Pet Transport from South Korea to Poland
South Korea is not on the EU approved third-country list under EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636. Moving a pet from South Korea to Poland 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 Poland 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 Poland
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. Calculate the earliest permitted entry date from the blood draw date before booking flights.
Poland requires a special permit for fighting breeds including Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. Confirm breed status before booking any cargo.
LOT Polish Airlines does not operate direct ICN-WAW cargo services. All cargo from Incheon to Warsaw routes via a European hub such as Frankfurt or Amsterdam.
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 Poland?
Poland follows EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636 as an EU member state. 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 for compliant pets.
Poland does not require Echinococcus tapeworm treatment. Poland does require a special permit for dogs classified as fighting breeds under Polish law, including Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Tosa Inu. If your dog is on the list, contact the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs for guidance before booking.
Which airlines carry pets from South Korea to Poland?
No direct cargo service operates from Incheon (ICN) to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). All routings involve a European hub. Korean Air Cargo flies ICN to Frankfurt (FRA) and Amsterdam (AMS), with onward Lufthansa or LOT connections to Warsaw. Lufthansa Cargo handles ICN to FRA direct, with multiple daily FRA-WAW departures. KLM Cargo covers ICN to AMS with AMS-WAW connections. Finnair Cargo offers an ICN to Helsinki (HEL) direct option, with a HEL-WAW connection onward.
Confirm live animal cargo acceptance on both the long-haul and onward legs at the time of booking. Policies can vary by aircraft type and route.
How long does the South Korea to Poland 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. Add the 21-day gap between vaccination and blood draw. 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 WAW via a European hub costs EUR 900 to EUR 2,500. Polish border inspection runs EUR 100 to EUR 250. An IPATA agent adds EUR 350 to EUR 750.