Summary of reasons for pets failed entry China

Recently, we have encountered some cases where bringing pets to China has not gone smoothly. Some pets need to be quarantined for 30 days at the quarantine station, while others have to be returned to their countries of origin. Here, we would like to share a few important points for reference for pet owners who plan to bring their pets to China in the future.

• One passenger is only allowed to import one pet on each trip. 

The passenger must fly together with the pet. After arrival at China, the passenger must go red channel when pass throuth the customs office, and declare that you have a pet travel with you together. The passenger needs to show the original passport together with the pet, and the pet’s original documents. 

Your friends, or your family members who are already in China but not travel together with you on same flight can not help you import the second pet. 

• Make sure your pet’s microchip is working before you leave your original country

Microchips are designed to last a lifetime, and the chances of a chip outright failing are very low. However, there was a small part of microchips fail due to a fault with the chip and more commonly,  the microchip migrates in the pet’s body or out of the body. 

Microchips carry a unique identification number.  When we scan the microchip, we can read 15 digitals (for ISO standard microchip) or 9 digitals (for AVID microchip). It’s not related with your personal information.

When your pet arrives in China, the customs officer will scan the pet’s microchip. The pet will be quarantined if the microchip numbers can not be read.

Please have your pet’s microchip scanned before your trip to ensure it’s still in the body and working correctly.

• 2 rabies vaccinations before the rabies antibody titer test for non-designated countries or area

If you are coming from non-designated countries or area, your pet must have 2 rabies vaccinations before the rabies antibody titer test, NOT 2 rabies vaccinations before coming to China.

• The rabies antibody titer test is valid for 1 year only.

• Health certificate must be issued/stamped/ endorsed by the official veterinary

The health certificate issued by the privet vet or licensed vet is not accepted. The health certificate must be issued or endorsed by the governing authority responsible for the import and export of live animals in the origin country.

• Please bring the ORIGINAL documents with you

After arrival, the customs officer will check the original documents. The copies are not acceptable.

If you do not have the original health certificate or rabies certificate, your pet will not be allowed to entry the country. Then the pet will be returned to the origin country under owner’s expense. 

If you are coming from non-designated countries or area and you can not show the original rabies antibody titer test report, the pet will be quarantined for 30 days at government quarantine station.

(Some labs will not issue original test report, only PDF version with a unique QR code. In this case, the copy will also be accepted)

Globy offer paperwork check service. We have offices in major cities in China. If you need, you can send all your documents to our emails, and we can help you double check.