Lead time needed
22-28 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
4 carriers on this route
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KR
SE

Pet Transport from South Korea to Sweden

Shipping a dog or cat from South Korea to Sweden rewards owners who start planning early. Around 22-28 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must happen in a strict order. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order. A rabies …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from South Korea to Sweden typically takes around 22-28 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Step by step

The South Korea to Sweden 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
First step, before rabies vaccination
Implant ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Responsible: Vet in South Korea

2
After microchip. Allow 21 days before titre test blood draw.
Rabies vaccination (pet at least 12 weeks old)

Responsible: Vet in South Korea

3
Blood drawn at least 21 days after vaccination. 90-day wait into Sweden starts from blood draw date.
FAVN titre test at EU-approved laboratory

Responsible: EU-approved laboratory

4
Counted from blood draw, not result date. Cannot be shortened.
90-day waiting period from blood draw date

Responsible: Owner

5
Within 10 days of departure
APQA inspection and EU AHC endorsement at ICN

Responsible: Accredited vet and APQA

6
Book early; confirm after titre test blood draw date is known
Book cargo from ICN to ARN via hub

Responsible: Owner or freight agent

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Sweden

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

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before or on the same day …
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required. 21-day wait after a first-time vaccination …
Rabies titre test
Required. South Korea is not on the EU approved third-country list. FAVN or …
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant pets. Jordbruksverket inspects at the point of …
Import permit
No import permit required.
Health certificate
EU AHC (Annex IV for unlisted third countries), APQA-endorsed. Valid 10 days. …
Export permit
APQA export health certificate and inspection at ICN cargo facility. No separate …
Costs

What this route typically costs

FAVN titre test at EU-approved laboratory: EUR 200-400
APQA inspection and AHC endorsement at ICN: KRW 50,000-150,000 (approx …
Airline cargo ICN to ARN via hub: EUR 900-2,500
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 70-280
Swedish border inspection on arrival: EUR 100-250
IPATA agent fee (optional): EUR 350-750

Critical points

The 90-day waiting period runs from the titre test blood draw date, not the date the result arrives. Miscalculating this is the most common cause of pets being refused at the Swedish border.

Sweden does not require tapeworm treatment, unlike Norway and Finland. This is one fewer step compared to those destinations.

Do not book flights until you have a confirmed blood draw date and can calculate the earliest permitted entry date into Sweden.

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 Cargo
Korean Air operates from Incheon (ICN) to multiple European hubs including Frankfurt (FRA) …
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
ICN to Frankfurt (FRA) direct, then FRA to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) via SAS or Lufthansa. …
Cargo Only
KLM Cargo
ICN to Amsterdam (AMS) direct, then AMS to ARN. Confirm live animal acceptance on each …
Cargo Only
Finnair Cargo
ICN to Helsinki (HEL) via Finnair. Finnair Cargo accepts live animals on direct Finnair …
Cargo Only

Meeting Sweden's entry requirements

The requirements for Sweden are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.

Advice worth following

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.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. South Korea is not on the EU approved third-country list under EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636. A FAVN or RNATT titre test at an EU-approved laboratory is required. The minimum result is 0.5 IU/ml, and a 90-day waiting period from the blood draw date must pass before the pet can enter Sweden.
After the titre test blood is drawn (not when the result arrives), a 90-day waiting period must pass before your pet can enter Sweden. The earliest permitted entry date is 90 days after the actual blood draw date. This is the main reason the process takes five to six months.
No. Sweden does not require Echinococcus tapeworm treatment for dogs entering from any third country including South Korea. This is a key difference compared to Norway and Finland, which do require tapeworm treatment.
APQA is South Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. Pets travelling from South Korea to an EU country must be inspected by APQA at Incheon International Airport (ICN), where APQA endorses the EU Animal Health Certificate. This inspection is the final step before departure.
No quarantine for fully compliant pets. Jordbruksverket (Swedish Board of Agriculture) inspects at the point of entry. If the microchip, vaccination, titre test result, 90-day wait, and APQA-endorsed certificate are all in order, the pet is cleared without quarantine.
Airline guides
  • Korean Air Cargo
  • Lufthansa Cargo
  • KLM Cargo
  • Finnair Cargo
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Sweden.

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KR SESouth Korea to Sweden
International pet transport route
Lead time22-28 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityHigh
Airlines4
ServiceDoor to door
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