Home/Routes/South Korea to Greece
KR
South Korea
✈️
GR
Greece

Pet Transport South Korea to Greece: APQA Export and EU Entry Process

20-24 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified

Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →

Overview
Allow five to six months to move a pet from South Korea to Greece. South Korea is an unlisted third country for EU purposes, so the full protocol applies: microchip, rabies vaccination, FAVN titre test at 0.5 IU/ml or above, a 90-day wait, and an EU Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel. No quarantine on arrival in Greece, provided every step is complete.
Step by step

The South Korea to Greece process

1
Immediately. Must precede the rabies vaccination.
Implant ISO microchip

Responsible: Vet

2
After microchip. Allow at least 21 days before titre test blood draw.
Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Vet

3
At least 21 days after vaccination. Submit to an EU-approved laboratory.
FAVN titre test blood draw

Responsible: EU-approved laboratory

4
From the date of the blood draw that confirmed 0.5 IU/ml or above. Cannot be shortened.
90-day waiting period

Responsible: Owner to track

5
During the 90-day wait period. Apply to APQA and arrange veterinary inspection.
APQA export health certificate

Responsible: APQA

6
Within 10 days before entry into Greece.
EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

Responsible: Authorised vet

7
On travel day at ICN.
APQA departure inspection and clearance

Responsible: APQA, airline cargo

Checklist

Greece: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785 standard, 15-digit non-encrypted. Must precede the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Administered after microchip. At least 21 days must pass before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre testRequired. FAVN rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. South Korea is an unlisted third country under EU Regulation 2016/429. A 90-day waiting period runs from the blood draw date.
QuarantineNone for compliant pets arriving at an approved EU entry point with correct documentation.
Import permitNot required. The EU Animal Health Certificate is the travel document.
Health certificateEU Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued by an authorised vet within 10 days before arrival in Greece.
Leaving South Korea

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitAPQA (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency) export health certificate. Issued after veterinary inspection at APQA. Required before departure.
Health certificateIssued by an accredited veterinarian. Must document microchip number, rabies vaccination, and full vaccination history.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1FAVN titre test at EU-approved laboratory: KRW 80,000 to KRW 150,000 (approximately £45 to £85)
2APQA export health certificate: KRW 10,000 to KRW 30,000
3Vaccinations and vet consultation: KRW 50,000 to KRW 120,000
4IATA-compliant travel crate: KRW 80,000 to KRW 300,000 depending on size
5Cargo airline fees (ICN to ATH): KRW 400,000 to KRW 1,200,000
6EU Animal Health Certificate: KRW 30,000 to KRW 80,000
7Pet transport agent fee: KRW 300,000 to KRW 800,000
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ South Korea is unlisted for EU pet travel. The FAVN titre test and 90-day wait are mandatory, regardless of vaccination status. Do not book travel before the 90 days are complete.
⚠ Note the distinction between Korea's own QIAS process (for pets entering Korea) and the EU-specific FAVN requirement (for pets leaving Korea for EU). These are separate obligations.
⚠ The APQA export certificate and the EU AHC are two different documents. Both are required.
⚠ The EU AHC must be issued within 10 days before entry into Greece. Check expiry carefully when booking cargo flights.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Korean Air Cargo
Incheon (ICN) to Athens (ATH) via Seoul hub. Korean Air accepts pets as cargo. Book through Korean Air Cargo directly.
Cargo Only
Asiana Airlines Cargo
ICN to ATH via connecting European hub. Asiana Cargo accepts pets as manifest cargo.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways Cargo
ICN via Doha (DOH) to ATH. Qatar Airways Cargo accepts pets. One connection at Doha.
Cargo Only

Two different processes: Korean export and EU entry

It is worth knowing that South Korea’s own APQA process for pets entering Korea (which includes the QIAS quarantine system) is separate from what the EU requires for pets leaving Korea. When you are preparing a pet for export to Greece, you are working with APQA’s export health certificate, not the import quarantine system.

The APQA export certificate confirms the pet’s identity, vaccination status and health condition at the time of export. This document, alongside the EU Animal Health Certificate, forms the paperwork pair that Greece requires on arrival.

Choosing a cargo route from Incheon to Athens

There is no non-stop passenger or cargo flight from Incheon directly to Athens year-round. Most cargo routes connect through a European hub, often Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or London, or via a Middle East hub such as Doha.

Korean Air and Asiana both handle pets as manifest cargo with connections to Athens. Qatar Airways Cargo via Doha is another reliable option. Whichever route you choose, confirm that the connecting airline also accepts live animals, and that the total transit time is within the airline’s crate ventilation and water requirements.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes, provided the EU import protocol is followed correctly. Greece does not impose quarantine on pets from South Korea if the pet has an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, a FAVN titre test result of 0.5 IU/ml or above, a completed 90-day waiting period from the blood draw date, and an EU Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days before arrival. Missing any one of these will cause problems at the border.
The FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralisation) test measures the level of rabies neutralising antibodies in your pet’s blood. It must be performed at an EU-approved laboratory. Several accredited laboratories in South Korea are approved for this test. Your vet can advise on the current approved list, or check the European Commission’s designated laboratory list. Results typically take 5 to 10 business days.
No. The 90-day wait is a mandatory requirement under EU Regulation 2016/429 for pets from unlisted third countries, which includes South Korea. It runs from the blood draw date of the titre test that confirmed the 0.5 IU/ml or above result. There is no waiver or exception for this period.
The APQA export health certificate has a short validity period, typically around 10 days from issue. Co-ordinate the APQA certificate issue date with your cargo booking and the EU Animal Health Certificate to ensure all documents are valid on arrival in Greece.
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