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Bringing a Cat from the USA to Hong Kong: Requirements & Timeline

For cats the Group II route is the same simple chain — and none of the dog breed rules apply.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-08-23

Planning for a dog instead? See the dog version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Hong Kong applies the same Group II process to cats: an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given 30 days to 1 year before export (primary shot at 90+ days old), the feline core vaccines (panleucopaenia and cat flu), an AFCD Special Import Permit (valid 6 months), and a USDA-endorsed VC-DC2 certificate. No titer, no quarantine. Your cat must be 5+ months old and have lived in the US for the 180 days before export.

Minimum lead time: about 1 months (30 days). Plan about a month. Because the US is a 'Group II' place, there's no rabies titer and no quarantine for a compliant cat — the AFCD Special Import Permit is the main step.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. ISO microchip implanted
    An ISO or AVID microchip readable by an ISO-compatible reader. Implant it before the rabies vaccination as best practice (and required if you'll return a dog to the US).
    Official source ↗
  2. Rabies vaccination (30 days to 1 year before export)
    Given not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year before export. For a first (primary) vaccination the pet must have been at least 90 days old when vaccinated. No rabies titer is required for Group II.
    Official source ↗
  3. Core vaccinations (cats)
    Feline panleucopaenia (infectious enteritis) and feline respiratory disease complex (cat flu), given not less than 14 days and not more than 1 year before export.
    Official source ↗
  4. Apply for the AFCD Special Import Permit
    Apply to AFCD (Forms AF240 + UN110). It takes about 5 working days to issue, is valid 6 months for one consignment, and must be in hand before travel. Apply well ahead to allow for mailing.
    Official source ↗
  5. Animal health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS
    A USDA-accredited vet issues the VC-DC2 animal health certificate dated no more than 14 days before export (with the residence and vaccination certificates), and USDA APHIS endorses it via VEHCS.
    Official source ↗
  6. Notify AFCD 24 hours before arrival
    The permit holder must notify the AFCD Import & Export Section at least 24 hours before the anticipated arrival time. Your pet flies as manifested cargo to Hong Kong International Airport.
    Official source ↗

What's simpler for cats

The dog fighting-breed ban doesn't apply to cats — but note Hong Kong's own cat rule: Bengal cats need documented 5th-generation domestic ancestry, and Savannah cats aren't covered by these Group II terms. Cats travel as manifested cargo into Hong Kong International Airport, same as dogs, and skip the CDC high-risk process on the trip home. The planner dates every cat step.

The trip home: bringing your dog back to the US

Good news — Hong Kong isn't a CDC high-risk country, so the return is simple. A US-vaccinated dog needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form (a receipt valid 6 months, reusable), a microchip, to be at least 6 months old, and to appear healthy — no titer or endorsed rabies certificate for re-entry. Cats have no CDC requirement either way (Hawaii and Guam set their own quarantine even from the mainland).

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

Does my cat need a rabies titer for Hong Kong?
No — the US is a Group II place, so no titer and no quarantine for a compliant cat. Just microchip, rabies (30 days–1 year before export), feline vaccines, the AFCD permit and a USDA-endorsed certificate.
How long does it take to bring a cat from the US to Hong Kong?
About a month, driven by the AFCD Special Import Permit (roughly 5 working days to issue, valid 6 months) and the 30-day-minimum rabies vaccination. The planner computes your dates.
Can my cat fly in the cabin?
No — pets enter Hong Kong as manifested cargo into Hong Kong International Airport. Notify AFCD at least 24 hours before arrival.

Other cat routes

Compare every country's lead time, titer and return requirements side by side →

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.
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