Plan your pet’s move from mainland China with clear guidance on CDC import rules, China export documents, costs, timelines, and airline options.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Difficult
3–5 months estimated
Varies
Conditional — 28 days
CDC’s China listing applies to mainland China and expressly excludes Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Use the dog’s location history during the prior 6 months to choose the correct pathway.
Plan your pet’s move from mainland China with clear guidance on CDC import rules, China export documents, costs, timelines, and airline options.
Foreign-vaccinated dogs need the endorsed CDC certification plus the outbound animal health or quarantine certificate issued through China Customs.
Veterinarian + Official Government Veterinarian
A veterinarian completes the CDC form, and an official government veterinarian in China endorses it.
Not Required
US-vaccinated dogs use a different pathway involving a USDA-accredited veterinarian before departure from the United States.
Within 30 Days
The foreign rabies vaccination and microchip certification must be completed no more than 30 days before travel and is single-use.
Required
Carry printed documents, the facility reservation, and certified English translations where needed.
→ Foreign-vaccinated dogs need a CDC facility reservation even with a valid titer.
→ Without a valid titer, the reservation must include 28-day quarantine.
→ The dog must arrive directly at the airport where the reserved facility is located.
→ China Customs controls the outbound animal health certificate.
→ Air China currently suspends dogs on U.S.-bound flights.
→ Applying Hong Kong’s low-risk status to mainland China
→ Vaccinating before microchipping
→ Assuming a valid titer removes the facility requirement
→ Booking a U.S. arrival airport before reserving the facility
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
CDC treats the two departures differently.
CDC may treat that vaccination as invalid.
The reservation controls the U.S. arrival airport.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Varies
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ Microchip and rabies vaccination records
→ CDC-approved titer report, when used
→ Endorsed Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt
→ CDC facility reservation
→ China outbound animal health or quarantine certificate
→ Airline confirmation and air waybill, if required
→ Certified English translations where needed
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ Yes, CDC lists mainland China as high risk.
→ Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are expressly excluded.
→ The prior 6 months of travel history matter.
→ It avoids the routine 28-day quarantine.
→ The facility reservation, examination, and U.S. revaccination still apply.
→ The CDC facility reservation must include 28-day quarantine.
→ Plan and price this before booking the flight.
→ No.
→ The dog must arrive directly at the airport where its reserved CDC facility is located.
→ No general federal CDC entry form applies to cats.
→ China export, airline, transit, and state rules can still apply.
→ Air China’s official policy says U.S.-bound dog acceptance has been suspended since February 1, 2025.
→ Check directly for any later policy change before booking.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
CDC lists mainland China as high risk for dog rabies while expressly excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. A foreign-vaccinated dog therefore needs the high-risk pathway even when the trip begins near one of those excluded areas.
A foreign-vaccinated dog must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility and arrive directly at the airport where that facility is located. A valid titer avoids routine 28-day quarantine, but the facility still examines and revaccinates the dog.
China Customs lists outbound pet quarantine as a public service, and exported animals must pass quarantine before release. Local appointment steps and supporting records can vary, so contact the customs district serving the departure city early.
Connections can involve transit-country rules and a different operating carrier. Air China currently states that it has suspended dogs on U.S.-bound flights, so do not assume a familiar passenger route can carry the dog.
Professional coordination can be useful for a foreign-vaccinated dog because the facility, arrival airport, titer, government endorsement, China export certificate, and airline itinerary must all align. Cat moves may be manageable independently when the airline and local export office confirm the process.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
