Bringing a dog or cat from the United Kingdom to China (mainland)
Under China (mainland)'s rules, pets from the United Kingdom are in the group “GACC-designated countries/regions”. A dog from the United Kingdom needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine if every rule is met. There is no long waiting period, so a few weeks of preparation is usually enough.
About China (mainland): Quarantine-free entry is possible if you follow the rules exactly: a microchip, a health certificate, rabies vaccination, and (unless you come from one of 19 designated places) a rabies titer from a GACC-approved lab. Only one dog or cat per person per entry is allowed. Pets that don't comply get 30 days' quarantine, and only at the few ports that have quarantine facilities.
GACC-designated countries/regions Paperwork only
- Titer test
- Not required
- Wait after blood test
- —
- Import permit
- Not required
- Quarantine
- None if rules are met
No long wait: No titer and no waiting period
Step by step
Microchip the pet
Use an ISO 11784/11785 chip, or bring a reader that can read it. The chip number, implant date and implant site must appear on the health certificate.
Vaccinate against rabies
Rabies vaccination must still be valid when the pet arrives. Carry the original vaccination certificate.
Get the official health certificate
Get it from the official veterinary authority of the country you depart from, issued within 14 days before arrival. Use one certificate per pet.
Declare on arrival
Fill in the pet registration form, declare the pet to Customs and have the chip scanned at on-site inspection. If everything is in order, the pet is released with no quarantine.
30 days at a GACC-designated isolation facility if there is no valid microchip, a certificate is missing, or the pet fails on-site inspection
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs. Only domestic dogs and cats count as pets; other species do not qualify.
- How many pets
- 1 dog or cat per person per entry. Extra pets are returned or destroyed.
- Parasite treatment
- No requirement at national level; deworming is recommended (Shanghai government guidance)
- Arrival
- A compliant pet can enter at any port. A pet that needs 30-day quarantine must use a port with isolation facilities. USDA lists these as Beijing Capital Airport, Beijing West Railway Station, Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports, Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai International Passenger Transport Center, Wusongkou Cruise Terminal, Urumqi Diwopu Airport, Alashankou and Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to bring a dog from the United Kingdom to China (mainland)?
The United Kingdom counts as "GACC-designated countries/regions" for China (mainland). There is no rabies blood test or long wait. No titer and no waiting period Allow a few weeks for the vet visits and the health certificate.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from the United Kingdom to China (mainland)?
No. Pets from the United Kingdom do not need a titer test for China (mainland) if the other rules are met.
Will my pet be quarantined in China (mainland)?
Not if every rule is met. 30 days at a GACC-designated isolation facility if there is no valid microchip, a certificate is missing, or the pet fails on-site inspection
Do I need an import permit?
No import permit is needed for pets from the United Kingdom.
Are the rules the same for cats?
Same as dogs. Only domestic dogs and cats count as pets; other species do not qualify.
Sources
- GACC Announcement [2019] No.5 (Chinese, official)
- Shanghai Government – Announcement on Further Regulating the Quarantine Supervision of Pets Brought into China
- Shanghai Government – How to bring a pet to Shanghai (designated list, titer FAQ)
- Beijing Government – GACC Announcement [2019] No.5 (English)
- USDA APHIS – Pet travel US to China (origin-side; ports list, 14-day certificate)
- Finnish Food Authority – Export to China (origin-side)
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: China (mainland) pet import rules.