Pet Travel Spotlight: 5 Hong Kong Challenges and How to Overcome Them

After answering a few frequently asked questions about pet travel to Hong Kong in Part One of our Hong Kong Spotlight, we now focus on another hot topic: Common obstacles that arise when tackling your dog or cat's relocation to Hong Kong.

Pet travel can be overwhelming no matter how prepared you are, so to help ease your family's transition to Hong Kong, here are a few roadblocks to watch out for.

Import Permit

All pets will need an import permit to gain entry into Hong Kong, and this can be tricky to obtain, so it's essential to start early and follow protocol carefully. The permit is good for six months, but it can take a few days to receive once you or your pet's travel agent applies for it, and the permit must also be filled out in the correct format to accurately reflect your pet's vaccination status and other important details. (Remember, PetRelocation can handle the import permit on your behalf if you decide to work with us!)

Finding a Pet Friendly Airline

As always, it's important to use a pet-friendly airline when traveling internationally, and "pet friendly" means a carrier places a priority on the safety of pets during transit. The cargo area is pressure and temperature-controlled; pets are the last to be loaded and the first to be removed upon arrival, and pets are kept in temperature-controlled rooms and vehicles throughout the trip.

PetRelocation has a few preferred carriers for our clients, including KLM, Lufthansa, and British Airways. 

Manifest Cargo & Flying Separately From Your Pet

Pets entering Hong Kong must arrive via manifest cargo instead of in the cabin (the only exceptions may be for service animals). Remember that not all Asian airlines meet our standards for pet friendliness or have the routing we desire, so you will probably end up flying separately from your pet when traveling to Hong Kong.

Another reason it often works better to fly separately is the early check-in time for pets and the fact that an approved customs broker has to receive the pet and oversee clearance upon arrival. These factors add several extra hours to a journey, and the pet owner doesn't need to be there during this time.

Heat Embargoes

Though you may encounter restrictions when traveling with a brachycephalic breed, it's not impossible to move with a Pug, French Bulldog, or another snub-nosed pet to Hong Kong. Finding an airline may be a little trickier, as some carriers don't accept particular breeds at any time. Some only accept them during the cooler months (usually beginning after Sept. 15). Sometimes the only option is to fly over Europe with Swiss Air or Lufthansa, so depending on where you're starting, this could make for a longer (but still perfectly safe) trip.

Here are a few general tips for flying with snub-nosed pets, and as always, it helps to start planning nice and early to avoid any scheduling issues.

Restricted Breeds

A few breeds, including Pit Bull Terrier/American Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and their crossbreeds, are banned from entering Hong Kong if your dog resembles one of these breeds. You will be required to show documentation illustrating they are not one of the prohibited breeds (again, your relocation coordinator can oversee this for you).

Take a look at the rest of our Hong Kong Pet Travel Spotlight and contact our Hong Kong pet travel team if you're ready to start planning your pet's safe move!

Banner image: High West - Hong Kong/Flickr