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Pet Transport Canada to South Korea: 2026 APQA Guide

Shipping a dog or cat from Canada to South Korea rewards owners who start planning early. Plan on roughly 8-14 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. The …

8-14 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
8-14 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Moderate
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip strongly …
Rabies vaccinationCurrent rabies vaccination required. …
Rabies titre testRabies antibody titre test may be …
Health certificateCFIA-endorsed health certificate in …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from Canada to South Korea typically takes around 8-14 weeks.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
At least 2-3 months before travel.
Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant. Current rabies vaccination. Confirm current APQA titre test requirements.

Responsible: CFIA-accredited vet

2
After vaccination. Allow 2-3 weeks for titre result.
Titre test at approved laboratory if required. Await result. No post-titre waiting period under South Korea APQA rules.

Responsible: CFIA vet and approved laboratory

3
After titre result. Book 4-6 weeks before travel.
Apply for APQA import approval if required. Book cargo: YYZ or YVR to ICN.

Responsible: Owner or agent

4
Within 10 days of departure.
CFIA-endorsed health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

Responsible: CFIA-accredited vet

5
Travel day.
Travel YYZ or YVR to ICN. APQA inspection on arrival at Incheon. Same-day release if documents are correct.

Responsible: Airline and APQA

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip strongly recommended. Provides positive identification at APQA inspection.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required. Confirm timing requirements with APQA or your agent for the specific year of travel.
Rabies titre test
Rabies antibody titre test may be required for Canada. Confirm current APQA requirements at qia.go.kr. Unlike Japan, South Korea does not impose a post-titre waiting period before travel. Source: APQA, qia.go.kr.
Health certificate
CFIA-endorsed health certificate in APQA-specified format. Issued within 10 days of travel.
Export permit
No formal export permit for personal pets leaving Canada. CFIA-accredited vet issues the health certificate.
Health certificate
Official veterinary health certificate issued by a CFIA-accredited veterinarian. Must be in the format required by South Korea's APQA (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency).
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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Air Canada
Air Canada operates Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR) to Seoul Incheon (ICN). Air Canada Cargo handles pets on selected routes. The YVR-ICN sector is a standard cargo routing for Canada to South Korea.
Cargo Only
Korean Air
Korean Air operates Vancouver, Toronto, and other Canadian cities to Seoul Incheon. Korean Air Cargo handles live animals. A reliable carrier for this routing with strong cargo handling at Incheon.
Cargo Only
Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines operates selected Canadian cities to Incheon with cargo services. Asiana Cargo handles live animals. Confirm availability for your specific route and crate size.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

CFIA veterinary health certificate: CAD 200-400
Titre test if required: CAD 150-250
Air cargo YYZ or YVR to ICN: CAD 1,200-3,500 depending on crate size
APQA inspection fee on arrival: approximately KRW 18,000-30,000 (approximately CAD 20-30)
Total typical range: CAD 2,000-5,000

Critical points

Confirm current APQA requirements at qia.go.kr before preparing. Rules are subject to change and Canada is subject to specific conditions.

Unlike Japan, South Korea does not impose a 180-day post-titre waiting period. If a titre test is required, travel can proceed after a normal wait for the result.

APQA inspection happens at Incheon on arrival. All original documents must travel with the pet.

Health certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. Do not issue it too early.

South Korea entry requirements at a glance

The path into South Korea is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.

Getting the details right

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.

FAQ

Common questions

No. South Korea’s APQA does not impose a post-titre waiting period. If a titre test is required, travel can proceed after the result is confirmed as passing. This is a fundamental difference from Japan, where a 180-day wait from the blood draw date applies.
Typically 2 to 3 months from the first vet appointment. If a titre test is required, add 2 to 3 weeks for results. No extended waiting period applies under APQA rules. Always confirm current requirements at qia.go.kr before preparing.
Yes. APQA requirements for cats arriving from Canada are broadly similar to those for dogs. Health certificate, current vaccination, and inspection on arrival at Incheon apply. Confirm specific cat requirements with APQA or a specialist agent, as conditions can differ slightly from dogs.
APQA staff read the microchip, check the health certificate, vaccination records, and titre test documentation (if applicable). The clinical inspection confirms the pet is healthy and meets import conditions. If all documents are correct, the pet is released on the same day. Pets from non-rabies-free countries are inspected as a standard procedure.
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Airline guides
  • Air Canada
  • Korean Air
  • Asiana Airlines
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