Pet Microchip

Your pet must first be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 pet microchip that is a 15 digit and non-encrypted. If your pet's microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, you must bring your own microchip scanner. The microchip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination is administered.

Import Permit

An import permit is only required if you are traveling to South Korea with 5 or more dogs and/or cats.

Vaccinations

After microchip insertion, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. If your dog or cat does not have a current rabies vaccination, the vaccination must be administered no sooner than 30 days before entering Korea. It is recommended that your cat or dog has received its vaccination within the past year; however, regulations do not mention that 2 and 3 year rabies vaccinations are not accepted.

Your pet must be at least 3 months of age before the rabies vaccination.

Entering Korea from Malaysia & Australia

Cats and dogs being imported to Korea from Malaysia will need an additional certificate stating the following information:

1. Your pet has not lived in a country or State (larger than Korea) where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
OR
2. Your pet has been tested with negative result to a test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 14 days of export.

Cats may only enter Korea from Australia with a certificate stating that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Dogs and cats entering Korea from Malaysia and cats imported from Australia without these certificates may be subject to 21 days of quarantine.

Rabies Titer Test

Unless your pet is originating from one of the countries that the Korea considers rabies-free (see step 8), your dog or cat must have a rabies titer test (FAVN or RFFIT) processed by an EU-approved laboratory. The date when the blood was drawn for the titer test must be less than 2 years of the arrival date. Note that a titer test is not required when entering Korea from a country considered by Korea to be rabies-free. (see step 8)

Pet Health Certificate

A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must issue a Korea pet health certificate stating that your pet is healthy and free of parasites and indicating the above vaccinations and the results of the titer test (if applicable). The certificate must then be endorsed by the Governing Authority of your country responsible for the import and export of animals.

Please note that English is accepted as an alternative language, but no other foreign languages are accepted. If your pet is traveling from the EU, we would suggest that you check with your embassy as to what the proper form would be.

Cats imported from Australia and cats and dogs imported from Malaysia require an additional certificate confirming that the animal has been kept in an area free of Hendra and Nipah viruses, or that the animal produced a negative result in a Hendra and Nipah virus test. Without such a certificate, the quarantine period will be extended by 21 days.

Traveling with more than 10 pets

Pet owners bringing ten or more cats and/or dogs to Korea must submit an advance notification form to the Animal, Plant and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection Agency (QIA) and obtain prior approval for the use of an animal quarantine facility.

Countries that the Korea considers as rabies-free

The countries listed below are considered rabies-free by Korea are: Andorra, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cabo Verdi, Cayman Islands, Comoros, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dijibouti, Estonia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Finland, Germany, Guam, Guateloupe, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montenegro, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Reunion, Samoa, San Marino, San Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Wallis and Fortuna, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu.

Pets not meeting the above requirements shall be quarantined for enough time to conform to requirements after arriving in Korea.

Entering Korea by Air or Sea

When you arrive at the international airport, you must go to the NVRQS(National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service) office with your pet and its certificate for the purpose of quarantine procedure. Your pet will be released into your custody the same day provided that you submit the required Veterinary Certificate and upon inspection your pet is found to be healthy.

A cat or dog whose accompanying documentation has been verified and whose health has been confirmed through a clinical examination at the port of entry may be released on the day of arrival. If your pet's microchip number does not match the number on the health certificate or if the titer test results are 0.5IU/ml or lower, your pet will be quarantined and tests will be done at your expense until your pet conforms to country requirements.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Korea. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Puppies and Kittens

Unvaccinated pets under the age of 3 months can enter Korea as long as they have been microchipped and accompanied by a health certificate. For puppies and kittens over 3 months, a titer test should be done 30 days after vaccination and at least 30 days prior to entering Korea (non-rabies free countries-see step 8).

Banned Breeds

Korea does not publish a list of banned breeds.

Other Animals

Pet birds must be quarantined for a period of 5 days unless they were held in quarantine in the country from which they came for a period of at least five days. In this case, the quarantine will be 1 day.

Invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Korea. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Information?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

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