Your pet to China: the titre route past quarantine

The Chinese pet rules have been tight and predictable since May 2019 — and a good deal friendlier than the stories about "months of quarantine" that keep circulating online. But the route past quarantine demands a file that is correct down to the signature, and it starts months before the flight.

The main rule: titre or quarantine

China has a list of designated (low-rabies) countries, and the Netherlands isn't on it. For a Dutch dog or cat, therefore, thirty days of quarantine applies by default — unless the file contains three things: a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a titre test with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, performed by a laboratory recognised by Chinese customs. In the Netherlands there is exactly one: Wageningen Bioveterinary Research in Lelystad. If the file is correct, the animal is released immediately on arrival after an inspection on the spot — no quarantine.

Unlike with Japan there is no waiting period of 180 days after the blood sample. But don't underestimate the chain: chipping, vaccinating (the test must come after both), having blood drawn, the result from Lelystad, and then the health certificate — allow a good two to four months, and so start as soon as the job offer becomes serious.

One animal per person — and the city's breed rules

Two rules that surprise families. China admits at most one dog or cat per person per entry: with two animals you travel with two people, each with their own animal in their own name. And the landing isn't the last counter: the big cities have dog rules of their own. In Beijing's inner city dogs above 35 centimetres at the withers can't be registered, and dozens of large breeds — from shepherd to rottweiler — are on the banned list. Whoever moves to Beijing with a large dog effectively can't keep it there legally; check the rules of your district before you choose a home, not after.

The last weeks: the certificate and the port

Just before departure your own vet draws up the health certificate, and that has to be legalised by the NVWA — you make the appointment for that at least fourteen working days in advance. Choose the port of arrival deliberately: immediate release is in principle possible anywhere customs inspects, but preferably land at a port with quarantine facilities — Beijing Capital or Shanghai Pudong — so that a missing paper means at most a delay and not a return flight. Book the animal on your own flight: this arrangement applies to accompanying pets, not to animals that follow later as separate cargo.

The checklist in order

1. Microchip (if there isn't one yet) — before or at the vaccination.
2. Rabies vaccination, valid on the day of travel.
3. Titre test at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research; result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml in the file.
4. Book the flight — animal on your own flight, port with facilities.
5. Health certificate from the vet, NVWA legalisation (book 14 working days in advance).
6. Everything in your hand luggage on the day of travel: chip number, vaccination booklet, titre result, legalised certificate.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 4 of 5 of the journey: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to China.