Bringing a pet into China
The rules at a glance
China allows one dog or cat per traveler per entry — no other pets. Your pet must carry an ISO 11784/11785 microchip (15 digits), a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and an official animal health certificate issued by the exporting country's veterinary authority. The health certificate must be dated within 14 days of arrival and state the pet's breed, sex, color, date of birth, and chip number.
Declare the pet on your customs form at arrival. Missing documents can mean the pet is sent back — or worse — so treat this like your own visa: start early.
China Customs announcement No. 5 of 2019 governs all of this; the rules below are the practical summary.
From 19 countries and regions: no quarantine
If your pet departs from one of the 19 designated countries and regions — New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii and Guam (USA), Jamaica, Iceland, the UK, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Macao, China — and passes the on-site inspection, it walks straight through with you. No quarantine.
That is the whole list. If your home country is not on it, read the next item.
Everywhere else: antibody test or 30-day quarantine
For all other countries (including mainland USA, Canada, Germany, France, Korea and most of the world), you need one more document: a rabies antibody titre report from a laboratory recognised by China Customs, showing 0.5 IU/ml or higher. With that report and a clean on-site inspection, your pet is released without quarantine.
Without the antibody report, your pet will be quarantined for 30 days at a customs facility — at your expense, and you cannot visit freely.
Quarantine is only possible at designated ports (Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao, Guangzhou Baiyun, and a few others). Entering through a non-designated port without the right paperwork risks the pet being returned or destroyed.
Flights: cargo hold or cabin?
The default: the pressurized cargo hold
On most Chinese carriers, pets travel as checked baggage in the temperature-controlled, pressurized cargo hold, not the cabin. You must get airline approval at booking, provide an animal quarantine certificate (valid 3–7 days, issued by the local animal-health authority), and use an airline-approved kennel that meets IATA standards.
Short-nosed breeds (pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats) are often refused because of breathing risks — check with the airline before booking anything.
Pet-in-cabin is now a real option
Since 2024, a growing list of airlines has launched paid pet-in-cabin services: Hainan Airlines (the pioneer), Southern Airlines, China Eastern, Juneyao, Capital Airlines and others. China Eastern's service alone covers over 100 routes (¥1,288 per pet); Southern covers 200+ routes across 19 airports. This is the fastest-changing part of pet travel in China — always check the airline's current route list.
The rules are strict: economy class only, one pet per passenger, maximum two pets per flight, pet secured in a carrier under the seat in front, plus a muzzle and diaper. Book through the airline's app at least 24 hours before departure; slots are limited.
Service dogs fly free
Guide and hearing dogs travel free in the cabin with their handler on Chinese airlines, including international routes. Apply at least 24–48 hours ahead with the dog's training certificate, health certificate and rabies vaccination records. No fee, no cargo hold.
Note: since February 2025, Air China has paused all dog transport on US-bound flights — check your airline when flying trans-Pacific.
Trains: what's actually allowed
No pets on high-speed trains
On G, D and C high-speed trains, no live animals are allowed in the passenger cars — and unlike classic trains, high-speed trains do not offer pet shipping either. The only exception is a guide dog accompanying a visually impaired passenger.
Do not try to hide a pet on a high-speed train: stations scan bags, and sneaking one aboard can mean fines and being put off the train.
Classic trains: pet shipping works
On classic K/T/Z trains, pets up to 20 kg can travel in the luggage car as shipped goods (托运), provided both stations handle baggage services. You need your ID and an animal quarantine certificate, plus a sturdy, ventilated, lockable cage with food and water.
Call 12306 first to confirm the route offers pet shipping, then arrive at the station 2–3 hours early to complete the paperwork at the baggage office. High-speed and some long-haul routes are excluded, so plan around it.
Metros: guide dogs only
Subways across China ban pets, with a single exception for guide dogs. If you need metro travel with a pet, taxis and ride-hailing (DiDi, with its English interface) are the practical alternative — most drivers are fine with a small carrier on the back seat.
Hotels, vets and daily life
Finding a pet-friendly hotel
Pet-friendly hotels are still rare in China but growing fast, especially in first-tier cities and among international chains. Booking apps (Trip.com, Agoda, Meituan) have pet-friendly filters — use them, then message the hotel to confirm before booking.
A useful phrase: 宠物友好酒店 (chǒngwù yǒuhǎo jiǔdiàn) means pet-friendly hotel. Some hotels charge a pet cleaning fee of ¥50–200 per night.
Vets when you need one
Every major city has modern veterinary hospitals (宠物医院, chǒngwù yīyuàn) offering vaccinations, check-ups and emergency surgery at a fraction of Western prices. Quality varies — look for clinics attached to university veterinary departments, or ask your hotel's concierge for a recommendation.
Amap and Dianping list vets with reviews; most big-city clinics have at least one English-speaking staff member.
Street rules and etiquette
Dogs must be leashed in public, and most parks, temples and attractions do not admit pets (guide dogs excepted). Clean up after your dog — pet waste is a genuine social taboo in China and can draw angry stares or fines.
Long-term residents must register their dog with the local police (养犬登记), but short-term visitors generally don't need to. Cats are easier: keep them in a carrier on the street and most places won't bat an eye.
Packing checklist for your pet
Documents (the part that gets pets sent back)
Start three months out: implant the microchip, then the rabies vaccine at least one month before travel (it must remain valid through arrival). Book the veterinary health certificate within 14 days of landing, and if you're not from a designated country, get the antibody titre test from a customs-recognised lab. Photograph every document and keep paper copies in your carry-on.
Airlines also require the domestic animal quarantine certificate (动物检疫合格证明) for the flight itself — it's valid only 3–7 days, so time it to the day.
- ISO microchip implanted
- Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, ≥1 month before travel)
- Official health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival
- Rabies antibody report (0.5 IU/ml+) if flying from a non-designated country
- Airline quarantine certificate issued within 3–7 days of the flight
- Your passport — the pet travels on your booking
Gear that gets you through
An IATA-approved hard kennel for the hold (or a soft carrier for cabin services — size limits are strict), a familiar blanket to reduce stress, a collapsible bowl, a few days of food, and absorbent pads. For cabin pets: a muzzle and a diaper are mandatory on most airlines, and a water bottle with a dispenser helps on long layovers.
Label the kennel with your name, phone number, flight number and the destination address in both English and Chinese — station and airport staff will thank you.
Quick answers
Can I bring my cat or dog into China?
Yes — one dog or cat per traveler per entry. You need an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and an official health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival. Declare the pet to customs on landing.
Will my pet be quarantined?
Only if you skip the paperwork. Pets from the 19 designated countries and regions pass without quarantine; from elsewhere, a customs-recognised rabies antibody test (0.5 IU/ml+) also earns an on-the-spot release. Without it, expect a 30-day quarantine at your expense.
Can my pet ride China's high-speed trains?
No — G, D and C trains carry no pets, in the cabin or the luggage car. The only exception is a guide dog with a visually impaired passenger. Classic K/T/Z trains do offer pet shipping where a luggage car runs.
Can my pet sit with me on the plane?
On a growing number of routes, yes — Hainan, Southern, China Eastern, Juneyao and others sell pet-in-cabin seats (roughly ¥1,288–1,599 per pet), limited to economy on specific routes. Otherwise pets fly in the pressurized cargo hold as checked baggage.
Are there pet-friendly hotels in China?
A growing minority, concentrated in first-tier cities and international chains. Filter by 'pet friendly' on Trip.com or Agoda and confirm by message before booking; many charge a small pet cleaning fee.
My pet needs a vet — what should I say?
Ask for 宠物医院 (chǒngwù yīyuàn) — animal hospital. Major cities have modern clinics with affordable care; university-affiliated hospitals are the most reliable, and most big-city clinics have some English support.
