United States

✈️

Hong Kong

Pet Transport USA to Hong Kong: 2026 Field Guide

6-10 weeks

Typical preparation

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

✓ Managed

Full door-to-door service

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Lead time needed

6-10 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Medium

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Hong Kong typically takes around 6-10 weeks.

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Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant

Reviewed guides prioritise government and carrier sources; older pages are clearly flagged. How we source our data →

Overview

A move from United States to Hong Kong with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Around 6-10 weeks is typical, with a straightforward sequence to work through.

Read on for the requirements, timing and carrier options for this route.

Step by step

The United States to Hong Kong process

Verify now.

Confirm microchip pre-dates rabies vaccination and vaccination is current

Responsible: Vet

1-2 weeks before travel. Required before arrival.

Apply for AFCD Special Permit online

Responsible: Owner or agent

4-6 weeks ahead. Cathay Pacific is the popular choice.

Book cargo space on US to Hong Kong route

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days of travel. Allow 2-10 business days for endorsement.

USDA-accredited vet health certificate and USDA APHIS endorsement

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS

On travel date.

Travel to Hong Kong as cargo

Responsible: Airline cargo

On arrival. No quarantine for Group II pets with correct documents. Released to owner.

AFCD inspection on arrival. Permit and documents verified.

Responsible: Hong Kong AFCD

Checklist

Hong Kong: entry requirements

Requirement	Detail
Microchip	Required. ISO standard microchip readable at Hong Kong customs.
Rabies vaccination	Required. Current rabies vaccination. The USA is a Group II territory for AFCD purposes.
Import permit	Special Permit required from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) before arrival. Apply online. Allow 1-2 weeks.
Health certificate	USDA-endorsed veterinary health certificate within the AFCD-specified window before travel.

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Leaving United States

Export requirements

Requirement	Detail
Government endorsement	USDA APHIS endorsement required. Allow 2-10 business days.
Health certificate	USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Examination within 10 days of travel. VEHCS electronic endorsement is fastest.

Costs

What this route typically costs

1	AFCD Special Permit fee: approximately HKD 432 per animal
2	Cargo airline fee: $1,500 to $4,000 from a US hub to Hong Kong depending on crate size
3	USDA-accredited vet examination and certificate: $200 to $500
4	USDA APHIS endorsement fee: $38 per certificate
5	Pet transport agent fee: $500 to $2,000
6	IATA-compliant travel crate: $100 to $450

Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ The AFCD Special Permit must be obtained before the pet arrives in Hong Kong. Arriving without it can result in the animal being held or refused.

⚠ Hong Kong summers (May to September) are hot and humid. Airlines apply heat embargoes on live animal cargo, especially for brachycephalic breeds.

⚠ The health certificate must be USDA-endorsed, not just vet-signed. Allow 2-10 business days for the endorsement.

⚠ Hong Kong restricts certain breeds including Pit Bull Terriers, Argentine Dogo, Brazilian Fila and Japanese Tosa.

⚠ Microchip must pre-date the rabies vaccination.

Carriers

Airlines on this route

Cathay Pacific

Primary carrier. Direct US hubs to Hong Kong cargo pet service. Climate-controlled hold.

Cargo Only

United Airlines

Cabin only for small pets on applicable routes. No cargo service. Suitable for small pets only.

Cabin

Emirates

Via Dubai hub. Emirates SkyCargo. Adds transit time.

Cargo Only

Meeting Hong Kong's entry requirements

Getting a pet into Hong Kong is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Advice worth following

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.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

No, provided the documentation is correct. The USA is a Group II territory for AFCD purposes, which allows entry without quarantine. You need the AFCD Special Permit, a microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and the USDA-endorsed health certificate. Your pet is released after the arrival inspection.

Electronic submission through VEHCS typically processes in 2-5 business days; mail submission takes 5-10. Since the health certificate examination must be within 10 days of travel, time the endorsement carefully. Most owners schedule the vet examination 7-8 days before travel and submit immediately via VEHCS.

Cathay Pacific is the primary carrier with direct cargo pet services from US hubs to Hong Kong. United offers cabin-only carriage for small pets but no cargo, so it is unsuitable for most dogs. Emirates provides a connecting option via Dubai. For most owners a direct Cathay flight is best.

Yes. Hong Kong regulates breeds including Pit Bull Terriers, Argentine Dogo, Brazilian Fila and Japanese Tosa under its Dangerous Dogs Regulation. Check the AFCD rules for your breed before beginning the process.

Airline guides

Cathay Pacific
United Airlines
Emirates

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

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