Dogs in Taiwan: rules, tax and travel

Pet dogs over 4 months old must be microchipped and registered at a pet registration station under Article 19 of the Animal Protection Act. Not complying can bring a fine of NT$3,000 to 15,000, which can be repeated until fixed.[1]

Compulsory for pet dogs from 4 months old, done together with registration.[1]

Pets in public places must be accompanied by a person aged 7 or older (Art. 20). Aggressive dogs need an adult handler and either a leash of at most 1.5 m with a muzzle or a sturdy cage, with fines of NT$30,000 to 150,000. Most cities add a general leash rule, for example Taipei fines NT$2,000 to 10,000.[2]

Owners must neuter pet dogs and cats unless they declare an exemption (for example for breeding or health reasons) with the local animal protection office; not doing so can bring a fine of NT$50,000 to 250,000.[3]

Breeding and importing Pit Bull Terriers has been banned since 1 March 2022.[4]

All pets need an ISO microchip, must be at least 3 months old with a rabies vaccine given after that age and less than a year old, and need an import permit from APHIA applied for at least 20 days before arrival. Sweden and Estonia are on Taiwan's rabies-free list; other EU countries follow the rabies-infected route with a titre test.[5]

Rabies-free origins listed are Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Iceland, Norway, Hawaii, Guam, Singapore and Japan: the pet must have lived there at least 180 days, have a rabies shot 30 to 365 days before arrival and an export health certificate on Taiwan's form. All other countries follow the rabies-infected route.[5]

From rabies-infected countries a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from a laboratory on the APHIA list is needed, and the 180-day count starts from the day the blood was drawn.[5]

Pets from rabies-infected countries serve 7 days of quarantine at a designated facility, booked through the regional APHIA branch once the permit and flight are known.[5]