Pet Transport Canada to South Korea: 2026 APQA Guide

Pet owners moving to East Asia sometimes compare the South Korea and Japan pathways. The difference is significant. Japan’s AQS imposes a 180-day waiting period from the blood draw date for the FAVN titre test, turning Japan preparation into a 7 to 9-month process. South Korea’s APQA does not impose a post-titre waiting period.

This means that if APQA requires a titre test for Canadian pets, you do the test, wait for the result (typically 1 to 2 weeks), and then you can book travel. There is no additional waiting period on top of the result. For most pet owners, South Korea can be prepared for in 2 to 3 months from the first vet visit, compared to Japan’s 7 to 9 months.

Confirm the current requirements directly with APQA at qia.go.kr or with a South Korea pet import specialist before starting preparation. Regulations are updated periodically and the specific conditions for Canadian pets may change.

The health certificate for South Korea must be issued by a CFIA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by CFIA in the format APQA specifies. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. Issuing it too early (more than 10 days before departure) means you need a replacement.

On arrival at Incheon International Airport (ICN), APQA staff conduct a clinical inspection of your pet. They verify the microchip, check the health certificate, and confirm the vaccination and titre test records. If the documentation is complete and correct, the inspection is typically completed on the day of arrival. Your pet is then released into South Korea.

Incheon is South Korea’s primary airport for all international cargo arrivals. There is no alternative entry port for cargo pets. Confirm that your cargo flight arrives at ICN and that the airline cargo desk has confirmed live animal acceptance for that specific route.

Air Canada operates direct cargo services from Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ) to Seoul Incheon (ICN). Korean Air and Asiana Airlines also fly from Canadian cities to Incheon. All three are established carriers for this routing.

The YVR to ICN flight takes approximately 10 to 11 hours. YYZ to ICN is slightly longer at around 13 to 14 hours, though routing can vary. Both routes are well-served with regular cargo services. Contact the cargo departments of your preferred carriers directly to confirm live animal acceptance for your specific flight date and crate dimensions.

Pets travel as air cargo (freight), not as accompanied baggage. The crate must meet IATA live animal container requirements. Your CFIA vet or a Canadian pet transport agent can advise on crate sizing and carrier-specific requirements.