Bringing a dog or cat to South Korea
One of the easier rabies-controlled destinations. There is no permit and no waiting period after the titer test. Pets need an ISO microchip and a government-endorsed health certificate, and pets from countries APQA doesn't list as rabies-free also need a current rabies vaccine and a titer of at least 0.5 IU/ml from the last 24 months. Missing items mean quarantine at the owner's cost, and a missing health certificate means the pet is sent back.
Which rules apply to you
South Korea sorts arriving pets by where they travel from. Find your group, then follow its steps.
| Arriving from | Titer test | Wait after sample | Permit | Quarantine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All other countriesEvery country not on APQA's rabies-free list, including the US, Canada, most of the EU, China and Southeast Asia | Yes | — | No | Only if rules not met |
| APQA-designated rabies-free countriesCountries on APQA's rabies-free list, which is updated regularly (last noted update 3 April 2026). Commonly cited examples include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Hawaii and Guam. The official list could not be retrieved, so check it before relying on this group. | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
Step by step
Microchip first
Implant an ISO 11784/11785 chip before the rabies vaccine.
Vaccinate against rabies
The vaccine must be current on arrival. Pets under 90 days old at arrival need no rabies vaccine or titer, only a microchip and health certificate.
Rabies titer test
Draw blood and test it at an approved lab (for example, FAVN). The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml, and the sample must be within 24 months of travel. No waiting period applies afterwards.
Government-endorsed health certificate
Get the certificate from the export country's government vet, showing the microchip, rabies vaccine and titer result. US certificates are signed by an accredited vet and USDA-endorsed within 30 days of export.
Notify APQA for larger groups
If bringing several animals (thresholds of 4+ and 10+ are both cited), notify APQA in advance and arrange quarantine-facility approval.
Arrive at an authorised port
Use Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju or another designated airport/seaport, and present the pet and documents to APQA.
Released the same day if the microchip and titer are in order. If the titer is missing or under 0.5 IU/ml, the pet is quarantined at the owner's cost until the test is done (usually about 10 days or more).
Microchip the pet
Use an ISO 11784/11785 chip. If this can't be done before travel, it can be implanted after arrival, but the pet is held until then.
Get a government health certificate
The export country's government vet issues or endorses a health certificate showing the microchip number and that the pet came from a rabies-free country.
Declare at the airport
Report the pet to the APQA quarantine desk on arrival at an authorised airport or seaport.
Released at the airport after document and microchip checks. A pet with no microchip is held until one is implanted. No health certificate means the pet is sent back.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs. Cats from Australia (and dogs and cats from Malaysia) also need a certificate stating they are free of Hendra/Nipah virus, or quarantine is extended by 21 days.
- How many pets
- Not limited. Advance notification is needed above a threshold (UK guidance says 4 or more animals; another source says 10 or more).
- Parasite treatment
- None required
- Arrival
- Airports: Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju, Muan, Cheongju, Daegu. Seaports: Incheon, Busan, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, Gwangyang, Sokcho. Whether pets can fly in the cabin is up to the airline.
- Dogs 3 months or older must be registered with the local district office within 30 days of arrival (Korean pet registration law).
- There is no waiting period after the titer test (unlike Japan or the EU).
What we could not confirm
- APQA's own pages blocked automated reading. The official rabies-free country list was not retrieved, so the 'rabies-free' group has an empty origins list; the examples come from a secondary source.
- The notification threshold is unclear (4+ animals per UK guidance, 10+ per a secondary source).
- The health certificate window (30 days) comes from USDA guidance for US exports and may differ for other countries.
- The Hendra/Nipah certificate rule for cats from Australia and pets from Malaysia comes from a secondary source.
- The local dog registration rule comes from general knowledge, not an APQA page.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA / QIA), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs before booking.