Bringing Your Pet to Korea: Import Requirements, Quarantine, and Titer Tests

The timeline trap: why 6 weeks is not enough

Most owners moving to Korea start planning their pet's travel about 6 weeks before the flight. For pets from countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Russia, China, or the United States mainland, 6 weeks is too late.

The process for those countries includes a rabies antibody titer test. To do that test, your pet needs a microchip first, then a rabies vaccination, then a 30-day wait before the blood draw, then 2-6 weeks of laboratory processing time, then a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. From chip to departure, the minimum is 3-5 months.

Here is what the timeline looks like in practice. If your flight is December 1, work backwards: implant the microchip and give the first rabies vaccination in late June or early July. Wait 30 days, then take the blood sample in August. The titer test result comes back from the lab in 2-6 weeks, so expect results in August or September. Once you have a passing result, you can move forward. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the actual flight, so that step happens in late November.

Start this process as soon as your move date is confirmed. Do not wait until you have a specific departure date.

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The rules: what every dog and cat needs

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (농림축산검역본부, also referred to as QIA or APQA) governs all pet imports into Korea. The requirements apply to dogs and cats equally, with one exception noted in the special species section below.

Step 1: ISO-compliant microchip

Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip. Most chips implanted in recent years in Europe, Asia, and Australia meet this standard. Many chips used in the United States use a different standard. If your pet's existing chip does not meet the ISO standard, a new chip must be implanted.

The chip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination that will be used as part of the entry documentation. If the vaccination was given before the chip was implanted, Korea will not count that vaccination. You would need to wait and repeat the vaccination after the chip is in place.

Step 2: Rabies vaccination

The rabies vaccination must be administered at least 30 days before entry into Korea and must be no more than 12 months old at the time of entry. An inactivated (killed) vaccine is required. Live or modified-live rabies vaccines do not meet the Korean standard.

If your pet's current rabies vaccination has expired or will expire before your travel date, schedule a booster. The 30-day minimum wait applies to the booster as well.

Step 3: Rabies antibody titer test (for pets from non-rabies-free countries)

This requirement applies to dogs and cats aged 90 days or older coming from countries that are not on Korea's rabies-free list.

The test confirms your pet's immune response to rabies vaccination. The required threshold is 0.5 IU/ml or higher. The test must be conducted by an OIE-approved laboratory. In the United States, the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL) performs the FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization) test. Laboratory fees are approximately USD 150-200. In other countries, check the APQA English page for the approved lab list.

The titer result is valid for 24 months from the date of the blood draw. If you are moving back to Korea within that window for a second posting, you may not need to repeat the test.

Countries exempt from the titer test requirement (pets from these countries need only a microchip, vaccination, and health certificate): Australia, Japan, Singapore, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, New Zealand, Hawaii (as part of the United States), Hong Kong, and the UAE, among approximately 50 others. Verify the current list on the APQA English import page before finalizing your plans, as the list is subject to change.

Countries whose residents make up much of Seoulstart's readership that are NOT on the rabies-free list: the Philippines, Vietnam, Russia, China, and the United States mainland. If you are moving from any of these countries, the titer test is required.

Step 4: Health certificate

A health certificate must be issued by the exporting country's government animal health authority. For pets coming from the United States, the certificate must be USDA-endorsed. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of your travel date.

The health certificate must include your pet's microchip number and date of birth, among other details. Your vet prepares the certificate; the relevant government body (USDA in the United States) endorses it. In the United States, USDA APHIS accredited veterinarians handle this. Check the USDA APHIS pet travel page for the current US-specific requirements, which include any USDA form updates or endorsement process changes.

Because the certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel, this step always comes last in the sequence. Do not try to get the health certificate weeks in advance.

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Arrival at Incheon International Airport

When you land, an APQA inspector will conduct a clinical examination of your pet. If your documentation is complete and your titer result meets the required threshold, your pet is released the same day.

You do not need to make an advance appointment or give advance notice for groups of fewer than 5 animals traveling together. Groups of 10 or more cats or dogs require advance APQA approval and facility booking.

If documentation is incomplete

Do not arrive hoping to resolve a documentation gap at the airport. The consequences are serious:

• Non-compliant documentation or a failing titer test result: average 10-day quarantine hold, at the owner's full expense (transport to facility, housing, retesting)
• Missing health certificate: the animal may be returned to the origin country, also at the owner's expense

APQA does not publish a fixed fee schedule for quarantine costs in advance. Budget for a significant unexpected expense if anything goes wrong.

In-cabin vs cargo

APQA does not treat in-cabin and cargo pets differently for quarantine purposes. Whether your pet can travel in the cabin is decided by your airline. Both Korean Air and Asiana have their own restrictions on species, carrier dimensions, and weight. Verify with your specific airline before booking your ticket.

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Special species rules

Cats from Australia

Cats from Australia require certification for Hendra virus: a negative test within 14 days before export, plus documentation confirming the origin area has been free of Hendra disease. If this documentation is missing, your cat faces a 21-day quarantine hold at your expense.

Cats and dogs from Malaysia

Cats and dogs from Malaysia require certification for both Hendra and Nipah viruses: a negative test within 14 days before export, plus 60-day disease-free area documentation. Missing documentation triggers a 21-day quarantine hold.

Reptiles

Effective May 19, 2024, all imported reptiles must undergo quarantine inspection at Incheon International Airport by the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention (국립야생동물질병관리원) under the Ministry of Environment. Reptiles testing positive for designated dangerous diseases are refused entry. This applies in addition to any APQA requirements and CITES permits.

Parrots and CITES species

Many parrot species are listed under CITES Appendix I or II. Importing them into Korea requires a CITES permit from Korea's Ministry of Environment (환경부) in addition to the standard APQA health certificate. Contact the Ministry of Environment for the current approved species list and permit process before importing any bird.

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Cats vs dogs

The import rules are essentially the same for cats and dogs. The only species-specific differences in the import process are:

• The Hendra and Nipah virus rules apply to cats from Australia and cats or dogs from Malaysia (see above)
• Cats aged under 90 days are exempt from the titer test requirement (the same age threshold applies to dogs)
• Cat registration in Korea is voluntary, not mandatory. Dogs aged 2 months or older must be registered. See the main pet ownership guide for registration details.

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Cost estimates

These figures are indicative. Costs vary by country of origin, laboratory, vet clinic, and airline.

The titer test laboratory fee is the largest single cost specific to this process. All other costs, including microchip implant and vaccination, are standard vet care costs that you would incur regardless of travel.

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Departing Korea with your pet

If you are leaving Korea and taking your pet with you, the Korean side of the departure process is simpler than the arrival process. The destination country's requirements determine how much preparation time you need, not Korea's.

What Korea requires

Have a Korean vet issue a health certificate within 10 days of your departure date. On the day of travel, bring your pet, the health certificate, and the rabies vaccination certificate to the APQA office at Incheon or Gimpo airport in person. An inspector conducts a clinical examination and issues the export certificate on the same day. The inspection fee is 10,000 KRW.

APQA airport offices operate Monday to Friday, 09:00-18:00. Offices are closed on public holidays and take a lunch break from 12:00-13:00. Arrive by at least 16:00-17:30 depending on which facility, and allow time before that for your airline check-in and pet boarding process. An appointment is recommended.

What the destination country requires

Each country's requirements are different. A few examples:

• United States: USDA-endorsed health certificate required (10-day window before travel). The US-side process is manageable in 1-2 weeks if your pet's rabies vaccination is current.
• Australia: Australia requires a rabies titer test, a specific waiting period after the test, and mandatory quarantine in Australia of at least 10 days. Requires specific approved airlines and routes. Plan at least 3-4 months ahead.
• Japan: One of the strictest import regimes in the world. Minimum processing period is approximately 6 months, with a titer test, specific approved airlines, and advance notification to Japan's Animal Quarantine Service. Begin this process well before your departure date becomes certain.
• European Union countries: EU-format health certificate, microchip, and rabies vaccination required. Titer test required for some EU member states. Check the specific rules for your destination country.

Verify the current requirements for your destination country directly with that country's embassy or agriculture ministry. Rules change, and secondary sources may not reflect the most recent requirements.

Reporting your departure in Korea's registration system

If your dog or voluntarily registered cat is in Korea's animal registration system, report the departure to animal.go.kr or your district office within 30 days of leaving Korea. Failing to report triggers the change-of-information fine of 100,000 KRW for a first offense, rising to 400,000 KRW for a third.

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Quick reference: what you need

Pets from rabies-free countries (Australia, Japan, Singapore, UK, Germany, and approximately 50 others):

1. ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip (implanted before vaccination)
2. Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine, at least 30 days before entry, no more than 12 months old at entry)
3. Government health certificate (issued within 10 days of travel)

Pets from non-rabies-free countries (Philippines, Vietnam, Russia, China, US mainland, and most others):

1. ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip (implanted before vaccination)
2. Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine, at least 30 days before entry, no more than 12 months old at entry)
3. 30-day wait after vaccination, then blood draw for the titer test
4. Rabies antibody titer test at an OIE-approved laboratory (0.5 IU/ml threshold, result valid 24 months)
5. Government health certificate (issued within 10 days of travel)

The APQA English page at qia.go.kr is the authoritative source. Always verify requirements there before finalizing your plans, since regulations can change between when this guide was written and your travel date.

@misc{seoulstart-bringing-pet-to-korea,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{Bringing Your Pet to Korea: Import Requirements, Quarantine, and Titer Tests}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/bringing-pet-to-korea},
  note = {Last updated May 12, 2026}
}