The AFCD dog licence

Let's be honest: nobody moves to Hong Kong dreaming about the Rabies Ordinance. But if you have a dog, the AFCD licence is one of the few pieces of paperwork that's genuinely not optional — and it's also one of the easiest to accidentally let lapse.

The rule, in one sentence

Every dog over 5 months old in Hong Kong must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and licensed with the AFCD. That's it. Three things, and they all happen in one vet visit.

The part everyone misses

The licence isn't forever — it's valid for 3 years, tied to your dog's rabies vaccine. Here's where owners get caught: the AFCD doesn't send you a reminder. Your vet might, if you're lucky and haven't changed clinics. Three years is exactly long enough to completely forget it exists.

Getting it done this week

• –Book a standard vet visit — say you need 'microchip, rabies vaccine and licence'. Any registered vet can do all three.
• –Bring your HKID. The licence is registered to you, not the dog.
• –Cost is modest — the licence itself is around HK$80, plus the vaccine and consult.
• –Renewal works the same way: rabies booster, licence renews with it.

Where to renew: the AFCD centres

Any registered vet or SPCA centre can handle the licence for you, but if you'd rather go direct, the AFCD runs four Animal Management Centres. Bring your dog, your HKID and HK$80 in cash.

New puppy? Mark one date

The clock starts at 5 months of age. Puppies get their rabies vaccine from around 3 months, so the natural moment is your pup's final round of core vaccines — ask the vet to do the microchip and licence in the same appointment and you'll never have to think about it separately.