Hong Kong's AFCD classifies all countries into four groups. Group I covers rabies-free countries (Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, UK, Bailiwick of Jersey) — no quarantine, minimum age 60 days, rabies vaccination optional. Group II covers rabies-controlled countries (including USA, Canada, Portugal, Germany, France, Singapore, South Korea, and many others) — no quarantine if compliant, minimum age 5 months, rabies vaccination required. Group IIIA covers certain higher-risk countries including Mainland China — 30 days quarantine mandatory. Group IIIB covers all remaining high-rabies countries — 120 days quarantine mandatory. Verify your country's current group directly with AFCD before starting any process.

A Special Permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is mandatory for every import, regardless of origin group. No pet may enter Hong Kong without this permit being issued in advance. Final travel arrangements must not be made until the permit has been granted. For pets requiring quarantine (Groups IIIA and IIIB), quarantine space must also be booked in advance — waiting times of 12 months or more have been reported for government facilities. The permit fee is HK$432 for a single animal, plus HK$102 for each additional animal under the same permit.

An ISO or AVID-compatible microchip is required. The chip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination or blood sampling. If the microchip cannot be read on arrival, the owner must provide a compatible reader — otherwise the pet may be returned to the origin country at the owner's expense. Note: all dogs entering Hong Kong will receive an AVID microchip on entry, regardless of existing microchip status, unless they were previously licensed in Hong Kong with a working AVID chip.

All dogs must be vaccinated against canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, and canine parvovirus. All cats must be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia (infectious enteritis) and feline respiratory disease complex. For Groups I and II, vaccinations must be given not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year before export. For Groups IIIA and IIIB, a full two-stage primary vaccination course must be completed, with the first dose at 8 weeks or older, the second dose 2–4 weeks later with the pet over 10 weeks old, and a booster within 18 months. The most recent vaccination must be within 14 days to 1 year before import.

Group I: optional. Group II: required — administered between 30 days and 1 year before export; for a primary vaccination the pet must be at least 90 days old at the time. Group IIIA and IIIB: recommended (all dogs receive a rabies vaccination on entry in any case). Note: all dogs entering Hong Kong — regardless of current vaccination status — receive a rabies vaccination on arrival, unless they hold a valid Hong Kong Dog Licence and AVID chip from a previous stay.

Required for pets from Group IIIA countries. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination, and between 90 days and 1 year before departure. The test must be performed using FAVN or RFFIT method at an AFCD-recognised laboratory, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The microchip number must appear on the laboratory report. A separate RNATT is not required for Groups I, II, or IIIB.

Group I: normally exempt from quarantine if all permit conditions are met. Group II: exempt from quarantine if fully compliant. Group IIIA: minimum 30 days quarantine at an AFCD Animal Management Centre or licensed quarantine centre — advance booking required, with waiting times of up to 12 months recommended. Group IIIB: minimum 120 days quarantine — advance booking required well in advance. Quarantine costs are at the owner's expense. Pets without proper documentation may face a minimum of 4 months quarantine or be returned to the origin country.

All pets must enter Hong Kong as manifested air cargo. Transport as excess baggage or hand-carried baggage is not permitted. Pets must travel by the fastest and most direct route from the origin country. If the route involves a stopover in a Group II or IIIA/IIIB country, prior approval must be obtained from AFCD.

To qualify for Group I or Group II status, the pet must have been born in and continuously resident in that country for at least 6 months prior to import. A pet that has recently moved from a Group IIIA or IIIB country to a Group I or II country does not immediately qualify — the 6-month continuous residency must be demonstrated.

The following breeds and their crosses are prohibited from entering Hong Kong: Pit Bull Terrier (also known as American Staffordshire Terrier), Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro. Staffordshire Bull Terriers must be accompanied by a statutory declaration confirming the breed. Bengal cats may only be imported with documentation confirming the cat is of 5th generation or above domestic ancestry. Pets more than 4 months pregnant will not be permitted entry.