Pet Transport from South Korea to Brazil: 2026 Guide
South Korea to Brazil involves two well-managed regulatory systems and one logistical challenge: there are no direct flights. On the Korea side, APQA's airport inspection process is efficient. On the Brazil side, you need a MAPA import permit before the health …
The South Korea to Brazil 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: You or a Brazilian agent
Responsible: Vet in South Korea
Responsible: APQA-authorised vet + APQA
Responsible: You or agent
Responsible: APQA officer
Responsible: You + cargo carrier
What your pet needs to enter Brazil
Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
Brazil requires a specific MAPA trilingual certificate format. A standard APQA health certificate will not be accepted at the Brazilian border unless it follows MAPA's template with Portuguese, English, and Korean sections. Getting the format right is critical. Use a vet with MAPA documentation experience or a specialist agent.
The MAPA import permit must be obtained before the health certificate is finalised. The permit number must appear on the certificate. Do not arrange the health certificate before the permit is confirmed.
Seoul to Brazil has no direct flights. The journey is typically 20 to 36 hours in cargo transit via Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or another hub. Select the shortest available hub layover and confirm live animal acceptance on all segments.
The antiparasitic treatment must be documented within 15 days of the health certificate issue date, not the travel date. Plan this timing carefully.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
The MAPA permit and trilingual certificate
Brazil’s MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply) requires an import permit before a companion pet can legally be brought into the country. The permit is applied for through MAPA’s SINDI platform, either by you or by a licensed Brazilian agricultural import agent. Processing takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Once the permit is in hand, the health certificate in South Korea must follow MAPA’s trilingual template: one version in Portuguese, one in English, and one in the language of the origin country. For South Korea, the third section must be in Korean. Standard APQA health certificates are not accepted unless they are prepared in this format.
MAPA also requires antiparasitic treatment within 15 days of the certificate’s issuance date, and a valid rabies vaccination regardless of origin country status.
Finding a vet in Seoul familiar with MAPA’s specific certificate requirements takes some research. An established pet transport agent with Brazil export experience will know which vets routinely prepare MAPA-format documents.
APQA's export inspection at Incheon
South Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) issues the export health certificate after an airport inspection at Incheon International Airport. Apply to APQA at least 7 days before your preferred inspection date. The inspection itself takes 1 to 2 hours at the airport cargo zone.
APQA checks: the ISO microchip (must be readable by scanner), the rabies vaccination record, and the pet’s general health. The officer endorses the health certificate that was prepared by the Korean vet. The APQA-endorsed certificate is the document you carry to Brazil.
Most international vets in Seoul are familiar with the APQA process. The key task ahead of the inspection is ensuring the health certificate follows the MAPA trilingual format, not just the standard Korean health certificate format. These are different documents.
Routing Seoul to Sao Paulo
Seoul to Sao Paulo has no direct service. The main routing options are: via Frankfurt (any carrier to FRA, then Lufthansa or LATAM to GRU); via Amsterdam (KLM from ICN to AMS, then to GRU); via Dubai (Emirates from ICN to DXB, then to GRU, noting the summer heat embargo at Dubai for live animals from June to September).
Total cargo transit time is typically 22 to 36 hours. The Frankfurt routing is popular because of the established Lufthansa and LATAM freight partnership on Latin American routes. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance on every segment separately before booking.
Arrival airports in Brazil with MAPA inspection capacity include Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), and Brasilia (BSB). Confirm your arrival airport has live animal inspection facilities before booking.