Pet Transport from Australia to Hong Kong

Moving a dog or cat from Australia to Hong Kong is very doable with the right preparation. Plan on roughly 6-10 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. Depending on origin, a …

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6-10

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Check guide

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

6-10 weeks

Quarantine

Check guide

Route complexity

Moderate

Airlines

9 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to Hong Kong typically takes around 6-10 weeks. A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.

Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.

Prepared and reviewed by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant

Step by step

The Australia to Hong Kong import process

Before any vaccinations. Must be done first.

Get your pet microchipped (ISO 11784/11785)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

At least 21 days before travel (after microchip)

Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Your veterinarian

Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. 90-day wait after successful result.

Rabies titre test (RNATT blood test)

Responsible: Your veterinarian + approved laboratory

Lead time: Check with authorities

Apply for import permit from Hong Kong

Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)

Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirements)

Obtain health certificate / veterinary clearance

Responsible: Official veterinarian

2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space availability.

Book IATA-compliant flight and arrange pet cargo/cabin booking

Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)

3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets

Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation

Responsible: You + airline cargo desk

Requirements

Hong Kong entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before rabies vaccination

Rabies vaccination

Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. Vaccination window is strict: minimum 30 days before arrival, maximum 12 months.

Rabies titre test

Required for: Pets from Group 2 and Group 3 countries. Not required for: Pets from Group 1 countries (rabies-free: UK, Australia, Japan, NZ, etc.). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml

Quarantine

Check requirements

Import permit

Required. Must be obtained BEFORE travel. Permit specifies conditions and quarantine requirements.

Health certificate

Leaving Australia

Export requirements

Export permit

Required for live animal exports from Australia

Costs

What this route typically costs

Airline cargo/cabin fees (varies by carrier, pet weight, and crate size)

IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)

Veterinary fees (vaccinations, health certificate, microchip)

Import permit application fee (Hong Kong)

Government endorsement/USDA endorsement fee (if applicable)

Pet transport agent fee (if using a relocation service)

Critical points

Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds face cargo restrictions on most airlines. Check breed-specific policies before booking.

Microchip MUST be implanted before rabies vaccination. Vaccination given before microchip is invalid and the clock restarts.

Australian airlines may restrict pet cargo during peak summer (December to February) when temperatures exceed safe thresholds.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Emirates	Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)	Cargo Only
British Airways	Cargo transport available	Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines	Cargo: Pets travel as cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons	Cargo Only
Qantas	Cargo transport available. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round. Temperature embargoes: seasonal restrictions during Australian summer (Dec-Feb)	Cargo Only
Air France	Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo transport available. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes. French regulations on dangerous dog breeds apply	Cabin and Cargo
Cathay Pacific	Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met	Cargo Only
Japan Airlines (JAL)	Cargo: JAL Pet Policy: pets transported as checked baggage in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds: French Bulldogs BANNED from cargo (May-October). English Bulldogs banned year-round.. Summer restrictions: May-October temperature embargoes on some routes	Cargo Only
Thai Airways	Cargo: Pets as checked baggage or Thai Cargo for larger animals. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during hot season (March-May). Some breed restrictions apply	Cargo Only
Philippine Airlines	Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Pets as checked baggage or PAL Cargo. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo. Temperature restrictions during extreme heat	Cabin and Cargo

Hong Kong entry requirements at a glance

The path into Hong Kong is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.

Getting the details right

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

The process takes 6-10 weeks from start to finish. The rabies titre test requires a 3-6 month waiting period after the blood draw before your pet can travel, so start early.

Yes. Check requirements Plan your trip around the quarantine period and factor in the cost, which is owner-paid.

Required. Must be obtained BEFORE travel. Permit specifies conditions and quarantine requirements.

Required. Official veterinary health certificate. Issued by: Government veterinarian in country of export. Certificate must confirm: vaccination status, microchip number, health status, absence of infectious disease Your Australia vet must be approved to issue official veterinary certificates. The certificate must be issued within the timeframe required by Hong Kong: usually 10 days before travel. Present the original at check-in.

Yes. Required for: Pets from Group 2 and Group 3 countries. Not required for: Pets from Group 1 countries (rabies-free: UK, Australia, Japan, NZ, etc.). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml The microchip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination for the vaccination to be valid. Start this process as early as possible.

Airline guides

Emirates
British Airways
Singapore Airlines
Qantas
Air France
Cathay Pacific
Japan Airlines (JAL)
Thai Airways
Philippine Airlines

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

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Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

IATA · International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations