TLDR: Hong Kong requires an AFCD Special Permit (Form AF240 + Form UN110) before any travel is booked, a rabies vaccine between 30 days and 1 year before departure, and species-specific vaccines with Leptospirosis not on the required list. Allow 5 working days for the permit and do not book flights before it's in hand. Pets from Hawaii routed via the Continental US are reclassified as Group II, not Group I.
Hong Kong remains one of our most active destinations for pet relocations, and the questions we receive most often cluster around the same topics: the permit process, the vaccine list, quarantine rules, and what happens when travel originates in Hawaii. Here are the answers.
Hong Kong is rabies-free, which makes its import requirements more involved than many destinations. All pets entering from Continental USA need an AFCD Special Permit, current rabies and species-specific vaccinations, and a USDA health certificate (VC-DC2) issued within 14 days of departure. Dogs and cats must be at least 5 months old at export, since USDA won't sign the health certificate for animals under 5 months. For a full breakdown, see the Hong Kong pet import requirements page.
All pets require an AFCD Special Permit before entering Hong Kong. To apply, submit Form AF240 and Form UN110 (Declaration and Authorization Form) to AFCD, along with a copy of your HKID or passport. Allow 5 working days from receipt of the complete application and permit fee. Do not book travel until the permit is confirmed in hand. Booking flights before permit approval creates a situation where clients have committed to dates AFCD may not meet.
The permit is valid for 6 months from the issue date and covers one consignment only. PetRelocation handles the permit application on your behalf, but the timeline doesn't compress regardless of who submits it.
All pets need a current rabies vaccination, administered at least 30 days and no more than 1 year before departure.
Dogs must also be vaccinated against Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, and Canine Parvovirus, with records at least 14 days old and no more than 1 year old before arrival. A complete vaccination history for all required vaccines must be attached to the health certificate.
Cats must also be vaccinated against Feline Panleukopaenia (Feline Infectious Enteritis) and Feline Respiratory Disease Complex, including Feline herpesvirus and Feline calicivirus, within the same 14-day to 1-year window.
This one catches people off guard. AFCD classifies Hawaii as Group I, which normally has lighter documentation requirements. But if a Hawaii-origin pet is located in the Continental USA before export, USDA requires the Continental US health certificate to be used instead. This reclassifies the pet from Group I to Group II for AFCD purposes, and all Group II requirements apply.
A Hawaii-origin pet with a layover in Los Angeles or San Francisco is a Group II case, not Group I, regardless of where the pet originally came from. Confirm your pet's routing before determining which certificate and AFCD group classification applies.
Pets entering Hong Kong as cargo must travel as manifest cargo, not in the cabin. Most airlines serving Hong Kong do not work directly with the public on pet cargo bookings, which is another reason most clients use a professional pet mover for this route. If you have questions about possible exceptions for service animals, check with the airline directly.
Pets traveling from Continental USA (Group II) that fully comply with all permit conditions do not require quarantine on arrival. Any variation in documentation, including an incomplete health certificate or missing vaccination records, can trigger quarantine of up to 6 months at the owner's full expense. Animals under 5 months old at time of import are also quarantined until they reach 5 months of age.
Customs clearance in Hong Kong typically takes two to six hours. PetRelocation has a representative on site for the duration. Hong Kong adopted ISO 11784/11785 15 digit microchips as its standard on August 1, 2025, so an ISO chipped pet is compliant. A pet arriving with a chip that does not meet Hong Kong's identification requirements, such as an AVID 9 digit chip a universal scanner cannot read, may have a conforming chip implanted on arrival at the permittee's expense. Dogs over 5 months of age must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated under Hong Kong law upon arrival, done at the permittee's expense.
Hong Kong moves involve more moving parts than most destinations: the permit must come before anything else, the vaccine window has two ends that both need to be in range, and a routing change at the airline level can shift your pet's AFCD classification entirely. PetRelocation has coordinated Hong Kong relocations for over 20 years across all service levels.
Complete Support covers the full process including permit application, vet coordination, health certificate endorsement, and cargo booking. Vet Paperwork Support focuses on the health certificate and vaccination documentation while you handle logistics. Consultation gives you direct access to a coordinator to map out your pet's classification, routing, and timeline before committing.
Get a free quote from PetRelocation and a relocation manager will walk you through your options.
How long does the AFCD Special Permit take to process?
Allow 5 working days from the date AFCD receives the complete application and permit fee. Do not book travel until the permit is confirmed in hand.
What forms do I need to apply for the Hong Kong import permit?
Form AF240 and Form UN110 (Declaration and Authorization Form), submitted to AFCD along with a copy of your HKID or passport and the permit fee.
Does my dog need a Leptospirosis vaccine for Hong Kong?
No. The required dog vaccinations are Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, and Canine Parvovirus. Leptospirosis is not on AFCD's required vaccine list.
Does it matter if my pet is coming from Hawaii via the Continental US?
Yes. A Hawaii-origin pet routed through the Continental US before export must use the Continental US health certificate, which reclassifies the pet from Group I to Group II under AFCD's system. All Group II requirements apply.
Can I list two pets on one health certificate?
No. Only one pet may be listed per health certificate. Each animal requires its own certificate and its own AFCD permit application.