Pet Transport from China to the United Kingdom

The UK government classifies countries as either listed or unlisted for pet travel. China is unlisted, which means the reduced-documentation pathway available for EU and listed countries does not apply. Your pet must have a microchip (ISO 11784/11785, implanted before the first rabies vaccination), a completed rabies primary vaccination course, and a passed FAVN titre test showing at least 0.5 IU/ml. The blood draw for the titre test must take place no sooner than 30 days after the final vaccination in the primary course. Once your laboratory result comes back as passing, the 3-month wait begins from that date. Source: UK government / DEFRA, apha.service.gov.uk.

On the documentation side, you will need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) rather than an EU pet passport. The AHC must be issued by an Official Veterinarian and endorsed by APHA. This endorsement window is tight: the AHC must be completed within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in Great Britain. PetAir UK handles a significant proportion of UK-inbound pet shipments on British Airways cargo and can coordinate the APHA endorsement side. Your pet must arrive via an approved route and entry point.

Dogs do not face quarantine on arrival in Great Britain if all documents are correct and the 3-month waiting period has passed. Cats face the same requirements but without the lifetime two-dose vaccination history requirement that applies to some destinations. If your documentation has any gap, customs vets at the port of entry have the authority to refuse admission or detain the animal at a facility, with all costs falling to you.

Exporting a pet from China requires a GACC (General Administration of Customs of China) export permit. You obtain this through your local GACC office, and the process requires your pet’s health records, microchip documentation, and a veterinary health certificate. Allow several weeks for this stage. The health certificate must be countersigned by an official vet and reflect the format required at the destination country, in this case the UK’s Animal Health Certificate format.

It is worth noting that the GACC export permit and the UK’s APHA-endorsed AHC are two separate documents. The export permit is a Chinese government document allowing your pet to leave China. The AHC is a British document allowing your pet to enter Great Britain. You need both. The GACC health certificate must be issued within 14 days of departure, which means the timeline for finalising paperwork is compressed at the end of the process even though the preparation spans many months.

Air China Cargo is the most common carrier for this route, with British Airways via IAG Cargo as the main UK-side option. Both carry pets as manifested cargo, not as excess baggage. Crates must meet IATA container requirements (IATA Live Animals Regulations), and most carriers specify minimum ventilation and size standards based on the pet’s weight and the ability to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably. Book your cargo space well in advance, particularly during peak relocation seasons.