Bringing a pet, then registering it

Customs, not a vet clinic, handles import quarantine. Dogs and cats only. One animal per person per entry.

You need an official health certificate from the country you leave, a rabies vaccination certificate, and a microchip (ISO 11784 / 11785).

The default is 30 days in a designated quarantine facility, counted from arrival, through a port that has those facilities.

Some origin countries, plus a chip and a clean inspection, can skip quarantine. Other origins need a recognised-lab rabies antibody result above 0.5 IU/ml. Open the Shanghai.gov.cn pet page the week you fly — the listed countries change.

An emotional-support animal is treated as an ordinary pet. Guide / hearing / rescue dogs with training papers can skip quarantine if they pass the inspection.

Port and kennel lists live on the customs notice that day.

After the animal is in Shanghai, a dog must be registered. Cats are a different regime — this page only covers what the municipal English page has written for dogs.

Urban Shanghai: one dog per household. A tenant needs the landlord’s written consent before this lease address can go on the registration.

You must be 18 or over and have a fixed address here. Typical papers: passport, the lease or title, and a vaccination certificate. Neutering papers if relevant.

In person: the police station for the address. Online: the Suishenban “civilised dog-keeping” service — the municipal page says the online path is in Chinese.

Two dogs: customs already limits you to one animal per person. Urban registration still allows one dog per dwelling. Say this before you fly.