Pet Transport from China to the United States: CDC High-Risk Country Rules

The CDC updated its dog import requirements in 2024, creating a tiered system based on a country’s dog rabies status. China sits in the high-risk category. For dogs vaccinated at a USDA-accredited vet or a USDA-approved foreign laboratory in China, the requirement is a valid rabies vaccination certificate plus the CDC Dog Import Form completed before entry. For dogs vaccinated at any other facility, the owner must either provide a passing titre test from a CDC-approved laboratory, or arrange 28-day quarantine at a CDC-approved US facility after arrival. Source: CDC, cdc.gov/importation.

The CDC Dog Import Form is a non-negotiable requirement for every dog entering the United States, regardless of country of origin. You complete it at cdc.gov before travel and receive a QR code that customs will scan on arrival. The form asks for vaccination history, country of origin, and planned US destination. Airlines will often ask to see the form before accepting a dog for cargo transport.

Identifying whether your vet in China is USDA-accredited is the most important first step for dog owners. There are relatively few USDA-accredited vets in China, particularly outside Beijing and Shanghai. An international pet relocation agent who works in China will know which vets qualify. Getting the vaccination done at the wrong facility is the single most common and costly mistake on this route.

USDA APHIS requires an endorsed health certificate for all pets entering the US from China. The certificate must be issued by an official vet in China and then endorsed by USDA APHIS before departure. USDA APHIS endorsement is done through the APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services office. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the animal’s arrival in the United States. Source: USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov.

On the Chinese side, GACC requires an export permit. This involves a health certificate from a GACC-authorised vet, proof of microchip, and vaccination records submitted to the local GACC office. The GACC permit and the USDA APHIS endorsement are separate processes, and the health certificate must satisfy both sets of requirements simultaneously. A vet familiar with both Chinese and US documentation requirements is worth finding early, as errors in the certificate format can cause delays at both the Chinese departure point and the US arrival point.

The GACC permit process typically takes 3-4 weeks. USDA APHIS endorsement can often be completed in less time if your paperwork is in order. Build in a 6-week lead time for these two processes combined, and keep the 10-day health certificate validity window in mind when booking your travel date.

Air China Cargo operates direct routes from Beijing Capital (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and other US gateways. Direct routing is preferable because it avoids the complication of transit country rules. American Airlines Cargo and Delta Cargo also handle this route, offering connections to a wider range of US domestic destinations once the pet clears customs.

For smaller pets, some itineraries via a European hub (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Paris) can offer more scheduling flexibility, but they add transit time and the possibility of an overnight stop in a transit country. European transit carriers apply their own breed and temperature policies, and the additional handling is a risk factor. For most owners, a direct flight from China is the better choice.

United Airlines has periodically suspended pet cargo on international routes. Always check current status directly with United Cargo before making any plans that depend on them. Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is an option for West Coast US destinations but adds AFCD transit documentation complexity at HKG. If using Cathay, confirm AFCD transit requirements for your specific departure city in China before booking.