Pet Transport South Korea to Spain: 2026 Guide
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Getting a pet from South Korea to Spain is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Allow around 20-22 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on track. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.
A rabies titre test is required, and it carries a fixed waiting period, so start it early. Start with the step by step process below and build your plan from there.
The South Korea to Spain process
Responsible: Vet in South Korea
Responsible: Vet in South Korea
Responsible: Official vet and EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: N/A - mandatory waiting period
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: APQA-registered vet plus APQA endorsement
Responsible: Airline cargo and Spanish customs
Spain: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must predate the rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Valid rabies vaccination required. 21-day wait after primary vaccination. |
| Rabies titre test | Required. South Korea is not EU-listed. FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above. 3-month wait from blood sampling date. Source: food.ec.europa.eu, 2026. |
| Quarantine | No quarantine for compliant pets. Spanish customs inspects at Madrid Barajas (MAD). |
| Import permit | No import permit required. APQA-endorsed EU-format health certificate is the required document. |
| Health certificate | EU-format certificate endorsed by APQA, issued within 10 days of travel. |
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit required for companion animals from South Korea. Primary departure airport: Seoul Incheon (ICN). |
| Health certificate | Official veterinary health certificate issued by an APQA-registered official vet and endorsed by APQA (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency). EU-format required. Issued within 10 days of travel. |
What this route typically costs
| 1 | APQA certificate and endorsement: KRW 50,000-150,000 (approximately EUR 35-110) |
| 2 | FAVN titre test (EU-approved laboratory): EUR 85-170 |
| 3 | IATA-compliant crate: EUR 80-250 if needed |
| 4 | Cargo ICN to MAD via European hub: EUR 900-2,000 depending on crate size and routing |
| 5 | Pet transport agent (optional): EUR 150-400 |
| 6 | Total typical range: EUR 1,300-2,900 |
Read before you book
Airlines on this route
How Spain handles incoming pets
What experienced owners do
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.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Common questions
South Korea to Spain?