Moving Pets from China to the USA (2026)

TLDR: China is a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies, so the requirements depend on where your dog was vaccinated. Dogs vaccinated in the US follow one path; dogs vaccinated in China follow another. Cats have no CDC or APHIS rabies requirement and face a much simpler process. If your pet originates in or transits Hong Kong, a separate screwworm freedom certificate is required.

Moving a dog from China to the US isn't a one-form process. China is a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies, and since the CDC's rule took effect August 1, 2024, the requirements split depending on where your dog received its rabies vaccination. Get the wrong track and you risk arriving at the wrong airport or missing a required document. Here's both paths, plus what cat owners need to know.

Applies to Every Dog

Regardless of which track you follow, every dog entering the US must be at least 6 months old at the time of entry, appear healthy on arrival, and have a microchip readable by a universal scanner. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. If the vaccine was given first, CDC treats the vaccination as invalid and it cannot be fixed later.

Dogs Vaccinated in the US

If your dog was originally vaccinated in the US before traveling to China, and you're now bringing them back, this is your track.

You'll need:

• CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Complete this online before travel. Your dog's arrival airport must match the port of entry listed on the form.
• Certification of US-Issued Rabies Vaccination form. This must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and USDA-endorsed before your dog originally left the US. This is the current path: the older USDA export health certificate route for this scenario ended July 31, 2025, so make sure you're using the Certification of US-Issued Rabies Vaccination form, not the retired process.

Dogs on this track may enter at any US port of entry and do not need a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility reservation.

Dogs Vaccinated in China (Foreign-Vaccinated)

If your dog received its rabies vaccination in China, this track applies, and it has more steps.

You'll need:

• CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
• A government-endorsed foreign rabies vaccination form. China is one of a small number of countries that uses its own government-endorsed form in place of the standard CDC Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip. Confirm with your vet that you're filing the correct China-specific version, not the standard CDC form.
• A rabies antibody titer test from a CDC-approved lab.
• Titer timing matters. The blood sample must be drawn at least 30 days after your dog's first rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry into the US. A sample drawn outside either window will not qualify.
• A reservation at a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility.
• A recent photo of your dog.

Dogs on this track must arrive at an airport with a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility. The facility list changes, so confirm the current ports before booking. If your dog doesn't have a valid passing titer, they'll face a 28-day quarantine at the facility on arrival.

Cats

Moving a cat from China to the US is far simpler than moving a dog. There is no CDC or APHIS rabies requirement for cats. Cats can still be inspected at the port of entry and refused entry if they appear ill, but there's no titer, no vaccination form, and no facility reservation to arrange. If you're a cat owner reading through the dog requirements above and feeling overwhelmed, none of that applies to you.

Screwworm: Does It Apply to Your Pet?

Mainland China is not on APHIS's screwworm-affected country list, so there is no blanket screwworm requirement for pets coming from mainland China.

The one exception: if your pet originates in or transits through Hong Kong, a screwworm freedom certificate is required. It must be signed by an official government veterinarian, with the dog inspected within five days before shipment. If you're moving a pet to Hong Kong rather than transiting through it, the full Hong Kong import process applies instead.

How PetRelocation Can Help

Figuring out which track applies to your dog, and making sure the right form gets filed for that track, is where this process most often goes wrong. PetRelocation has coordinated moves from China for over 20 years and knows how to route each case correctly from the start.

Complete Support covers full coordination of your dog's CDC forms, titer testing or vaccination certification, facility reservations, and airport routing. Vet Paperwork Support focuses on the CDC form and vaccination documentation while you handle flight logistics. Consultation gives you direct access to a coordinator to confirm which track applies to your pet before you commit to a timeline.

Get a free quote from PetRelocation and a relocation manager will walk you through your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it matter where my dog was vaccinated for rabies?
Yes. Dogs vaccinated in the US follow one set of requirements, and dogs vaccinated in China follow a different, more involved set. Getting the track wrong can mean arriving at the wrong airport or missing a required document.

What form do I need if my dog was vaccinated in China?
China uses its own government-endorsed foreign rabies vaccination form, not the standard CDC Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip. Confirm with your vet that you have the correct China-specific version.

Does my cat need a rabies titer to enter the US from China?
No. Cats have no CDC or APHIS rabies requirement. Cats can still be inspected and refused entry if they appear ill, but the titer, vaccination form, and facility reservation requirements only apply to dogs.

Does my dog need a screwworm certificate coming from China?
Not from mainland China. Mainland China is not on APHIS's screwworm-affected list. If your pet originates in or transits through Hong Kong, a screwworm freedom certificate signed by an official government vet is required, with inspection within five days before shipment.

What happens if my China-vaccinated dog doesn't have a valid titer?
Your dog will need to complete a 28-day quarantine at the CDC-registered Animal Care Facility on arrival.