on the Vietnam border have no quarantine facility. Our guide to the Vietnam–China land border covers the overland option.

Can Your Pet Enter China Without You on the Same Flight?

Yes. The rules on items carried by travellers treat baggage shipped within 6 months after your entry as your own baggage. A pet sent as manifest cargo therefore follows the same pet rules. You must enter China first and declare the separately shipped baggage in writing, in the red channel. Without that declaration, the pet risks being handled as a commercial animal import, which needs an import permit.

Are Any Dog Breeds Banned from Entering China?

GACC has no national breed ban for pets. Two other limits apply. Airlines refuse snub-nosed breeds, and the Chinese carriers also refuse aggressive breeds. Some cities restrict dogs after arrival. Beijing allows one dog per household in its six central districts and bans large and aggressive dogs there.

FAQ: China Pet Import Regulations for Pets from Vietnam

Does China require two rabies vaccinations for pets from Vietnam?

Yes. Annex 1 of GACC Announcement No. 5 of 2019 says the titer blood sample cannot be taken before the second rabies vaccination. A pet therefore needs at least two doses, with the latest still valid on arrival.

Can I do the rabies titer test in Vietnam for China?

No. No laboratory in Vietnam is on the GACC-approved list, so the blood sample is sent abroad. The result must show at least 0.5 IU/ml.

How many pets can I bring into China?

One dog or cat per traveller per entry. Two pets need two travellers, each with a full set of documents.

What happens if my pet has no titer test result?

The pet is quarantined for 30 days at a customs-designated facility, and the owner pays the fee. It must enter at one of the 10 ports with a quarantine facility.

Can my pet land at Beijing Daxing airport?

Yes, if it meets every rule. Beijing Daxing has no quarantine facility, so a pet that needs quarantine there is returned or destroyed.