A few expats take their pets with them to China, but most do not. I think it's a combination of potential hassle, worry and the unknown. It also would depend on where you would be living once you arrive in China; a dog who used to have a yard with grass in the West, that has now survived a long flight, quarantine and then is expected to be an apartment dog, may not be happy in a big Chinese city. So, it really depends on you, the owner, and how much preparation and planning you want to do because the process can be demanding, not only for you but also for your pet.
Once you decide it's best for you and Fido or Whiskers to move together to China, here's the must know information:
Only dogs and cats can be imported to China. All other animals are forbidden.
Only one dog or cat per person is admitted, or two per family.
If your animals are accompanying you on the plane as accompanied baggage, they must be in separate kennels. One animal per kennel.
Make sure your new apartment or home in China allows pets before you start the import paperwork.
º£½ÇÂÒÂ×s importing their pets must have a Z visa.
Your pet must be have had a recent rabies vaccine at least one month prior to departure but no longer than 12 months previous.
The rest of the information in this post is from the International Center for Veterinary Services in Beijing, they are a Western standard veterinary practice that many expats recommend. The information on their site was the most straightforward and up to date information I found while looking into this topic:
You will need the following documents to clear health & quarantine requirements:
Official certification of recent rabies vaccination
An official certificate from your current country (e.g., government office) for exporting your pet outside of the country
A health certificate (or letter) prepared by your veterinarian in your current country, attesting to the health of your pet
You should probably start by asking your veterinarian back home what documents you need to export your pet. Here is an example of the process to export pets out of the USA:
Based on the experiences of pet ownersÂ’ from the United States, owners may first contact their veterinarians to inquire about official export forms. Most veterinariansÂ’ offices have these forms available or these offices can tell owners where to obtain them. Once these forms are filled out and your veterinarian has signed off on them, you may send these forms to the local state office of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Your local state USDA will provide you with the export certificate and the official rabies certificate for a small fee (the USDA has an office in each state capital). It is a relatively straightforward and easy process but owners do need to give themselves sufficient time to get the paperwork done (recommend getting started at least one-two months before departure).
China requires that animals coming into the country be rabies vaccinated at least 1 month prior to arrival (but no more than 12 months prior). These guidelines may change at any time so best to check with your relocation company as soon as you know that you may be moving to China. China does not currently have a microchipping requirement for imported pets, but this could change in the future.
There is a legal requirement in China that pets brought into the country undergo 30-days quarantine. Pets are quarantined at a government run facility and owners will be charged for the quarantine. However, many owners who have used experienced relocation companies have been able to avoid the lengthy quarantine stays (reduced quarantine to under one-week or even overnight). There is a "home quarantine" option but recent pet owners who have brought in their pets without using relocation companies have been met with quarantine officials at the airport who have been insistent on requiring mandatory quarantine. Quarantine officials no longer allow home quarantine unless there is some special reason (e.g., very elderly animal or animal with medication requirements, etc., that the officials may find too difficult to handle). Even so, we have owners who have reported that their elderly pets (e.g., 18-year old cat) were put into mandatory quarantine.
Owners are strongly recommended to ensure their pets are fully vaccinated for kennel cough (Bordetella) at least two-weeks prior to departure. Kennel cough is an infectious disease that can be transmitted among animals in kennels/boarding facilities and during transit with other animals. Please check with your veterinarian in your current country to find out more about the kennel cough vaccination.
Once your pet arrives in China, owners may bring them to the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) for a comprehensive examination to ensure their health (especially if any time was spent in quarantine) and to get them registered so that ICVS can provide pets with their official vaccination certificates (given along with their next rabies vaccination) during their stay in China. These vaccination certificates (or “vaccination red books”) will be needed to export pets outside of China, relocate to other Chinese cities and to renew registration licenses for dogs.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at the International Center for Veterinary Services with any questions on importing/exporting pets, pet registration requirements and any general health care concerns:
International Center for Veterinary Services
No. 29 Liang Ma Qiao Road, An Jia Lou
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100125
(In the same courtyard as the Chinese Culture Center)
地址：
北京新天地国际动物医院
北京市朝阳区安家楼亮马桥路号，邮编：100125
肯特中心院内
More expat questions and answers at: interactiveexpat.blogspot.com
Thanks!
