Pet Transport Colombia to South Korea: 2026 APQA Guide

Taking your dog or cat from Colombia to South Korea comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect around 10-16 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed …

10-16 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate-High

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

10-16 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Moderate-High

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Colombia to South Korea typically takes around 10-16 weeks.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

2-3 months before travel. Allow 3-4 weeks for ICA permit.

ICA export permit application. ISO microchip confirmed. Current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Owner and ICA-registered vet

After vaccination. Allow 2-3 weeks for titre result.

Titre test at approved laboratory. Await passing result. No post-titre waiting period under APQA rules.

Responsible: ICA vet and approved laboratory

After titre result confirmed. Book 4-6 weeks before travel.

Book cargo: BOG or MDE to LAX (Avianca or American), then Korean Air or Asiana LAX to ICN.

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days of departure.

ICA-endorsed health certificate in APQA format issued within 10 days of travel.

Responsible: ICA-registered vet

Travel day.

Travel BOG to LAX, then LAX 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 for positive identification at APQA inspection.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. Confirm timing requirements with APQA for the year of travel.

Rabies titre test

Rabies antibody titre test required for pets from Colombia. No post-titre waiting period under South Korea APQA rules. Travel proceeds once a passing result is confirmed. Source: APQA, qia.go.kr.

Health certificate

ICA-endorsed health certificate in APQA format. Issued within 10 days of travel.

Export permit

ICA export permit required. Apply through ICA. Allow 3-4 weeks.

Health certificate

Health certificate issued by an ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario)-registered veterinarian and endorsed by ICA. Must be in the format required by South Korea's APQA.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Colombia to South Korea move gets missed.

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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.

Korean Air (via Los Angeles or Atlanta)

Korean Air operates Los Angeles (LAX) and Atlanta (ATL) to Seoul Incheon (ICN). Colombian pets fly to the USA first (Avianca or American Airlines), then connect to Korean Air's US-to-Korea cargo service.

Cargo Only

Avianca (Colombia to USA)

Avianca operates Bogota (BOG) and Medellin (MDE) to Miami (MIA), Los Angeles (LAX), and New York (JFK). Avianca Cargo handles pets on selected routes. The first sector of the Colombia to Korea journey.

Cargo Only

Asiana Airlines (via Los Angeles)

Asiana Airlines operates LAX to ICN with cargo services. An alternative to Korean Air for the US to Incheon leg. Asiana Cargo accepts live animals.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

ICA export permit and health certificate: COP 200,000-500,000

Titre test at approved laboratory: USD 100-200

Air cargo BOG to LAX then LAX to ICN: USD 2,000-5,000 depending on crate size

APQA inspection fee on arrival: approximately KRW 18,000-30,000 (approximately USD 14-23)

Total typical range: USD 2,500-6,000

Critical points

Confirm current APQA requirements at qia.go.kr before preparing. Requirements can change and Colombia-specific conditions apply.

Unlike Japan, South Korea does not impose a post-titre waiting period. A passing titre result means you can book travel.

Colombia to South Korea requires at least two flight sectors (Colombia to USA, then USA to Korea). Plan for transit time.

ICA processing takes 3-4 weeks. Start the export permit early.

What South Korea requires

The requirements for South Korea are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.

Avoiding the common mistakes

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

South Korea’s APQA does not impose a post-titre waiting period, so preparation takes 2 to 3 months. Japan’s AQS imposes a 180-day post-titre wait, making Japan preparation 7 to 9 months. Both require titre tests and health certificates, but the South Korea timeline is significantly shorter.

Typically 2 to 3 months from the first vet visit. ICA permit processing takes 3 to 4 weeks. The titre test result takes 1 to 2 weeks. No extended waiting period applies after the titre test under APQA rules. Always confirm current requirements at qia.go.kr.

Yes. The ICA documentation, vaccinations, and titre test blood draw all happen in Colombia. The blood sample is sent to an approved laboratory overseas, but your pet stays in Colombia throughout the preparation period. Travel to South Korea occurs after all documents are confirmed.

APQA staff check the microchip, review the health certificate and vaccination records, and verify the titre test documentation. For pets from non-rabies-free countries, this inspection is standard. If all documents are correct, your pet is released on the day of arrival.

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Airline guides

Korean Air (via Los Angeles or Atlanta)
Avianca (Colombia to USA)
Asiana Airlines (via Los Angeles)

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Pet Transport Colombia to South Korea: 2026 APQA Guide

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

What South Korea requires

Avoiding the common mistakes

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote