Lead time needed
22-28 weeks
Quarantine
14 days
Route complexity
Very High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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KR
IS

Pet Transport from South Korea to Iceland

Taking your dog or cat from South Korea to Iceland comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect a long lead time of roughly 22-28 weeks; the waiting periods here cannot be rushed. Factor in 14 days of quarantine at the destination. You will need a …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from South Korea to Iceland typically takes around 22-28 weeks. Expect 14 days of quarantine on arrival. A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
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Step by step

The South Korea to Iceland import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
Before anything else is booked.
Confirm eligibility: gather proof of at least 6 months of ownership and residency in South Korea, and evidence the owner is relocating to Iceland.

Responsible: Owner

2
Start of planning, at least 5 months before travel.
Implant the ISO microchip, then begin the rabies and leptospirosis vaccination course.

Responsible: Vet in South Korea

3
The 90-day Category 2 wait starts from this date.
Draw blood for the titre test at least 30 days after vaccination, send to an EU-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet and laboratory

4
As soon as the eligibility documents are ready.
Apply to MAST for the import permit, including the residency and ownership evidence.

Responsible: Owner or agent

5
As early as possible; slots are limited.
Book isolation station space at Reykjanesbae or Mosel.

Responsible: Owner or agent

6
Close to departure, within MAST's validity window.
Complete the Animal Health Certificate with an authorised South Korean vet, in MAST's Category 2 format.

Responsible: Authorised vet in South Korea

7
On travel date, once the 90-day wait is complete.
Fly Seoul Incheon to a European hub via Korean Air or Asiana, then on to Keflavik via Icelandair.

Responsible: Cargo handlers and MAST border check

8
Immediately after arrival.
Minimum 14 days in isolation before release.

Responsible: Quarantine station staff

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Iceland

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination …
Rabies vaccination
Primary rabies vaccination after the microchip, plus leptospirosis at least 14 …
Rabies titre test
Required once MAST accepts the import under Category 2 conditions: blood drawn …
Quarantine
Mandatory minimum 14 days at Einangrunarstoedin i Reykjanesbae or …
Import permit
Requires proof that the pet has lived with its owner in South Korea for at least …
Health certificate
MAST's Category 2 import certificate, completed by the authorised vet in South …
Export permit
No South Korean export permit required for a companion dog or cat. Source: APQA, …
Costs

What this route typically costs

Vet fees, vaccinations and titre test in South Korea: KRW …
MAST import permit base fee: around ISK 40,000 (roughly GBP 230)
Quarantine, 14 days: around ISK 220,000 for a dog (roughly GBP 1,250), …
IATA-compliant travel crate: KRW 150,000-500,000
Two-leg cargo fare, Seoul to a European hub to Keflavik: GBP …
Agent fee for the eligibility check and two-leg booking: GBP 500-1,000
Total typical range: GBP 3,500-5,800

Critical points

South Korea is not on MAST's Category 1 or Category 2 list at all. Unless the owner has genuinely lived with the pet in South Korea for 6 months and is relocating to Iceland, MAST has no standard route open for this move. Confirm eligibility with petimport@mast.is before booking a single vaccination.

This is the reverse of a genuinely simple route on this site: Iceland to South Korea is one of the easiest Iceland-outbound journeys, since South Korea's own APQA already recognises Iceland as rabies-free. MAST does not return that recognition, which is the asymmetry that makes this direction one of the hardest on the site instead.

The 90-day wait runs from the titre blood draw date, not from vaccination. Combined with the 30-day pre-titre wait and the eligibility paperwork, budget five to six months minimum before booking a flight.

The 14-day quarantine at Reykjanesbae or Mosel applies regardless of how the eligibility question resolves.

No airline flies Seoul direct to Keflavik. Every routing runs through a European hub, adding a second cargo booking to coordinate.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Korean Air
Covers Seoul Incheon to a European hub, the first leg of this route since there is no …
Cargo Only
Asiana Airlines
An alternative for the Seoul to European hub leg, worth checking against Korean Air for …
Cargo Only
Icelandair
Handles the connecting leg from the European hub to Keflavik. Since 1 November 2024, pets …
Cargo Only

Iceland entry requirements at a glance

Getting a pet into Iceland means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.

Getting the details right

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

FAQ

Common questions

Only if you qualify for MAST’s exception for non-listed countries: the pet must have lived with you in South Korea for at least 6 months, and you must be genuinely relocating to Iceland with it. South Korea is not on MAST’s approved Category 1 or Category 2 list. Confirm your situation with MAST (petimport@mast.is) before starting any vaccination schedule.
Because South Korea’s own regulator, APQA, already classifies Iceland as rabies-free and waives the titre test for that direction. MAST has not made the equivalent classification for South Korea, so pets moving this way default to the stricter Category 2 process instead.
Yes, once MAST accepts the import under Category 2 conditions: blood drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, followed by a 90-day wait from the blood draw before travel.
Yes, a mandatory minimum 14 days at Einangrunarstoedin i Reykjanesbae or Einangrunarstoedin Mosel, applying to every pet entering Iceland regardless of origin.
Between 22 and 28 weeks, roughly five to six months. Most of that comes from the 30-day pre-titre wait plus the 90-day post-titre wait, alongside the time needed to gather the residency and ownership evidence MAST wants before it will accept a South Korean departure at all.
Airline guides
  • Korean Air
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Icelandair
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Move your pet to Iceland.

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KR ISSouth Korea to Iceland
International pet transport route
Lead time22-28 weeks
Quarantine14 days
ComplexityVery High
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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