Hong Kong to Macau: The Pet Move That Doesn't Need an Airline
The journey from Hong Kong to Macau for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. This is a middle of the road route, and about 4-6 weeks of preparation usually covers it. Compliant pets are not held in quarantine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Hong Kong to Macau
typically takes around 4-6 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Hong Kong to Macau pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Confirm the ISO microchip is implanted and scannable.
Responsible: Vet in Hong Kong
Early, ideally before any vaccination booster is due.
2
Confirm the rabies vaccination is current.
Responsible: Registered veterinary surgeon in Hong Kong
At least 21 days before travel, allowing for Hong Kong's likely exemption from Macau's titre test.
3
Apply for the IAM Import Licence for Live Animals (PS-1092).
Responsible: Owner or agent, via the Macao SAR Government Portal
2-3 weeks before travel; valid only 30 days once issued.
4
Get the AFCD-endorsed Animal Health Certificate.
Responsible: AFCD or a registered veterinary surgeon in Hong Kong
Close to the travel date.
5
Book the ferry crossing or bridge coach transfer, and confirm the IAM arrival inspection slot in Macau.
Responsible: Owner
1-2 weeks before travel; IAM books inspections at least 1 working day ahead.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Macau
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 compliant, implanted before the rabies vaccination is given.
Rabies vaccination
Required, current and clearly dated on the health record, given after the microchip.
Rabies titre test
Not required in practice. IAM's default position treats the rabies titre test as necessary unless a pet arrives from a country or territory with no rabies incidents in the past two years. Hong Kong has been free of animal rabies since 1987 and is recognised as rabies-free by the World Organisation for Animal Health, so a Hong Kong-origin pet should qualify for this exemption, a genuine contrast with Australia, the UK and the UAE, none of which get it on their own Macau route pages on this site. Confirm current status with IAM before travel, since this is a favourable reading rather than a published country-by-country list.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for a pet that meets the pre-entry requirements and passes an on-arrival inspection by an IAM veterinary surgeon, following the policy change that took effect around June 2026 dropping the previous 30-day mandatory hold for compliant dogs and cats.
Import permit
Import Licence for Live Animals (PS-1092), applied for through the Macao SAR Government Portal. IAM typically issues it within 3 working days, valid for 30 days once granted.
Health certificate
Official veterinary Health Certificate of Animal (form referenced as PS-1086 on the Macao SAR Government Portal), covering microchip, vaccination and, where applicable, titre test results.
Export permit (Hong Kong)
No general export permit for a personal pet dog or cat leaving Hong Kong. AFCD's role on this side is issuing or endorsing the Animal Health Certificate the destination requires.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Health certificate and AFCD endorsement in Hong Kong: HKD 300-700
IAM Import Licence (PS-1092) application fee: modest, typically under HKD 900 equivalent
Ferry ticket, standard sailing with pet in an approved carrier: HKD 300-500 per person plus the pet's own fare
Private cabin option on the Cotai Water Jet, if preferred over the shared cabin: around HKD 2,200
IATA-compliant or ferry-approved travel carrier: HKD 300-900
Total typical range: HKD 1,000-4,300 over 3-5 weeks, the shortest and cheapest Macau-bound route on this site
Critical points to read before you book
This is a ferry or bridge crossing, not an airline booking. Do not plan around cargo agents or airline pet desks the way you would for any other Macau route on this site; the practical booking is with a ferry operator such as Cotai Water Jet or TurboJet, or a bridge coach service.
Hong Kong's decades of rabies-free status make it a strong candidate for exemption from Macau's titre test, but this is a favourable reading of IAM's general policy rather than a confirmed country-specific listing. Confirm directly with IAM before finalising travel plans.
Macau bans import of the Tibetan Mastiff, Fila Braziliero, Dogo Argentino, Pit Bull Terrier and Japanese Tosa, along with their crosses. Check your pet's breed against this list before applying for the import licence.
The PS-1092 import licence expires 30 days after issue. Apply against a confirmed crossing date.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
COTAI WATER
Cotai Water Jet
Small dogs and cats up to roughly 20kg travel in an approved carrier on standard sailings between the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal or Skypier and Macau's Taipa ferry terminal. A private cabin can be booked for around HKD 2,200 for owners who would rather not have their pet in the shared passenger area.
Cabin Only
TURBOJET
TurboJet
Runs the same Hong Kong-Macau crossing on a comparable small-pet policy. Check current carrier restrictions and crate requirements directly before booking, since ferry operators update pet rules more often than airlines do.
Cabin Only
HONG
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge coach services
An overland alternative for owners driving or using a private coach transfer, roughly an hour door to door. Pet policies vary by operator and are less standardised than the ferry routes.
Cabin Only
The rules for bringing a pet into Macau
Macau keeps its requirements reasonable, though a few steps have fixed timing. Map those out first and the rest falls into place.
How to keep this move on track
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 Hong Kong to Macau pet transport
No. This route runs by ferry, most commonly Cotai Water Jet or TurboJet, or by coach across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. It’s the one Macau route on this site with no cargo flight or airline booking involved at all.
Likely not. IAM waives the titre test for pets from places with no rabies incidents in the past two years, and Hong Kong has had no animal rabies case since 1987, with World Organisation for Animal Health rabies-free recognition. Confirm current status with IAM before travel, since this is a strong likelihood rather than a published, name-checked exemption.
No, for a pet that meets the pre-entry requirements and passes IAM’s arrival inspection. IAM dropped its mandatory 30-day quarantine for compliant dogs and cats in a policy change that took effect around June 2026.
No. Macau bans import of the Pit Bull Terrier, along with the Tibetan Mastiff, Fila Braziliero, Dogo Argentino and Japanese Tosa, and their crosses, regardless of vaccination or titre status.
Around HKD 2,200 on the Cotai Water Jet. Standard sailings with the pet in an approved carrier in the main cabin cost far less, closer to the ordinary passenger fare.
Airline guides
Cotai Water Jet
TurboJet
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge coach services
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.