What should I do if I want to buy cats and dogs online from outside Hong Kong?
Some people may consider purchasing pets from overseas instead of locally. In addition to the risks of online shopping in general, there are other points to note when buying cats and dogs online from overseas:
Special Permit
No cats or dogs may be transported into Hong Kong (whether imported or re-exported) without obtaining a special permit issued by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in advance.
Distinguishing regional groups
The countries or places from which cats and dogs are imported are categorised into three groups (Group I, Group II and Group III). Each group has different quarantine policies and application procedures. Notably, cats and dogs imported from Group III (including Mainland China) must undergo a minimum quarantine period of 120 days at the AFCDโs Animal Management Centre.
Detailed information can be found on this page.
Beware
If you suspect that the seller (and the cats and dogs for sale) are in Group III countries but claim that they do not need to be quarantined, or that there are ways to avoid quarantine, do not believe it! Do not purchase!
