Pet Transport South Korea to USA: 2026 Guide

Taking your dog or cat from South Korea to United States comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Plan on roughly 4-8 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is …

4-8 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

Get my free quote

Lead time needed

4-8 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Medium

Airlines

4 carriers on this route

Start my quote

In short: Preparing to move a pet from South Korea to United States typically takes around 4-8 weeks.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

At least 4-8 weeks before travel.

Confirm microchip is ISO-standard and rabies vaccination is current (for dogs).

Responsible: Vet

Before travel. Complete in advance rather than on the day.

Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online (dogs only). No fee.

Responsible: Owner

Within the timeframe specified by USDA APHIS for the destination.

South Korean official vet issues health certificate (for dogs), endorsed by Korean authority.

Responsible: South Korean official vet

At least 4-8 weeks before travel. Cabin spaces are limited.

Book cabin space on Korean Air or Asiana (small pets) or cargo space for larger pets.

Responsible: Owner or agent

On travel date. Allow extra time for CDC desk at arrival.

Travel to the USA. CDC inspection at arrival airport for dogs. Present CDC form and health certificate.

Responsible: Owner / airline

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

Required for all dogs entering the USA. ISO 11784/11785 standard recommended. If the chip is non-ISO, the owner must bring a compatible reader.

Rabies vaccination

Required for dogs. Must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and recorded. Cats have no federal rabies vaccination requirement for US entry.

Import permit

No formal import permit. The CDC Dog Import Form is the required registration for dogs. Cats have no federal documentation requirement.

Health certificate

USDA-endorsed health certificate required for dogs. A South Korean official vet issues the certificate and the Korean government endorses it before travel.

Export permit

No South Korean export permit required for companion dogs and cats.

Health certificate

South Korean official veterinarian issues a health certificate meeting USDA APHIS requirements, endorsed by the relevant South Korean government authority. Covers microchip number, rabies vaccination status, and general health.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your South Korea to United States move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Korean Air

Small dogs and cats (max 7 kg including cage) in the cabin on international routes. Larger pets as checked baggage or Korean Air Cargo. Seoul Incheon (ICN) hub. Direct services to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle and other US cities.

Mixed

Asiana Airlines

Small pets in the cabin on qualifying routes (weight limits apply). Cargo for larger pets. Seoul Incheon hub. Direct trans-Pacific services to multiple US cities.

Mixed

Delta Air Lines

Delta Cargo on trans-Pacific routes from Seoul. Seattle and Los Angeles hubs.

Cargo Only

American Airlines

American Airlines Cargo on Korea-USA routes. Code-share routes with Korean Air (oneworld alliance) may provide additional routing options.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

Cabin pet fee (Korean Air or Asiana, small pets): USD 100 to USD 200 each way

Cargo fee (larger pets, South Korea to USA): USD 700 to USD 2,000 depending on size and carrier

IATA-compliant crate (if cargo): USD 80 to USD 350

South Korean official vet health certificate: KRW 50,000 to KRW 200,000 (approx USD 35 to USD 145)

CDC Dog Import Form: no fee

Total typical range: USD 500 to USD 3,000

Critical points

The CDC Dog Import Form is mandatory for all dogs entering the USA, including from South Korea. Complete it before travel. Dogs arriving without the form may be refused entry or placed in quarantine at the owner's expense.

Cats have no federal US documentation requirements but check airline-specific requirements. Some carriers require a health certificate even for cats.

Korean Air allows small pets in the cabin. This is a significant advantage for small dogs and cats on the long trans-Pacific journey. Book the cabin space early.

United Airlines PetSafe cargo is currently suspended for general public bookings. Use Korean Air, Asiana, Delta or American instead.

Hawaii has its own strict quarantine programme separate from federal CDC requirements. If Hawaii is your final destination, research HDOA rules independently.

United States entry requirements at a glance

The path into United States is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.

Getting the details right

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.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

No, there is no routine quarantine for correctly documented dogs from South Korea. You need a completed CDC Dog Import Form, a USDA-endorsed health certificate from a South Korean official vet, and a current rabies vaccination. CDC inspection at the arrival airport is typically brief for well-documented pets. Hawaii is the exception and applies its own quarantine rules regardless of documentation.

Cats have no federal documentation requirements when entering the USA from South Korea. However, your airline will have its own requirements (typically a health certificate from a vet). Check these with your carrier at the time of booking. Hawaii again applies different rules for cats, requiring advance registration with the HDOA.

Yes, on Korean Air or Asiana Airlines, for small pets. Korean Air allows dogs and cats weighing up to 7 kg including the cage in the passenger cabin on trans-Pacific routes. Asiana also accepts small cabin pets on qualifying flights. Delta and American transport pets as cargo only on international flights. Book cabin space at the same time as your own seat.

For most pets, 4-8 weeks is enough to arrange the health certificate and book transport. The key tasks are confirming the microchip and rabies vaccination are current, completing the CDC Dog Import Form, and booking cargo or cabin space. If your dog’s rabies vaccination has lapsed, allow an additional 3-4 weeks for revaccination and confirmation before travel.

IATA crate size limits apply rather than a specific weight limit for cargo, but airline policies vary. Korean Air and Asiana accept larger dogs as checked baggage or cargo provided the IATA-compliant crate meets size requirements. Check maximum crate dimensions with the specific airline at the time of booking. Very large breeds may require specialist pet freight rather than standard airline cargo.

Ready when you are

Move your pet

to United States.

Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. Preparation timeline, full cost breakdown, and breed specific advice. No commitment.