Pet Transport from South Korea to the Philippines

The BAI SPSIC (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance) is the core document for bringing a pet into the Philippines from South Korea. Apply online through the Bureau of Animal Industry portal. You will need to submit your pet’s vaccination records (with rabies vaccination dated at least 14 days before application), microchip registration and a photograph of the pet.

BAI processes applications within two to three weeks. The SPSIC is valid for two months from issue. Your travel date matters here: confirm when you plan to fly before applying, because if you submit early and your date shifts beyond two months, you need to reapply.

South Korea is not on any Philippines BAI rabies-free country list, which means the vaccination requirement stands. Animals that are 120 days or older at the time of application can be included on one SPSIC, with a maximum of three animals per clearance.

All pets arriving from South Korea go to the BAI quarantine facility at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on arrival. The 30-day period is mandatory and begins immediately after BAI inspection on the day of arrival.

During quarantine, BAI veterinary staff observe the animals’ health. The facility is a government station. Contact BAI directly to find out the current visiting arrangements for owners. Quarantine fees run approximately PHP 15,000-30,000 for 30 days depending on species and size.

Factor this into your budget before booking. The 30-day quarantine is a fixed cost that applies to all arrivals from South Korea and cannot be reduced by any documentation or route choice.

Korean Air and Philippine Airlines are the primary carriers for this route. Korean Air operates direct ICN to MNL flights and has a strong record on live animal cargo. Philippine Airlines provides the reverse service (MNL to ICN) and accepts cargo; if booking through Philippine Airlines from Seoul, contact the PR Cargo desk directly.

Korean Air allows small pets (under 7 kg including carrier) in the passenger cabin on some international routes. Confirm whether this applies to the ICN-MNL route for your specific dates. For larger dogs, Korean Air Cargo or Philippine Airlines Cargo are the options. Book cargo space at least four to six weeks in advance.

Cebu Pacific also operates on this corridor. Confirm with Cebu Pacific Cargo whether live animals are accepted before committing, as policies on budget carriers can be inconsistent across routes.