China - Obtain a Pet Passport

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Procedure

First check the vaccination requirements for the country to which you are relocating. Generally, rabies vaccination dates should be over one month but less than one year old. Many countries or regions (EU, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and more) require tapeworm treatment (with praziquantel or equivalent as active ingredient) for pets coming from China.

All pets leaving China need to have the species-specific multi-vaccination i.e. for dogs this is the DHPPi and for cats the 3-in-1 vaccination, and must have been rabies vaccinated at an official animal vaccination hospital in China, and have the official Vaccination Immunity Certificate.

Pet owners will need an export health examination for their pet at the designated government quarantine bureau animal hospital. Your pet will undergo a brief examination that may include blood tests, urine and stool checks. Once completed, you will be issued an "International Companion Animal Health Inspection Form".

Then you and your pet will need to go to the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, where you will be issued the official "Animal Health Certificate" (e.g., export permit).

This completes a passport for your dog or cat to enter China.

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Required Documents

• Official certification of rabies vaccination performed at least 1 month, but no more than 12 months prior to arrival.
• A health certificate prepared by a government endorsed veterinarian in your country of origin within 7 days of departure.
• Microchip implant

Office Locations & Contacts

China Animal Disease Control Center
15 Hong Song Yuan, Dong Ba, Chaoyang District.
Beijing
Tel: 5208 2650

Veterinary Desk
Address: Administrative Examination and Approval Office
Ministry of Agriculture
No.11 Nongzhanguan Nanli,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
Postcode: 100125

Beijing Guanshang Animal Hospital
1/F, 7 North Third Ring Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing
Tel: 4007001542

Shanghai Shenpu Pet Clinic
565 Xujiahui Lu
Phone: 6418-9236

Eligibility

China requires that your pet be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to travel. Your veterinarian must then complete the proper Veterinary Certificate and attach the rabies certificate.

Only dogs and cats are classified as pets, and other animals cannot be exported from China as pets.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

• The export health examination is valid 7 days and the export permit is valid 7 days, hence the procedure can start up to 14 days before the export date.
• The export health examination does involve routine blood sampling, and pets have been known to fail this; if failure occurs re-testing 3 to 4 days later is recommended.
• Hence it is sensible to perform the export health examination 10 days before the travel date.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

20 workdays

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Instructions

• A quarantine period of 30 days (7 days at quarantine station and 23 days at home) is required for pets entering China at Shanghai or Beijing from other countries (see list below).
• A microchip is required in China prior to arranging the export procedures. The microchip must be inserted before the rabies vaccination for identity verification. An international "ISO" microchip is also required before the rabies vaccination required for export to Europe.
• Your pet must be vaccinated between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering the country.
• Within 14 days of travel, a licensed veterinarian then completes the China Health Certificate.
• A copy of the Rabies Certificate should also be included for endorsement.
• Owner's passport must be presented at the time of clearance. The name on the passport must match the owner's name on the health and rabies certificates.
• Pets traveling unaccompanied as manifest cargo will require an Import Permit. The permit should be obtained by someone acting on behalf of the owner or an agent in China.

Required Information

• Owners name and address
• Animals data: breed, sex, birth date, size, color and particular signs.
• Country of origin and transit points, if applicable.
• Statement: "the animal has been examined within 10 days before departure date, not showing any clinical signs of diseases.

Need for the Document

It is a document certifying an animal's identity, health, and vaccination status, enabling it to be taken to and from certain countries without the need for a period of quarantine.

In all cases this will include a certification of rabies vaccination, but there are other items (blood tests, tick and worm treatments) that may only be required in specific circumstances.

Information which might help

As of November 1, 2012, China has placed in effect a new rule that pets entering Beijing and Shanghai from the following countries may go into quarantine for a minimum of seven days even if they meet all the requirements of entry: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brunei, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Comorin, Costa Rica, Cypress, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, French Guinea, French Polynesia, French Guadeloupe, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, French Martinique, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Korea, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Qatar, Reunion, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

Other Animals: Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter China. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

If your pet is traveling unaccompanied, your cat or dog passport must be received prior to customs clearance.

External Links

http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/china.cfm

http://petfriendlytravel.com/intl_travel#China

http://english.gov.cn/2006-06/16/content_312416.htm

http://english.agri.gov.cn/

Others

Bringing a pet into China is somewhat complicated even if you have the proper veterinary health certificate and immunization record for the pet. We recommend you utilize the services of a company that specializes in the entry process and enter China at a no-quarantine zone. Doing so may alleviate the requirement for 7 days of quarantine.

Travelers to China can bring only one pet dog or cat into the Chinese mainland. Other species of pets will be barred from entering. The country's inspection and quarantine authorities will also put dogs and cats in two categories: rabies-infected areas and non-rabies areas. Those from regions where rabies is a problem will be quarantined for 30 days while those from non-rabies areas will be isolated for seven days.