Animals Embarking: Tips for Leaving China With Your Furry Friends
Many expats wouldn’t dream of moving without knowing that their beloved family pet could go with them, but the logistics and paperwork involved in relocating an animal to or from Beijing – coupled with the potential language barrier – are enough to worry even the most efficient planner. Many hire a pet relocation company, but whether you choose to outsource the process or go it alone, rest assured that relocating with pets can be straightforward with research and preparation.
There are two sets of processes: one for when exiting China with pets and another for rehoming animals. The timeline below shows a summary of the things to do for both actions as early as a year before the departure date.
Instructions dependent on departure time (also in poster form below)
As soon as possible
Rehoming Your Pets: Begin the process of finding a new home for your pet as early as possible. Even starting a year in advance is not too soon, because waiting until the last few weeks or months before departure creates panic and desperation for many pet owners. See more resources about rehoming and adoption on our website.
Twelve months to at least 30 days before departure
Vaccinations and Immunity Certificate: Animals departing China must be rabies vaccinated at an officially designated animal rabies vaccination hospital in China and must have the official “PRC (Beijing) Animal Health and Immunity Certificate.” (e.g., vaccination red book) with the stamp/chop of the issuing hospital. Dogs must also have an A4 paper rabies vaccination certificate from the pet hospital. Owners are also recommended to keep good records of the pet’s local vaccinations upon adoption or arrival in Beijing.
Eight-12 months before departure
Moving to Territories With Strict Quarantine Controls: Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore and other strict quarantine controls require import permits and EU ISO compliant microchips and rabies antibody titre tests. See our website for more information about microchipping.
Six months before departure
Moving to EU Countries and UAE: Require EU ISO compliant microchips, rabies vaccination, rabies antibody titre testing (RATT) and at least 90-days waiting period from date of the blood draw for the RATT before pets may enter these countries.
Moving to the continental US and Canada: In a nutshell, these areas require pets to have a rabies vaccination, deworming and parasite prevention. Beijing Customs and Quarantine Bureau requires all pets to have microchips in order to depart China. The specifics for importing pets are discussed on our website.
No more than 12 days before departure
Mandatory Exit Health Examination to Obtain an Official Exit Health Certificate: After your pets have completed rabies and all other vaccinations and have obtained the official “vaccination red books,” pet owners may take their pets for the official exit health examination at the designated government Customs and Quarantine Bureau animal hospital, Guan Shang, 10-12 days prior to the animal’s departure date from China. Owners should bring the pet, the vaccination red book, passport or photocopy (one passport per pet), A4 paper rabies vaccination certificate (for dogs only), rabies antibody titre test report (for EU and other countries that require the test), and cash (about RMB 1,200-plus per pet) at the time of the visit.
After completing the exit health examination and receiving the official health report
Animal Exit Permit: Owners may present the official health report to apply for the “International Exit Health Certificate” and the “Animal Exit Permit.” Bring your “vaccination red book,” the official health report, the A4 paper rabies vaccination certificate (for dogs only), rabies antibody titre test report, and your passport (or passport photocopy), and RMB 200 (exit permit fee) to the Customs and Quarantine Bureau. Pets going to the EU must be present to have microchips scanned in order to apply for the exit permit. The exit permit is usually processed within 4-6 business days and is valid for 14 days once issued. Once you receive the exit permit, pet owners should arrive at your destination countries within 10 days of the issue date.
Pet Relocation Resources
International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS, 北京新天地国际动物医院) has a pet import and export service center. The vet hospital also holds free monthly information sessions.
Daily, 9am-6pm. Rm 13-16 Rongke Ganlan Chengshang Jie, Futongxi Dajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District (8456 1939/40/41, www.icvsasia.com)
朝阳区望京阜通西大街, 融科橄榄城商街13-16号
Doctors Beck and Stone Health Care Center (思威国际动物医院) is a chain of animal hospitals staffed with Western and Chinese vets and staff. Branches double as emergency centers with ambulances available. www.doctorsbeckandstone.com
Globy Pet Relocation helps relocate pets from anywhere in the world, including obtaining required papers, arranging flights, and delivering pets.
Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5.30pm. Rm 26B, Block 2, Bauhinia Court, 30 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District (8762 5020, www.globypetrelo.com)
朝阳区东三环北路30号紫荆豪庭2座26B
Beijing Guanshang Animal Hospital (北京观赏动物医院) offers animal emergency services after 5pm (including holidays).
Daily, 8.30am-10.30pm. 7 Beisanhuan Zhonglu, Xicheng District (6237 1359; Chinese only: 6204 9631/9742, www.chinapet.com.cn)
西城区北三环中路7号
READ: Where to Adopt Rescue Animals in Beijing
This article originally appeared on our sister site beijingkids.
Image: Adobe Suite
