Taking your Dog or Cat to China from the UK

Everything you need to know in 2025

你好

Are you planning to take your dog or cat to China? You're in the right place!

We’re here to make pet travel stress-free and straightforward.

Our experienced vets are well-versed in the official requirements for taking pets to China, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process for you and your furry companion.

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What You Need to Know About Taking Pets to China

Traveling to China with your dog or cat in 2025 comes with specific rules and regulations. These requirements can be complex, varying between dogs and cats. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with two handy checklists:

Requirements for Dogs 🐶

1. Certification by an Official Veterinarian (OV)

Only Official Veterinarians (OVs) authorized by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) can prepare and sign the necessary documents for pet travel to China.

Our team of OVs is certified by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to handle all required tasks, including completing your pet's Health Certificate.

2. Pre-Export Isolation

Dogs must undergo 30 days of isolation before traveling to China.
An OV must inspect and approve the isolation premises, which can be your home. The OV will also conduct a pre-isolation check.

3. Leptospirosis and Parasite Treatments

Treatment for internal and external parasites is mandatory. However, a derogation may now be available for the previously required Leptospirosis treatment during the isolation period, providing greater flexibility for pet owners.

4. Microchip Identification and Rabies Vaccination

A microchip transponder is mandatory to uniquely identify your pet.
Your dog must have a valid rabies vaccination.

5. Pre-Travel Clinical Examination

Your pet must be examined by an OV within 24 hours of departure to ensure they are fit to travel.

6. Additional Vaccinations (Recommended)

Although not mandatory, we recommend to vaccinate your dog against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, and Kennel Cough.

7. Post-Export Quarantine in China

The Customs and Quarantine Bureau updated pet import regulations on May 1, 2019. Pets arriving from rabies-free designated countries, including the UK, are now eligible for a quarantine waiver.

To qualify for the 30-day quarantine waiver, you must meet specific requirements, including proper documentation and vaccinations for your pet. Follow our expert guidance to ensure all criteria are met, allowing your pet to skip the quarantine and join you sooner in China.

Here are the requirements to travel to China with your cat:

Requirements for Cats 🐈‍⬛

Each cat must be identified with a microchip transponder, in order to identify univocally the pet. The date of microchipping must be earlier than the date of vaccination against Rabies.
Cats must have a valid vaccination against rabies.
Official Veterinarians (OVs) are the only vets authorised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to prepare and sign the documents required to travel with your pet to China.
All of our vets have gone through the rigorous training to become OVs and are authorised from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to perform different tasks on behalf of the UK Government. Completing this Health Certificate is one of them.
Your cat must be examined by an Official Veterinarian within 24 hours before embarkation.