Taiwan Pet Import Regulations 2026: Rules for Dogs and Cats from Vietnam

Taiwan pet import regulations are set by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) in one document: the Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Dogs and Cats. Taiwan treats Vietnam as a country not recognized as free from rabies. A dog or cat from Vietnam therefore needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination, a passing rabies blood test and an import permit, and it stays seven days in quarantine unless it meets the waiver conditions.

Short Answer: What Does Taiwan Require for Pets from Vietnam?

• Microchip: implanted and readable, with the same number on every document.
• Rabies vaccination: given at 90 days old or later, at least 30 days and no more than 1 year before arrival.
• Blood test: at least 0.5 IU/ml, sampled 90 days to 1 year before arrival.
• Import permit: applied for online at least 20 days before arrival, on APHIA’s dog and cat import permit system. There is no fee.
• Quarantine: seven days, unless the pet meets the waiver conditions explained below.

This page explains each rule and what happens when one is missed. The order in which you do them is in our pet shipping timeline from Vietnam to Taiwan.

Which Law Applies, and Has It Changed?

The rules are in Attachment 6 of Taiwan’s import quarantine regulations, titled Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Dogs and Cats (full text on APHIA’s site). The current version was amended by the Ministry of Agriculture on 29 February 2024. APHIA’s official FAQ was last updated on 10 March 2026, and it describes the same rules.

One change in 2026 concerns paperwork only. Since 5 January 2026, APHIA issues import permits in a new format. Both formats are valid during 2026, and the old one stops being valid on 1 January 2027.

Is Vietnam Rabies-Free Under Taiwan’s Rules?

No. Taiwan lists 12 places as rabies-free: Australia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway (without Svalbard), Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Hawaii and Guam. Every other country, including Vietnam, falls under Chapter 3 of the requirements.

A pet that has lived in a rabies-free country for at least 180 days before travel follows the simpler Chapter 2 instead. A short stopover in such a country does not change the pet’s status.

What Does Taiwan Require for the Microchip?

Article 10.1 requires a microchip. APHIA’s FAQ adds that it must scan and work. The law does not name a chip standard, but the number must match on the vaccination certificate, the blood test report, the permit and the export certificate. A vaccination given before the microchip is treated as invalid by APHIA. Daisy uses a 15-digit ISO chip, explained in our guide to the microchip for international travel.

What Are the Rabies Vaccination Rules?

• Age: the pet must be over 90 days old when vaccinated (Article 10.2).
• Timing: the most recent shot must be at least 30 days and no more than 1 year before arrival.
• Vaccine type: an inactivated vaccine, or a vaccine licensed for use in Taiwan.
• Three-year vaccines: APHIA counts every vaccination as valid for one year. A pet vaccinated more than a year before arrival needs a booster.

APHIA’s import FAQ for dogs and cats gives worked examples of these dates. The vaccination certificate must state, in English or Chinese, the species, sex, age, microchip number, vaccination date, and vaccine name and maker. Any vet may sign it.

What Are the Rabies Blood Test Rules?

The blood test measures rabies antibodies. A pass is at least 0.5 IU/ml (Article 1.2).

• Laboratory: a rabies reference laboratory of the World Organisation for Animal Health, or a laboratory designated by APHIA. No laboratory in Vietnam is on the list.
• Sampling window: 90 days to 1 year before arrival (Article 10.3).
• Repeat test: a new sample taken 90 days to 1 year after an earlier passing sample also counts, if it is within 1 year of arrival.

Our rabies titer test guide explains how the test works.

When Is Quarantine Waived?

By default, a pet from Vietnam stays seven days in quarantine (Article 14). Article 11.2 waives it when both conditions below are met.

• Blood test age: the sample was taken 180 days to 1 year before arrival.
• How APHIA gets the result: the permit application is filed at least 120 days before arrival, or the laboratory or Vietnam’s veterinary authority emails the result directly to rabiesreport@aphia.gov.tw. With the direct email, the application can be filed 20 days before arrival.

A retest also works. A newer sample still qualifies if it was taken 180 days to 1 year after the previous passing sample, and APHIA receives it in the same way (Article 11.2.3).

Quarantine takes place at APHIA’s Guanyin station in Taoyuan. What happens there is in our guide to Taiwan pet quarantine.

What Are the Import Permit Rules?

• Deadline: at least 20 days before arrival (Article 11.1). It is 30 days for a seriously ill pet asking to quarantine at home, and 60 days for pets coming to an international event.
• Documents: the importer’s ID or passport, the vaccination certificate and the blood test report.
• Fee: APHIA charges no fee to apply.
• What the permit fixes: one port of entry and a window of arrival dates. If quarantine applies, the permit also reserves the space.
• Changes: a new date or port must be requested before the permit expires and at least 10 days before the new date. Only one change is allowed (Article 11.6).

Entering with a changed date or port that was not approved can be fined NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. So can false information in the application, which also cancels the permit. The online form itself is covered in our Taiwan import permit guide.

What Must the Export Health Certificate Say?

The pet must arrive with an original certificate from Vietnam’s animal quarantine authority (Article 12). Taiwan’s template for this is Form 002. In Vietnam, the regional animal health office issues it together with Vietnam’s own export certificate, Form 13a.

The certificate states, in English or Chinese, the species, quantity, sex, age, microchip number, country of export and exporter. It confirms no clinical signs of rabies, the rabies vaccination details and the blood test result, date and laboratory. Taiwan sets no validity period for it.

What Happens at the Airport in Taiwan?

The importer presents a copy of the permit, the original export certificate and the air waybill or customs declaration (Article 13). APHIA’s officer checks the pet against them. A NT$100 processing fee is paid in cash. The pet then leaves with its owner, or goes to quarantine if the waiver conditions are not met.

What Happens If a Rule Is Not Met?

Article 15 lists the outcomes. In most cases, the pet is not sent back; it is held in quarantine for longer.

• Blood test under 90 days old: quarantine until 97 days after the blood sampling date.
• Species, sex or age missing or wrong: 30 days of quarantine.
• Vaccination does not meet the rules: a new vaccination, then 30 days of quarantine.
• Microchip or certificate problem: no microchip, no original certificate, or a mismatched number. The pet may be returned or destroyed. Otherwise it is vaccinated, tested and held until 97 days after a passing sample.

If the rabies vaccination expires during quarantine, APHIA gives a booster at the owner’s cost.

Which Breeds Are Banned?

Since 1 March 2022, Taiwan bans keeping or importing three breeds: the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull and the American Staffordshire Terrier. No other dog breed is named. Airlines set their own limits, often on snub-nosed breeds; see our page on breed restrictions for flying pets.

What Are the Rules for Bengal Cats?

A Bengal cat of the fifth generation (F5) or later counts as a domestic cat. The owner uploads an official pedigree with the permit application. Generations F4 and earlier fall under the Wildlife Conservation Act. They need prior approval from Taiwan’s Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, which allows them only for research, education and zoos.

Other Rules Owners Ask About

• Parasite treatment: not required by Taiwan’s rules. Daisy treats every pet leaving Vietnam anyway.
• Pregnancy: Taiwan’s rules do not ban pregnant pets; airlines set their own limits.
• Pet food: food with pork, beef, lamb or poultry is checked at the border. Keep it sealed in its original packaging. Undeclared food can be fined up to NT$1,000,000.
• Seriously ill pets: a pet with a serious medical condition that is not infectious may ask to quarantine at home. The request goes in at least 30 days ahead with full medical records, and experts review it.
• Older and snub-nosed pets: if quarantine applies, a snub-nosed pet or a pet aged 10 or older may be allowed to travel to the station without an APHIA escort, in a sealed crate.
• Registration after arrival: Taiwan requires dogs and, since 2025, cats to be registered with the local authority.

Frequently Asked Questions About Taiwan’s Pet Import Rules

Does Taiwan require a rabies titer test for pets from Vietnam?

Yes. The blood must be sampled 90 days to 1 year before arrival and show at least 0.5 IU/ml. To skip quarantine, the sample must be 180 days to 1 year old on arrival.

Is Vietnam considered rabies-free by Taiwan?

No. Vietnam is not on Taiwan’s list of 12 rabies-free places, so pets from Vietnam need the blood test, the import permit and, unless waived, seven days of quarantine.

What happens if my pet arrives less than 90 days after the blood test?

The pet is not refused. Under Article 15, it stays in quarantine until 97 days after the blood sampling date.

Does Taiwan charge a fee for the import permit?

No. The application is free. On arrival, the importer pays a NT$100 processing fee, plus transport and quarantine fees if quarantine applies.

Which dog breeds cannot enter Taiwan?

The American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull and the American Staffordshire Terrier. Taiwan has banned keeping or importing them since 1 March 2022.