Pet Transport from United Arab Emirates to Hong Kong

The journey from United Arab Emirates to Hong Kong for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. This is a middle of the road route, and about 6-10 weeks of preparation …

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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

10 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from United Arab Emirates 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 Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The United Arab Emirates 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 United Arab Emirates

Export requirements

Export permit

Contact municipality for specific export clearance process

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.

Temperature embargoes apply during Gulf summer months (June to September). Airlines may refuse pet cargo when ground temperatures exceed 30C.

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
Lufthansa	Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo transport available. Transport of large animals to certain destinations not possible due to local circumstances. Fighting dog breeds subject to special rules	Cabin and Cargo
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
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines	Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Pets can travel in the hold as checked baggage or via KLM Cargo	Cabin and Cargo
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
Swiss International Air Lines	Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Larger pets travel in hold. Swiss WorldCargo for freight.	Cabin and Cargo
Virgin Atlantic	Cargo: Pets transported through Virgin Atlantic Cargo. Brachycephalic breeds restricted. Temperature embargoes	Cargo Only

The rules for bringing a pet into Hong Kong

Hong Kong 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

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

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.

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 United Arab Emirates 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
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Qantas
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Air France
Cathay Pacific
Swiss International Air Lines
Virgin Atlantic

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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