Pets in China

Bringing a pet in

Pets entering mainland China must:

• Be at least 90 days old.
• Have a microchip (ISO 11784/11785 standard).
• Have a current rabies vaccination, between 30 days and 12 months before arrival.
• Hold a health certificate issued by the home country's veterinary authority within 14 days of travel.
• Be declared on arrival; in some cases (depending on the airport and country of origin), a 30-day quarantine applies — though most travellers from rabies-controlled countries clear without quarantine if all paperwork is present.

Each foreign resident is permitted to bring one pet. Some breeds are restricted in cities (see below).

Breed restrictions

Many Chinese cities maintain restricted-breed lists — typically large dogs and breeds considered aggressive (most pit bull types, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Cane Corso, several mastiff breeds, plus city-specific lists). Beijing's restricted list runs to over 40 breeds and bans dogs over 35 cm at the shoulder in central city districts. Shanghai's list is shorter but enforced.

If you live in a city with restrictions, confirm before arrival.

Veterinary care

Tier-1 cities have international-standard veterinary clinics, including some chains run by Western-trained vets (Hongling, Dingjia, IPC). Routine consultation ¥200–¥500. Surgery and specialist care ¥2,000–¥10,000. Pet insurance is available but limited.

In tier-3 cities, vet care varies; ask the expat community for recommendations.

Daily life

• Pet shops stock most international brands (Royal Canin, Hill's, Pro Plan), though prices are 1.5–2x home-country.
• Online ordering via Tmall / JD / Pinduoduo is widely used and reliable.
• Dog parks exist in most tier-1 city districts; many parks ban dogs entirely or restrict them to certain hours.
• Building management fees sometimes include a pet-registration component (~¥100–¥500/year per pet).

Cats

Easier than dogs in most respects — fewer breed restrictions, fewer city bans. Many compounds and rented apartments require a small additional deposit for a cat.

Taking pets home

Reverse the process: home-country import requirements vary widely. Allow 60+ days for paperwork. The standard expat-pet route home is via a specialist pet-transport agency; ¥6,000–¥18,000 for a typical international move.