1. Entry with Pets

It is allowed to carry in only one pet (cat or dog only) per person. When entering with a pet into China, the carrier should declare to the Inspection and Quarantine Authority at the port of entry and present the following documents:

(1) The Health Certificate issued by the Veterinary Quarantine Authority of the country / region of export.
(2) The Certificate of Immunity from Rabies issued by the relevant government department of the country / region of export. In accordance with the Chinese law, the vaccination against rabies is valid for one year since the injection and the last vaccination must be done within 30 days before the pet is carried into China.
(3) The consular or service identity document or the diplomatic or service passport of the carrier of the pet.
(4) The completed Quarantine Inspection Form.

The Inspection and Quarantine Authority at the port of entry will conduct quarantine inspection of the carry-in pet at the port and have it quarantined for thirty days in isolation in the quarantine institute designated by the authority. If the pet can pass the quarantine inspection after the isolation, the Inspection and Quarantine Authority at the port of entry will issue the quarantine certificate to permit the entry of the pet. If the carrier of the pet is unable to present the Health Certificate and the Certificate of Immunity from Rabies issued by the Veterinary Quarantine Authority of the country / region of export, or the number of pets brought in exceeds the permitted limit, or the pet fails to pass the quarantine inspection, the Inspection and Quarantine Authority will temporarily hold the pet in custody before its repatriation or extermination within the specified time limit. In this case, the carrier will be issued a Receipt of Carried on Articles Held for Quarantine Inspection / Disposition. For the pet to be repatriated, the carrier should complete all the formalities within the specified time limit. Otherwise, the pet will be regarded as the unclaimed. If the carrier decides, in writing, to give up the pet, the Inspection and Quarantine Authority will dispose of the pet in accordance with the relevant regulations.

2. Exit with Pets

To depart from China with a pet, the carrier should, at least one week prior to the date of departure, send it for quarantine inspection in the institute designated by the local Inspection and Quarantine Authority. The documents required for such inspection are as follows:

(1) The Certificate of Immunity from Rabies issued by a Veterinary Center at the county-level or above, or a designated pet clinic. The vaccination shall be done within thirty days prior to the date of departure.
(2) The original Health Certificate for the pet.
(3) The consular or service identity document or the diplomatic or service passport of the owner of the pet.
(4) The completed Quarantine Inspection Form. If the pet passes the inspection, the authority will issue a new Health Certificate for the Pet.

3. Entry with Plants and Plant Products

Application for quarantine approval must be made, through the relevant consular post in China, to the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China before any plant or plant products are to be brought into China. When entering China with plants, the carrier must declare to the Inspection and Quarantine Authority at the port of entry with the Plant Quarantine Certificate and related permits issued by a relevant authority of the country of export and apply for quarantine inspection with the completed Quarantine Inspection Form.

4. Prohibited Animals, Plants and their Products

The information about the articles prohibited from entering China are available in the Catalogue of Animals and Animal Products Prohibited from Import (Carry-in or by Mail) and Articles Subject to Quarantine Inspection of the People's Republic of China and, Catalogue of Plants Prohibited from Import and Plants Subject to Quarantine Inspection of the People's Republic of China, and from the local Inspection and Quarantine Authority. In case of special need to import any of the articles listed in the above mentioned catalogues, application for special permit must be made in advance to the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine with the quarantine certificate issued by the relevant authority of the country / region of export.

Editor: Wing