Importing Your Pet to South Korea

Every requirement below is taken from an official government page, and each one links to the page it comes from. The rules were last checked on 2 October 2026. They can change, so check the linked page again before you book.

Who is in charge

• Import and export quarantine of pet dogs and cats is carried out by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA, 농림축산검역본부) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). On arrival the owner reports to the agency's office at the airport (MAFRA press release posted 26 June 2025, embargoed for the 27 June 2025 morning papers).
  반려동물과 함께하는 해외여행, 출국·입국할 때 '검역'은 필수! (posted 26 June 2025, embargo 27 June 2025 morning edition), checked 2 October 2026

Where your pet travels from

• Korea has two groups: (1) designated rabies-free countries or regions, whose dogs and cats need only a microchip and the exporting-government health certificate stating the microchip number and birth date (no rabies vaccination or antibody test); (2) all other origins, where dogs and cats aged 90 days or over need a microchip and a rabies neutralising antibody test, with the result on the certificate. Animals under 90 days old from any origin are treated like group (1).
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026
• The rabies-free list follows WOAH: a country is removed automatically once rabies is notified to WOAH, and recognised when its government declares rabies freedom to WOAH; APQA publishes the list on its website. The list in import.origin_groups matches the one printed in law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated). Applies to rabies-free list.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• APQA's English page: dogs and cats aged 90 days or over from countries that are not rabies-free must have a microchip and a rabies neutralising antibody test by an internationally approved laboratory or the exporting country's competent authority, valid within 24 months of blood sampling. Applies to dogs and cats aged 90 days or over from non rabies-free origins.
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026

Import permit

• Not listed: no import permit. The required documents in law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated) are only the exporting-government quarantine certificate (or, from the EU, an EU pet passport); the rest of the dog and cat section covers microchip and antibody checks, and section 5 Hendra and Nipah. Advance notification applies only to 10 or more animals (see maximum_pets), and a dangerous dog needs an import declaration within 7 days of its quarantine certificate being issued (see banned_or_restricted_breeds); neither is an import permit.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026

Microchip

• Every dog and cat needs a microchip: the exporting-government certificate must show each animal's microchip number (easylaw.go.kr, information as of 15 September 2026). The arrival check of the chip against the certificate is in the law.go.kr annex entry below.
  수출입 검역ㆍ검사 > 동물검역 > 검역절차 > 수입검역 (information as of 15 September 2026), checked 2 October 2026
• On arrival the officer compares the microchip with the number on the certificate and carries out a clinical examination (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated)).
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• The microchip must be ISO 11784/11785 compliant; for any other chip the importer must bring their own microchip scanner. An animal without a readable chip, or whose number differs from the certificate, may be held in extended quarantine to have a chip implanted, at the owner's expense.
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026

Rabies vaccination

• For pets from the United States, USDA APHIS guidance for Korea (last modified 16 January 2026) says rabies vaccines must be current and given before arrival, and are not required for pets under 90 days old. Exporting-government guidance is used for the 'current and given before arrival' point because Korea's own pages do not state a vaccination validity rule; the under-90-days exemption matches APQA's own pages. Applies to dogs and cats from the United States.
  Pet Travel From the United States to Korea (last modified 16 January 2026), checked 2 October 2026
• Not required: dogs and cats under 90 days old, and dogs and cats from rabies-free countries, need no rabies vaccination before import; they still need a microchip and the exporting-government health certificate. Applies to dogs and cats under 90 days old or from rabies-free countries.
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026
• Where the antibody result does not meet the standard, the animal is placed in the quarantine kennel and acted on according to the test result 30 days after vaccination (provided the clinical examination is normal): released at once if it meets the standard, otherwise given a further vaccination and released the same day (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated)). Applies to dogs and cats aged 90 days or over from non rabies-free origins arriving without a qualifying result.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026

Rabies titre test

• A rabies neutralising antibody test (FAVN or RFFIT) by an internationally approved laboratory or the exporting country's government agency, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml on the certificate, is checked by the officer; it is valid for 24 months from blood sampling (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated)). easylaw.go.kr states the sample must be taken within 24 months before arrival in Korea. No waiting period after the test is set. Applies to dogs and cats aged 90 days or over from non rabies-free origins.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• Not required: dogs and cats under 90 days old and dogs and cats from rabies-free regions are exempt from the rabies neutralising antibody test standard (APQA import method page). Applies to dogs and cats under 90 days old or from rabies-free regions.
  새로운 개·고양이 수입검역방법 (new dog and cat import quarantine method), checked 2 October 2026
• Results from Korea's four domestic approved laboratories are also accepted if at least 0.5 IU/ml and sampled within 24 months before arrival, provided the original report and an exporting-government health certificate are presented. Applies to dogs and cats returning to Korea.
  새로운 개·고양이 수입검역제도 FAQ (import quarantine FAQ), checked 2 October 2026

Health certificate

• A quarantine certificate from the exporting country's government certifying that the animal poses no risk of spreading animal infectious disease is required. Only where the exporting country is an EU member state (for the UK, Northern Ireland only) may an EU pet passport issued there replace it (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated)). Korea's sources set no validity window; US guidance requires APHIS endorsement within 30 days of export.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• The exporting-government certificate must show each animal's microchip number, a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from the exporting government or an internationally approved laboratory with blood sampled within 24 months before arrival, and each animal's age (date of birth) (easylaw.go.kr, information as of 15 September 2026).
  수출입 검역ㆍ검사 > 동물검역 > 검역절차 > 수입검역 (information as of 15 September 2026), checked 2 October 2026
• If the documents are defective, the animal is taken to the quarantine facility and held in quarantine until they are completed (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated)).
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• APQA's English page says an animal arriving without the government health certificate must be returned to the exporting country at the owner's cost.
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026
  Official sources differ

  Not treated as a conflict: the law.go.kr annex 9 (https://www.law.go.kr/flDownload.do?flSeq=158481475&bylClsCd=200201) says that where the required documents are defective (구비서류에 이상이 있는 경우) the animal is held in quarantine until they are completed, and does not mention return. APQA's arrival page (https://www.apqa.go.kr/livestock/qua/livestock_outforeign_hygiene_inf.jsp) separates the two cases: no certificate means the animal is liable to be returned, and a certificate whose required particulars are not met means holding quarantine. APQA's FAQ Q3 (https://www.apqa.go.kr/livestock/qua/livestock_faq.jsp) also says an animal without the certificate cannot be brought in and return is unavoidable.
• APQA's arrival page: an animal arriving without the exporting-government quarantine certificate is liable to be returned; where the certificate does not meet the stated requirements, the animal must undergo holding quarantine at a separate place.
  입·출국 시 (dogs and cats on departure and arrival), checked 2 October 2026

Other vaccines and tests

• Hendra and Nipah certification applies to cats from Australia and dogs and cats from Malaysia: either proof of freedom since first report in the exporting country or a region at least the size of the Korean peninsula, or a negative Hendra and Nipah blood test within 14 days before export plus 60 days' keeping in a free place before export (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated), section 5). Applies to cats from Australia; dogs and cats from Malaysia.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• Not listed: no other vaccination or test. The dog and cat section of law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated) lists only the certificate, microchip and rabies antibody checks, and section 5 adds Hendra and Nipah for Australia and Malaysia only.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026

Parasite treatment

• Not listed: no parasite treatment. The dog and cat section of law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated) lists only the certificate, microchip and rabies antibody checks (plus Hendra and Nipah for Australia and Malaysia). The UK export certificate does certify freedom from clinical signs of external parasites at examination, which is not a treatment.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026

Quarantine

• No quarantine period for compliant animals: after document review, microchip check and clinical examination at the airport quarantine office, import quarantine is complete if nothing is wrong (MAFRA press release posted 26 June 2025, embargoed for the 27 June 2025 morning papers).
  반려동물과 함께하는 해외여행, 출국·입국할 때 '검역'은 필수! (posted 26 June 2025, embargo 27 June 2025 morning edition), checked 2 October 2026
• Compliant animals aged 90 days or over (microchip identified and antibody titre at least 0.5 IU/ml) are released on the day of arrival; animals under 90 days old or from rabies-free regions are released the same day if microchipped.
  새로운 개·고양이 수입검역방법 (new dog and cat import quarantine method), checked 2 October 2026
• Animals failing the microchip or antibody check are taken to the quarantine facility and held until a microchip is implanted or an antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml is confirmed (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated)); see rabies_vaccination for the 30-day rule when the titre fails. Applies to non-compliant dogs and cats.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• APQA's English page gives the average extended quarantine (for animals held to have a chip implanted or an antibody test done, at the owner's expense) as 10 days, possibly longer depending on the case. Applies to non-compliant dogs and cats.
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026
• Failing to present a pet for quarantine on entry can lead to an administrative fine of up to KRW 3 million (MAFRA press release posted 26 June 2025, embargoed for the 27 June 2025 morning papers).
  반려동물과 함께하는 해외여행, 출국·입국할 때 '검역'은 필수! (posted 26 June 2025, embargo 27 June 2025 morning edition), checked 2 October 2026

Arrival points and notice

• On arrival in Korea the owner goes to the APQA office in the airport and presents the animal quarantine certificate for document review, microchip check and clinical examination (MAFRA press release posted 26 June 2025, embargoed for the 27 June 2025 morning papers). No advance notice is needed for fewer than 10 animals (see maximum_pets).
  반려동물과 함께하는 해외여행, 출국·입국할 때 '검역'은 필수! (posted 26 June 2025, embargo 27 June 2025 morning edition), checked 2 October 2026
• At the airport, the pet's exporting-government quarantine certificate is submitted to the animal quarantine officer before passing the customs inspection. APQA lists pet quarantine contacts at Incheon Airport (cargo terminal, holding facility, T1 and T2), Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju, Muan, Yangyang, Cheongju and Daegu airports and Incheon, Busan, Pyeongtaek and Gunsan ports; at Incheon the animal quarantine desks are at baggage carousels 4, 11, 12 and 19 (T1) and 1, 13 and 20 (T2, with 8 planned).
  입·출국 시 (dogs and cats on departure and arrival), checked 2 October 2026
• Advance notice: travellers bringing ten or more cats and/or dogs must submit an advance notification form to APQA and obtain prior approval to use an animal quarantine facility; fewer than ten need no advance notice (see maximum_pets). Applies to 10 or more dogs and cats.
  Bring a dog or a cat to Korea, checked 2 October 2026

Minimum age

• Not listed: no minimum import age. The dog and cat section of law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; APQA's rabies-free page names the earlier notice 2024-31 of 31 July 2024 as the basis; the annex file itself is undated) sets no age limit; the certificate must show the animal's date of birth (easylaw.go.kr), and APQA exempts animals under 90 days old from rabies vaccination and the antibody test.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026

How many pets

• The page sets no maximum number of pets; advance notification of import is required when bringing 10 or more dogs and cats, and one pet needs no advance notice (easylaw.go.kr, information as of 15 September 2026). Applies to 10 or more dogs and cats.
  수출입 검역ㆍ검사 > 동물검역 > 검역절차 > 수입검역 (information as of 15 September 2026), checked 2 October 2026
  Official sources differ

  GOV.UK notes for guidance 3908NFG (revised 30 October 2023, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/656085501fd90c0013ac3b45/3908NFG.pdf) says advance notification to the Korean agency is needed if four or more cats and/or dogs are imported. Korea's own sources win: easylaw.go.kr (information as of 15 September 2026) and APQA's pages say advance notification applies from 10 animals and up to 9 may be imported without it.

Banned and restricted breeds

• Importing a 'dangerous dog' (맹견: Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier including American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and their crosses) is allowed subject to an import declaration: it must be declared to the Minister of Agriculture (including through the animal information system) within 7 days of the quarantine certificate being issued, with the certificate attached; failure carries a fine of up to KRW 3 million (Animal Protection Act, as summarised by the Ministry of Government Legislation, information as of 15 September 2026). Applies to Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and crosses.
  맹견의 사육 및 관리 (keeping and managing dangerous dogs), checked 2 October 2026
• Keeping a dangerous dog requires a permit from the provincial governor (registration, dangerous-dog liability insurance and neutering, after a temperament assessment); keeping one without a permit is punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment or a KRW 10 million fine. Muzzle and lead (2 m maximum) or a secure carrier are required outdoors for dogs aged 3 months or over. Applies to Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and crosses.
  맹견의 사육 및 관리 (keeping and managing dangerous dogs), checked 2 October 2026
• Quarantine handling rule, not a ban: for an imported dangerous dog, the clinical examination and microchip check at import quarantine must be carried out with the importer (수입화주) present; if the importer cannot attend, a dangerous-dog handler may attend instead (APQA quarantine methods annex, [별표 9], section 6). The annex says nothing about banning import of these breeds.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
• The breeds the annex treats as dangerous dogs for this quarantine handling rule are: Bull Terrier family (including Pit Bull Terrier), Mastiff family, American Staffordshire Terrier, Cane Corso, Tosa Inu, Dobermann Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Caucasian Ovcharka, Jindo, Chow Chow and wolf hybrids, with the list ending '등' (and similar). This list applies to quarantine inspection handling only; it is not an import ban.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026
  Official sources differ

  The easylaw.go.kr summary of the Animal Protection Act (https://easylaw.go.kr/CSP/CnpClsMain.laf?popMenu=ov&csmSeq=1968&ccfNo=2&cciNo=1&cnpClsNo=2) defines 맹견 for the import declaration and keeping permit more narrowly (Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and crosses). The lists serve different purposes: the APQA annex list governs only how quarantine inspection is conducted; the Animal Protection Act list governs the import declaration and keeping permit.

How your pet may travel

• APQA sets no national rule on cabin, accompanied hold or cargo carriage on its arrival and departure page: it tells owners to ask the shipping line or airline they will use about a pet travelling in the cabin. USDA APHIS guidance for Korea likewise says airlines and shipping lines have their own policies.
  입·출국 시 (dogs and cats on departure and arrival), checked 2 October 2026

Official fees

• APQA's FAQ (Q18) says that when an animal must be held because it does not meet the standards, the owner pays transport, keeping costs during holding, the antibody test, microchipping and the certificate fee; where a government body does the work, the rabies antibody test costs KRW 110,000 per animal and the quarantine certificate KRW 10,000 per case, and other costs (transport, vaccination, microchipping) are agreed between the owner and the clinic or contractor. None of the APQA pages read states an inspection fee for a compliant arrival.
  새로운 개·고양이 수입검역제도 FAQ (import quarantine FAQ), checked 2 October 2026

Other conditions

• On the aircraft the owner records the animal under quarantine items on the customs (traveller's goods) declaration handed out by the airline staff.
  입·출국 시 (dogs and cats on departure and arrival), checked 2 October 2026
• Cats from Australia and dogs and cats from Malaysia arriving without Hendra and Nipah certification are held in quarantine for 21 days and released if no abnormality is found (law.go.kr annex 9 (개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법, art. 20) of the APQA notice 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준 (law.go.kr now shows notice 2026-43, in force from 30 September 2026, as current, and the annex 9 PDF it carries is word for word the same as the file at this URL; the annex file itself is undated), section 5). Applies to cats from Australia; dogs and cats from Malaysia.
  [별표 9] 개ㆍ고양이 등 수입동물 검역방법(제20조 관련), 지정검역물의 검역방법 및 기준, checked 2 October 2026