FAQ: China Pet Import & Quarantine-Free Relocation 2026

This China pet import FAQ answers the questions owners in Vietnam ask most, in the order they usually ask them. A dog or cat from Vietnam can enter China without quarantine if it has an ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a passing titer test and a correct health certificate. Each answer below links to the guide that covers the topic in full.

Before You Start

Can I bring my dog or cat from Vietnam to China?

Yes. Each traveller may bring one dog or cat per entry. Other animals, such as rabbits, birds and reptiles, cannot be brought in by travellers. The rules come from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), explained in our guide to China pet import regulations.

Is the 30-day quarantine mandatory for pets entering China?

No. A pet with a valid chip, two rabies vaccinations, a passing titer test and a correct health certificate is released at the port. A pet without a valid chip or titer result is quarantined for 30 days, under China’s pet entry rules.

How long does it take to prepare a pet for China?

About 2–3 months for a pet with no rabies history. With two recorded doses and the latest still valid, about 4–6 weeks. See the step-by-step timeline from Vietnam to China.

Can two pets travel with one person to China?

No. China limits each traveller to one dog or cat per entry. Two pets need two travellers, each with a full set of documents.

Documents

Is a single rabies booster enough for China?

No. Annex 1 of GACC Announcement No. 5 of 2019 says the titer blood sample cannot be taken before the second rabies vaccination. The record must show at least two doses. Daisy Pet keeps at least 30 days between them.

Can I do the rabies titer test in Vietnam?

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 and is valid for 12 months. Our guide to the rabies titer test explains the process.

What must the health certificate for China show?

Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health issues it after an examination within 14 days before arrival. It must show the chip details, both rabies vaccinations, the titer test details and the examination result, with no corrections.

Does China require a printed photo of my pet?

No. GACC rules do not list a photo. A printed photo can still make the visual check at the counter easier.

Flights and Ports

Can my pet fly in the cabin to China?

Only on Vietnam Airlines, for pet and carrier under 6 kg. The Chinese airlines carry pets in the hold only. The options are compared in our guide to airlines that fly pets to China.

Can my pet fly to China as cargo without me?

Yes, if it is your own pet and arrives within 6 months after you enter China. You must declare it in writing as separately shipped baggage when you enter, under GACC Announcement No. 43 of 2025.

Which Chinese ports have a pet quarantine facility?

Ten ports: Beijing Capital airport, Beijing West Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong airports, Shanghai Railway Station, the Shanghai International Cruise Terminal, the Wusongkou cruise terminal, Guangzhou Baiyun airport, Urumqi Diwopu airport and Alashankou. A pet that meets every rule can enter at any port.

Can my pet fly to Chengdu or Beijing Daxing?

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

Arrival and Breeds

What happens when my pet arrives in China?

You declare the pet in the red channel, and a customs officer checks the documents, scans the chip and examines the pet. The steps are in our guide to the pet inspection on arrival in China.

Are there breed restrictions for entry into China?

GACC has no national breed ban. Airlines refuse snub-nosed breeds, and Beijing bans large and aggressive dogs in its six central districts.

Can I bring my pet into China overland from Vietnam?

Only if it meets every rule, because the land crossings have no quarantine facility. Our guide to the Vietnam–China land border explains the risk.

Cost

How much does it cost to move a cat from Vietnam to China?

About $1,200 for the Vietnam-side work in Daisy Pet’s 2026 quote, plus the airline’s pet fee. The full breakdown is in our pet relocation cost to China guide.