Your pet needs three separate approvals before it can fly out of China with you:
- China Customs export quarantine. Customs inspects your pet and issues an Animal Health Certificate.
- The destination country's import rules. These decide the microchip, vaccination and blood-test steps, and the waiting time.
- The operating airline's acceptance of your pet on your flight.
All three must pass before you travel, and none replaces another. This guide covers dogs and cats travelling with their owner on four airlines: Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Hainan. Read every rule against the airline that operates your flight.
What China Customs requires
This section uses pages from Hangzhou Customs, Shanghai Customs and the General Administration of Customs (GACC). The exact process and timing depend on the local Customs office. The Customs hotline named on the Hangzhou page is 12360.
Hangzhou Customs describes four steps: the carrier or an agent applies to the local Customs office; Customs checks the documents; Customs inspects the pet on site, matching it to the application and doing a clinical check; and, if the pet passes, Customs issues the Animal Health Certificate. Shanghai Customs' guide covers non-commercial dogs and cats carried out as personal items. It says you apply through the International Trade Single Window (singlewindow.cn) or Internet+Customs (online.customs.gov.cn).
The two offices give different timing. This guide does not merge them into one national rule.
| Hangzhou Customs | Shanghai Customs | |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | Within 7 days before leaving | Online, 10-14 days before departure (recommended) |
| On-site inspection | After the document check | 7-10 days before departure (recommended); book it once the status shows "approved" |
| Certificate validity | Not stated on the page | Generally 14 days; 10 days for the EU |
| Processing | Not stated on the page | Review generally within 3 working days; collect the certificate about 3 working days after the inspection passes |
Documents. Hangzhou Customs lists a rabies vaccination certificate within its validity period; the carrier's exit document (ID card, passport, Hong Kong/Macau permit and similar); and, as the destination requires, the microchip and a rabies antibody test report with a titre of 0.5 IU/ml or above. Shanghai Customs lists the carrier's passport or other travel document (plus a written statement if the carrier is not the owner); the rabies vaccination record (plus the animal health certificate from the pet's entry into China, if it was vaccinated outside China); a titre report from a laboratory the destination accepts, and records of other vaccinations or deworming, if the destination requires them; a photo of the pet; and an authorisation letter if an agent files for you. Two Shanghai-only items: the Shanghai dog registration certificate for dogs and, for cats vaccinated outside Shanghai, evidence that the cat is kept in Shanghai.
Both pages say the destination's requirements decide which extra items you need. Shanghai Customs will not issue the certificate if the pet does not match the declaration, the documents are invalid or do not prove the destination's requirements, the clinical check fails, the pet is clearly unfit for international travel, or in other cases Customs specifies.
Cost. Hangzhou Customs' Q&A says there is no fee for the Animal Health Certificate. It also says a certificate from a Customs office other than the one at your exit point can be used. No official page used here gives vet, test, quarantine or destination costs.
Cabin, checked baggage or cargo
| Airline | Cabin | Checked baggage | Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air China | A separate cabin agreement page sets cabin rules (next table). It does not say which routes it covers or whether international flights are included. | The pet-transportation page: loaded in a hold with oxygen supply. | Not covered |
| China Eastern | No. The small-animals page says pets travel in the cargo compartment, not the passenger cabin. | Yes, on that page. | The Chinese page says a pet too large or heavy for baggage cannot be checked and advises cargo channels. The English page says an animal and crate whose three sides add up to more than 203 cm cannot be checked and advises an independent freight transporter. |
| China Southern | No. The Chinese FAQ page says pets cannot go in the cabin (guide dogs excepted). | Yes, on the English pets page. | That page says some airports (it names Hong Kong) allow live animals to arrive or depart only as cargo. |
| Hainan | A bilingual cabin agreement allows cabin pets only in economy on designated international direct flights. It does not say which flights are designated. | The Chinese pet-transport page. | Not covered |
Only Air China and Hainan publish cabin agreements. Air China's agreement does not say whether it covers international flights, so confirm that with Air China before you plan around it. None of the airline pages used here gives a cargo price or booking steps, so this guide does not cover shipping a pet as cargo.
Cabin agreements side by side.
| Air China | Hainan | |
|---|---|---|
| Pets per flight | 2 | 4 on narrow-body, 6 on wide-body aircraft |
| Pets per passenger | 1 | 1 |
| Booking window | 7 days to 24 hours before departure; app, mini-program, H5 page or hotline 95583 | 7 days to 48 hours before departure; with Hainan's direct sales unit |
| At the airport | Check-in at least 2 hours before departure | Counter at least 2 hours before departure |
| Crate | Soft-sided, double-ended zippers; not above 35 x 28 x 24 cm (may slightly exceed it unfolded, but must compress to within it); under the seat in front; no food or water inside | Soft-sided; not above 35 x 28 x 24 cm (may slightly exceed it unfolded, but must compress to within it); no food or water inside |
| Age and condition | Under 6 months not accepted; pregnant or within 48 hours of giving birth; given sedatives or sleeping pills | Under 12 weeks not accepted; same pregnancy and sedative limits |
| Documents | Animal Quarantine Certificate from the Animal Health Supervision Authority; valid vaccination certificate; signed agreement | The list covers entry into Thailand and China only |
| Fee per pet per flight segment | RMB 1,399 | CNY 3,000 or THB 15,000 |
Checked pets: limits, deadlines and connections
All four airlines' pages treat the pet as checked baggage. This table covers international flights.
| Air China | China Eastern | China Southern | Hainan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum weight | 32 kg with crate, food and water | 32 kg with crate, food and water | 32 kg (its fee table counts animal, container and food) | 32 kg with crate, food and water |
| Pets per passenger | 1 | 1 on international and regional flights (Chinese page) | Not stated | Up to 2 on the same flight; international flights follow the entry country's rules; 1 for entry into China |
| Apply | At least 2 hours before departure | At least 48 hours before departure, local time at the departure point | At least 48 hours before departure; China Southern's approval required | 48 hours before departure |
| At the airport | No later than 120 minutes before departure | At least 120 minutes (advised) | English page: 120 minutes. Chinese product page: at least 2 hours if the pet flies on the same flight; at least 3 hours if it "flies separately" | Counter at least 2 hours before departure |
| Not accepted | Pregnant; under 8 weeks; nursing; within 7 days of giving birth; sick | Under 6 months; pregnant or due within 48 hours | English page: pregnant. Chinese product page: pregnant, or within 8 weeks of birth | Listed as unsuitable for air travel: under 8 weeks; pregnant or within 48 hours of giving birth; given sedatives or sleeping pills |
| Temperature | Not mentioned | Advises caution, at your own risk, when the forecast at any point on the itinerary is -12 C or below, or 30 C or above; lists such temperatures among reasons to refuse | Not mentioned | Not accepted as baggage when the forecast at any point on the journey is at or below -12 C or at or above 30 C |
| Aircraft | Some A319, A320, 737-8MAX and ARJ21-700 holds have no oxygen supply and cannot carry pets | Only types with an oxygen-equipped hold; the type can change before departure. Its English page lists a long-haul route with no stops, or a hold unsuitable for animals, among reasons to refuse | The type's baggage hold must suit live animals | A320NEO and A321NEO cannot carry pets |
| Connections | Air China-operated, Air China-coded flights. A domestic-to-domestic or domestic-to-international connection through Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong or Chengdu Tianfu/Shuangliu with a transit of at least 2.5 hours can be booked as a transit; apply for each segment separately. Over 4 hours, you collect and look after the pet before checking it in again. If the next segment leaves from a different airport, you collect the pet, take it to that airport and check it in again. | Non-stop flights operated by China Eastern or Shanghai Airlines and bearing their flight numbers only | English page: cannot currently carry small living creatures on connecting flights | No one-stop through service. You check the pet on a single direct segment, collect it at the transit point and check it in again. |
Air China's page gives two statements that fall close together: apply at least 2 hours before departure, and check in no later than 120 minutes before. It does not say how the two differ. China Eastern's Chinese page also says to ask when you book, to get China Eastern's approval first, and to check that both the departure and arrival airports offer the service. Hainan's page also says it does not accept pet check-in from unaccompanied passengers, and that some airports cannot handle pet check-in for now. No page used here covers the transit rules of foreign countries. Each transit country sets its own, so ask that country's authority and your airlines.
Crate size. The numbers differ by airline.
- China Eastern (Chinese page): large, at least 91 x 60 x 66 cm and under 121 x 81 x 88 cm; medium, at least 81 x 55 x 58 cm and under 91 x 60 x 66 cm; small, under 81 x 55 x 58 cm. Hainan's page uses the same medium band, defines large as at least 91 x 60 x 66 cm, and gives 121 x 81 x 88 cm as the largest container volume; it gives no small band. Both use one formula: length = nose-to-tail-base + 0.5 x elbow-to-ground height; width = 2 x widest body width; height = ground to ear tip or top of head, ears not touching the roof. Both say the size must meet the IATA Live Animal Regulations and say nothing more about IATA.
- China Southern (English page): not larger than 90 x 60 x 66 cm and not smaller than 5 x 15 x 20 cm.
- Air China: length at least body length plus half the foreleg length; width twice the shoulder width; height the standing height to the head or ear tip, whichever is higher. The page says to confirm with Air China that the crate fits the aircraft's door and hold.
Crate types. China Eastern and Hainan both refuse crates with plastic or fibreglass doors, crates made entirely of welded wire, crates with a door or vent on top, and soft-sided or foldable crates. Air China refuses fibreglass or hard-plastic doors, additional doors on the roof, and vents at the bottom of the side walls. China Southern asks for a sturdy crate of metal, tough plastic or wood, with a fixed top, vents on at least three sides and a lockable metal door.
Breeds. Every airline's pages list short-nosed breeds and some aggressive breeds, with wording such as "including but not limited to". Air China and China Southern say they do not accept them; China Eastern lists them among the grounds on which it may refuse a pet; Hainan's pet-transport page lists them as unsuitable for air travel. Names that appear on several pages include bulldogs, pugs, and Persian, exotic shorthair, Burmese and Himalayan cats. The lists differ by airline, so the operating airline's list for your travel date is the one that counts.
Published fees for checked pets
The table lists only amounts printed on the airlines' pages. It gives no total or budget. Cabin fees are in the cabin table above.
| Weight, including animal, crate and food (Air China and Hainan also count water) | Air China (special baggage schedule, version 20220610; per container) | China Southern (English page, international flights) | Hainan (piece-based routes; per container) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-8 kg | RMB 3,900 / USD 600 | RMB 1,380 / USD 200 / EUR 190 | RMB 3,900 / USD 600 / EUR 520 / CAD 800 |
| Over 8-23 kg | RMB 5,200 / USD 800 | RMB 2,100 / USD 300 / EUR 280 | RMB 5,200 / USD 800 / EUR 700 / CAD 1,050 |
| Over 23-32 kg | RMB 7,800 / USD 1,200 | RMB 3,500 / USD 500 / EUR 470 | RMB 7,800 / USD 1,200 / EUR 1,050 / CAD 1,550 |
- Air China's pet page says its fee follows the special baggage schedule and is paid at check-in. A second Air China PDF lists the same pet amounts with no version label.
- China Southern's baggage-sales heading says the table takes effect on April 6, 2023. USD applies to animals originating in the United States, EUR to the Eurozone and RMB elsewhere; amounts not charged in RMB are converted at the day's rate.
- Hainan's weight-based routes charge per kg: the one-way direct economy normal fare x 1.5%, on the total weight of pet, crate and food. The page does not say which routes are piece-based and which weight-based.
- China Eastern's page says the fee is charged at the airport under excess baggage rules on the combined weight. It gives no amount.
Destination rules: Japan, the EU and the United States
Read the destination government's own page first. Japan and the EU show how different the rules can be.
Japan's Animal Quarantine Service lists Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam on its designated-regions page. China is not on it, so a pet from China follows the non-designated-region route. The European Commission page covers pets travelling with their owner for non-commercial reasons.
| Japan (non-designated regions) | EU (non-commercial movement) | |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | Before the first rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | At least two; the first when the pet is at least 91 days old, the second at least 30 days after the first and within the first one's effective period | Pet at least 12 weeks old at vaccination; not before the microchip; validity starts at least 21 days after the primary vaccination protocol is complete, and each later vaccination must fall within the previous one's validity |
| Antibody test | Designated laboratory; blood drawn after the second vaccination (same day allowed); titre 0.5 IU/ml or more; valid 2 years from the blood-draw date | Designated laboratory; 0.5 IU/ml or more; sample taken at least 30 days after the primary vaccination, or within a current valid vaccination series, and at least 90 days before the certificate's issue date |
| Waiting and notice | Arrive after 180 days from the blood-draw date and while both the rabies vaccination and the antibody test are still valid; notify the Animal Quarantine Service at the arrival airport at least 40 days before arrival (less is not accepted in principle) | Covered by the 90-day rule above |
| Before travel | Veterinarian's clinical inspection within 10 days before boarding; export certificate from the exporting country's government | Animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian, or by an authorised veterinarian and endorsed by the competent authority, valid 10 days from issue to the checks at the point of entry; owner's written declaration that the movement is non-commercial |
| Entry point | Dogs only through designated airports and seaports (the page lists them) | A designated travellers' point of entry |
| Other | Pets that do not meet the requirements may be held up to 180 days at the importer's cost, or returned | Dogs (not cats) need tapeworm treatment given by a veterinarian 24-120 hours before scheduled entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway |
On the EU page, certificates under the older model remain valid if issued before 1 October 2026. The page waives the antibody test for pets from the countries listed in its regulation annexes. This guide does not say whether China is on that list; the EU page links to the country lists.
United States. No U.S. government page is used here, so this guide gives no U.S. entry rules. The only U.S. statements come from airlines. Air China says that from 1 February 2025 it temporarily suspends carrying dogs on flights to the United States, including pet dogs and guide or hearing dogs, and will help with changes or refunds on existing bookings. China Eastern's page says it has temporarily suspended accepting dogs on flights to the United States because of U.S. CDC policy. Neither page gives a restart date, and neither says anything about cats. China Southern's and Hainan's pages used here say nothing on the subject.
Coming back to China
GACC Announcement No. 5 of 2019 says only dogs or cats may be brought into China, and only one pet per person per trip. The airline pages repeat it. The return-entry quarantine rules are outside this guide.
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