Pet Transport from the United States to China: GACC Rules, Titre Test, and Quarantine

GACC’s requirements apply identically regardless of whether your pet is coming from the UK, the US, or elsewhere. The full process is: ISO microchip implanted before any vaccination; two lifetime rabies vaccinations (the current one valid within 12 months of China arrival); a FAVN titre test blood draw at least 30 days after the second vaccination, with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or above at a GACC-approved laboratory; then a 6-month waiting period from the blood draw date. The GACC import permit must be applied for at least 4 months before the intended travel date and is tied to a specific entry port and a date window. Source: GACC, english.customs.gov.cn.

On arrival at an approved port (Beijing Capital PEK, Shanghai Pudong PVG, Guangzhou Baiyun CAN, Chengdu Tianfu TFU, Shenzhen SZX, and Chongqing CKG are among the approved options), GACC places the pet directly into quarantine. Dogs remain for 30 days; cats for 7 days. The owner cannot collect the pet until GACC issues a clearance certificate. All quarantine costs are paid by the owner. Costs vary by facility but typically run CNY 3,000-8,000 for a full 30-day dog quarantine.

One pet per traveller is a firm GACC rule. If you are relocating two dogs, two people with two separate permits, two health certificates, and two complete documentation sets are required. There is no mechanism to bring two pets on a single permit, regardless of how small the animals are.

On the US side, USDA APHIS endorsement of the health certificate is the key regulatory step. The health certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and written in the format that GACC requires for China. This is not a standard pet health certificate: it must include the microchip number, the full vaccination history including batch numbers and administration dates, the titre test result and the laboratory that conducted it, and the GACC import permit reference number. Your vet must be familiar with the GACC format, or you should work with a relocation agent who can guide them.

USDA APHIS endorses the certificate through its Veterinary Export Trade Services offices. Processing times vary, but the certificate must be issued within 14 days of the pet’s arrival in China. This creates a tight window at the end of a very long process. Identify your USDA-accredited vet and APHIS endorsement route well in advance, and confirm their availability in the specific week you plan to travel. Source: USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

Finding a USDA-accredited vet who is familiar with GACC requirements is important. A certificate produced in a standard US export format that does not match GACC’s specific fields will be rejected on arrival in China, and there is no way to fix it once you are in transit. Specialist pet relocation agents who work both the US and Chinese sides know the correct format and can draft it for the vet to review and sign.

Air China Cargo is the most direct option for this route, with direct flights from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and New York (JFK) to Beijing Capital (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG). Direct routing eliminates transit complications and means your pet spends the minimum possible time in transit. Advance booking is essential: Air China Cargo requires documentation review before accepting the animal, and space on specific flights can fill up quickly.

American Airlines Cargo and Delta Cargo both operate on US-China routes and are alternatives if Air China’s schedule does not work for your dates. Both carry pets as manifested cargo and require the same standard of documentation. Delta’s hubs at Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle connect to Shanghai and Beijing. American operates from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), LAX, and JFK.

Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (HKG) adds AFCD (Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department) transit documentation requirements and introduces an extra handling step. For most US owners, a direct Air China or US carrier routing is preferable. If routing via Hong Kong is the only viable option for your dates, confirm AFCD transit requirements for a China-origin connecting itinerary specifically, as the rules differ depending on whether the pet is transiting to mainland China or staying in Hong Kong.