Taking your fur buddy on vacation - Just to prepare well, it is possible!
Pet owners around the world are all too familiar with the puppy dog eyes – when they want a bite of your food or a belly rub. The worst is when you’re about to go on vacation and your fur buddy starts moping around, begging you to stay. You don’t want to bring her to a pet hotel and you wished that you could bring her with you. Just to prepare well, it is possible to travel with your fur buddy and enjoy some priceless moments.
Preparations begin 8 months before departure!
Each country/region requires different documents and procedures. For example, the entry requirements for pets are quite strict in Japan – you will need to prepare 8 months ahead of time and it can cost over $10,000.
| Time | Preparations |
Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 months prior to departure |
Your dog needs to be implanted with a microchip that is compliant with ISO standards and take rabies vaccination |
A few hundred dollars |
| 6 months prior to departure |
Take your dog for an antibody titer blood test and then send blood samples to a lab approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) |
Several thousand dollars |
| 3-6 months prior to departure |
It’s time to book the air ticket! Your pet will be treated as live cargo and you will need to specify the type of dog as well as the size and weight of the container |
Cathay Pacific flights from Hong Kong to Japan costs approximately $94.16 per kilogram |
| 2 months prior to departure |
You will need to make arrangements with a cargo shipping company for your pet’s return journey |
Between $7,000-$10,000 |
| 40 days prior to departure |
Submit pet Notification Form by email to the Japanese Animal Quarantine Authority (AQS) and apply for a Special Permit for returning your dog to Hong Kong from the HK Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) |
$432 |
| 10 days before departure |
Have a veterinarian give your dog a clinical inspection to confirm that she is free from mites and fleas. Fill out health certificate form recommended by Japan (Form A & Form B) and get it signed by the veterinarian and endorsed by AFCD |
Health check-up: a few hundreds to thousand Endorsement Fee: $155 |
| Time |
6-8 months prior to departure |
|---|---|
| Preparations |
Your dog needs to be implanted with a microchip that is compliant with ISO standards and take rabies vaccination |
| Fees |
A few hundred dollars |
| Time |
6 months prior to departure |
| Preparations |
Take your dog for an antibody titer blood test and then send blood samples to a lab approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) |
| Fees |
Several thousand dollars |
| Time |
3-6 months prior to departure |
| Preparations |
It’s time to book the air ticket! Your pet will be treated as live cargo and you will need to specify the type of dog as well as the size and weight of the container |
| Fees |
Cathay Pacific flights from Hong Kong to Japan costs approximately $94.16 per kilogram |
| Time |
2 months prior to departure |
| Preparations |
You will need to make arrangements with a cargo shipping company for your pet’s return journey |
| Fees |
Between $7,000-$10,000 |
| Time |
40 days prior to departure |
| Preparations |
Submit pet Notification Form by email to the Japanese Animal Quarantine Authority (AQS) and apply for a Special Permit for returning your dog to Hong Kong from the HK Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) |
| Fees |
$432 |
| Time |
10 days before departure |
| Preparations |
Have a veterinarian give your dog a clinical inspection to confirm that she is free from mites and fleas. Fill out health certificate form recommended by Japan (Form A & Form B) and get it signed by the veterinarian and endorsed by AFCD |
| Fees |
Health check-up: a few hundreds to thousand Endorsement Fee: $155 |
How to bring my fur buddy home safely?
According to Hong Kong Ordinances, all pets entering Hong Kong must be transported by air as manifested cargo. Upon arrival, you will be able to pick up your pet at the cargo terminal. In the case of Japan, you will need to make arrangements with Nippon Express or Seino for sending your pet back to Hong Kong. The cost to ship ranges from $7,000 to $10,000 and will vary depending on your dog’s breed, weight, container size, etc.
If you are planning to travel abroad with your dog but have budget concerns, you may consider HSBC’s Revolving Credit Facility to get access to cash anytime. There is no fixed repayment period and you can simply repay the minimum amount of 2% of the outstanding balance each month. After each repayment, your credit limit will be restored automatically without the need to re-apply.
To find out more about personal loans, feel free to call us on (852) 2748 8080, or apply online now.
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