Pet Transport from South Korea to Austria
South Korea is not on the EU approved third-country list under EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636. Moving a pet from South Korea to Austria therefore requires a FAVN rabies antibody titre test and a 90-day waiting period from the blood draw date before entry …
The South Korea to Austria import process
Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.
Responsible: Vet in South Korea
Responsible: Vet in South Korea
Responsible: EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: Owner
Responsible: Accredited vet and APQA
Responsible: Owner or freight agent
What your pet needs to enter Austria
Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
The 90-day waiting period runs from the titre test blood draw date, not the date the result arrives. Confirm the exact blood draw date with your laboratory and count forward from that date.
Austria has no federal breed ban but each of the nine Bundeslaender has its own list of restricted breeds. Research the specific state you are moving to before booking.
Do not book flights until you have a confirmed blood draw date and have calculated the earliest permitted entry date into Austria.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
What paperwork does a pet from South Korea need to enter Austria?
Austria follows EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636 as an EU member. South Korea is not on the EU approved list, so the full unlisted-country process applies.
The sequence is: ISO 11784/11785 microchip first (before any rabies vaccination), then rabies vaccination (minimum 21 days before blood draw), then FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory (blood drawn at least 21 days after vaccination, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml), then the 90-day waiting period counted from the blood draw date. After the wait, APQA endorses an EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC, Annex IV for unlisted countries) at Incheon Airport within 10 days of travel. No import permit is required, and there is no quarantine on arrival.
Austria does not require Echinococcus tapeworm treatment for dogs from any third country. This is a meaningful simplification compared to Norway and Finland. There is no federal breed ban in Austria, though individual Bundeslaender impose their own restrictions on certain breeds. Check the rules for the specific Austrian state you are moving to before booking.
Which airlines carry pets from South Korea to Austria?
The main routing from Incheon (ICN) is via Frankfurt (FRA) to Vienna Schwechat (VIE). Lufthansa Cargo handles the ICN-FRA long-haul segment with live animal acceptance; Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa (both within the Lufthansa Group) connect FRA to VIE. Korean Air Cargo is an alternative for the long-haul leg, routing through FRA or AMS. KLM Cargo via Amsterdam (AMS) also connects onward to VIE.
Frankfurt is the most efficient hub for Vienna connections given multiple daily departures. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance on both the long-haul and onward legs at the time of booking.
How long does the South Korea to Austria process take, and what does it cost?
Allow five to six months from start to travel day. The 90-day wait from the titre test blood draw is the fixed constraint, and the 21-day gap between vaccination and blood draw extends the timeline further. Book flights only after you have a confirmed blood draw date and can calculate the exact earliest permitted entry date.
Costs typically run from EUR 1,400 to EUR 3,500. The FAVN titre test costs EUR 200 to EUR 400. APQA inspection and AHC endorsement at ICN adds KRW 50,000 to KRW 150,000 (roughly EUR 35 to EUR 110). Cargo from ICN to VIE via Frankfurt costs EUR 900 to EUR 2,500. Austrian border inspection runs EUR 100 to EUR 250. An IPATA agent adds EUR 350 to EUR 750.