Macau to Hong Kong: Group IIIA's 30-Day Quarantine
Relocating a pet from Macau to Hong Kong follows a clear path once you understand what Hong Kong asks for. Set aside roughly 10-14 weeks for this route and keep a close eye on the sequencing. A 30 day quarantine stay applies once your pet …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Macau to Hong Kong
typically takes around 10-14 weeks.
Expect 30 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Macau to Hong Kong 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 Macau
Early, ideally before any vaccination booster is due.
2
Confirm or administer the rabies vaccination.
Responsible: IAM-recognised veterinarian
Timed to leave enough runway before the titre blood draw.
3
Draw blood for the rabies antibody titre test at an AFCD-recognised laboratory.
Responsible: Vet and an AFCD-recognised laboratory
Within the window AFCD specifies for Group IIIA entries.
4
Book the Animal Management Centre quarantine slot and apply for the AFCD import permit.
Responsible: Owner or agent, via AFCD
4-6 weeks before travel; confirm the 30-day quarantine booking before finalising the crossing date.
5
Get the final health certificate from an IAM-recognised vet, then travel and begin the 30-day quarantine.
Responsible: Vet in Macau; owner and AFCD Animal Management Centre
Certificate close to departure; quarantine begins immediately on arrival.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Hong Kong
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.
Rabies vaccination
Required, current and administered after the microchip. A valid vaccination certificate must accompany the pet.
Rabies titre test
Required. Macau was the first place placed in AFCD's newly created Group IIIA category with effect from 1 December 2024, when the previous single Group III was split into Group IIIA and Group IIIB. A satisfactory rabies neutralising antibody titre test result from an AFCD-recognised laboratory is required within Group IIIA's specified timing window. Source: AFCD press release, 26 November 2024, and the Group IIIA import page at afcd.gov.hk.
Quarantine
Mandatory minimum 30 days at an AFCD-managed Animal Management Centre on arrival, provided all pre-entry conditions are met. This is a substantial reduction from the 120 days Macau-origin pets faced before the December 2024 reclassification.
Import permit
Required, applied for through AFCD before travel. The application must include the animal's microchip details, vaccination records and the intended Animal Management Centre booking.
Health certificate
Animal health certificate issued or endorsed by a government veterinary officer in Macau, valid for the window AFCD specifies for Group IIIA entries.
Export permit (Macau)
No separate export permit for a personal pet dog or cat leaving Macau, beyond the standard health certificate process handled by IAM.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Health certificate and IAM paperwork in Macau: MOP 400-900
Rabies titre test and laboratory fee: MOP 1,200-2,000
AFCD import permit application: HKD 300-600
Ferry ticket, standard sailing with pet in an approved carrier: HKD 300-500 plus the pet's own fare, or around HKD 2,200 for a private cabin on the Cotai Water Jet
30-day Animal Management Centre boarding, owner-paid: HKD 3,000-6,000 depending on the centre and any additional care requested
Total typical range: HKD 5,000-9,500 over 2-3 months, dominated by the quarantine stay rather than the short crossing itself
Critical points to read before you book
Macau's Group IIIA classification, effective 1 December 2024, still carries a mandatory minimum 30-day quarantine on arrival in Hong Kong. This is far shorter than the 120 days that applied before the reclassification, but it is not zero, unlike Macau's own current policy for compliant pets arriving from elsewhere.
Book the Animal Management Centre slot before finalising your crossing date. Space at AFCD facilities is limited and does not simply become available on demand.
This is a ferry or bridge crossing, not an airline booking, so plan around ferry operator schedules and crate rules rather than an airline cargo desk.
Confirm the current AFCD-specified titre test timing window directly before the blood draw; Group IIIA is a relatively new category and its detailed conditions are less widely documented than the long-established Group I and Group II rules.
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 from Macau's Taipa terminal to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal or Skypier. A private cabin is bookable for around HKD 2,200.
Cabin Only
TURBOJET
TurboJet
Runs the same crossing with a comparable small-pet policy. Confirm current crate and weight rules directly before booking.
Cabin Only
HONG
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge coach services
An overland alternative, roughly an hour door to door. Pet policies vary by coach operator, so check directly rather than assuming ferry rules carry across.
Cabin Only
Hong Kong import rules, explained
Hong Kong has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
Practical tips for this move
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
FAQ
Common questions about Macau to Hong Kong pet transport
A minimum of 30 days at an AFCD-managed Animal Management Centre, provided the microchip, vaccination, titre test and health certificate conditions are all met. This applies under AFCD’s Group IIIA category, created for Macau with effect from 1 December 2024, reduced from the 120 days that applied before that date.
Yes. Group IIIA requires a satisfactory rabies neutralising antibody titre test result from an AFCD-recognised laboratory, taken within AFCD’s specified timing window, alongside the standard microchip and vaccination requirements.
No. Pets travel by ferry, most commonly Cotai Water Jet or TurboJet, or by coach across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, a crossing of roughly an hour. There’s no cargo flight involved on this specific route.
It isn’t advisable to assume so. AFCD facility space is limited, and the sensible approach is to book the 30-day quarantine slot before finalising your crossing date, not after.
No. Macau was reclassified into the newly created Group IIIA with effect from 1 December 2024, when AFCD split the previous Group III into Group IIIA and Group IIIB. Before that date, Macau-origin pets faced a 120-day quarantine under the old Group III rules.
Airline guides
Cotai Water Jet
TurboJet
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge coach services
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.