Pet Transport from India to South Korea

The contrast here is stark. Japan, as a rabies-free country, is classified as low risk by QIAS, which means Japanese pets entering South Korea face an inspection on arrival rather than mandatory quarantine. India and the Philippines, both countries where rabies is endemic, are classified as medium to high risk and face the full quarantine process.

This is the core reason India to South Korea takes considerably longer than Japan to South Korea in terms of the stress placed on your pet. The regulatory paperwork is similar in complexity, but the quarantine element adds days of separation and facility fees that are not present for low-risk country pets.

The timeline difference between India and the Philippines on this route comes down to geography: flights from Manila to Incheon are shorter and more frequent than from Delhi, and the Philippines has a more established QIAS-approved lab infrastructure. The regulatory outcomes are the same, but logistics run slightly more smoothly from the Philippines.

QIAS operates its own approval system for FAVN laboratories, independent of the EU’s approved lab list. A lab approved by the European Commission for EU entry purposes is not automatically QIAS-approved. Before submitting your pet’s blood sample, confirm that your chosen lab in India holds both approvals if you are moving between the two systems, or specifically QIAS approval for the South Korea route.

HSADL (High Security Animal Disease Laboratory) in Bhopal holds EU approval; check the current QIAS list separately as approval statuses change. Your agent in India should have current information on which labs in major cities are QIAS-approved.

Unlike the EU pathway, South Korea does not require a 90-day waiting period after the passing titre result. Once you have a passing result from a QIAS-approved lab, you can book travel without waiting. However, the mandatory quarantine on arrival at Incheon effectively substitutes a holding period at the destination for the pre-travel wait used by the EU.

QIAS recommends submitting a pre-notification of your pet’s arrival at least two weeks before travel. This allows the facility to prepare a space and ensures your pet is processed promptly on arrival. Your agent will handle this communication with QIAS on your behalf if you are using one.

The QIAS Animal Quarantine Facility at Incheon International Airport is purpose-built for this function. Pets are housed individually in climate-controlled kennels, fed twice daily, and monitored by facility staff. The facility is not a shelter; it is a dedicated veterinary holding area. That said, any separation is stressful for animals, and you should not expect to visit during the quarantine period in most cases.

The quarantine period is typically 5 to 10 days for compliant pets from India. If documentation has any issue (missing information, unreadable microchip scan, or a titre result below the threshold), the period can be extended while QIAS seeks clarification. Complete documentation is the single best thing you can do to ensure the minimum quarantine time.

Quarantine facility fees are charged per day, running approximately KRW 50,000 to 200,000 per day depending on the animal’s size and any additional care required. At the lower end for a small dog over seven days, expect roughly USD 350-500 in quarantine fees. For a large dog over ten days, costs rise accordingly.

Korean Air is the recommended carrier for this route, operating direct services from Delhi (DEL) to Incheon (ICN) and offering dedicated live animal handling that coordinates with QIAS. Air India’s DEL-ICN route is an alternative for cargo. Budget USD 700-1,500 for air cargo from Delhi to Incheon, plus titre test and health certificate costs.