South Korea requires pets to be microchipped, rabies vaccinated with a 30-day waiting period, and have a rabies neutralization antibody test from an approved laboratory. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) oversees all imports. Compliant pets are typically released same-day after inspection at Incheon International Airport. No mandatory quarantine for compliant animals.
Companies Listed
4
Quarantine
Not Required
Common Pets
dogs, cats
Requirements
8 documented
Key Import Requirements
ISO microchip required (implanted before rabies vaccination)
Rabies vaccination at least 30 days before departure
Rabies neutralization antibody test required (≥ 0.5 IU/mL)
USDA-endorsed Veterinary Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Vaccine certificate must include manufacturer, batch number, and expiration date
Pets inspected by APQA at Incheon International Airport on arrival
Non-compliant pets quarantined until requirements are met
Advance notification required for 10+ cats and/or dogs
Import requirements by pet type
Requirements for relocating a pet to Korea, South vary significantly by species. Below are the rules for birds, horses, and exotic pets — dogs and cats are covered in the key requirements above.
Birds
Import permitted
Pet birds can enter South Korea from APQA-approved countries with a government health certificate and arrival inspection. They are quarantined for five days, reduced to one day if held in approved pre-export quarantine for at least five days. Birds from regions with active avian influenza are barred, and CITES-listed species need a Ministry of Environment permit.
Government-endorsed veterinary health certificate from the exporting country's national authority
Bird must originate from an APQA/QIA-approved country (list includes US, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and EU members)
Arrival quarantine of 5 days, reduced to 1 day if held in approved pre-export quarantine for at least 5 days
Import restricted from countries/regions with active avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks
CITES Appendix I/II species (many parrots) require an import permit from Korea's Ministry of Environment
Apply to and clear inspection by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA/QIA) at the port of entry
The 5-day / 1-day quarantine rule and approved-country list are confirmed on the official APQA/QIA English portal. The approved-country list and disease status change with outbreaks, so confirm your specific origin and species with APQA before booking. CITES species eligibility must be cleared with the Ministry of Environment.
Horses
Import permitted
Horses can be imported into South Korea through the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. Importers need an APQA-issued import permit, a government-endorsed health certificate, an identification/passport record, and blood testing for diseases such as glanders, dourine, equine piroplasmosis and equine infectious anaemia, followed by an arrival quarantine and observation period.
Import permit issued in advance by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA/QIA)
Government-endorsed veterinary health certificate (issued close to departure)
Equine identification document / passport with full description of the horse
Blood tests for glanders, dourine, equine piroplasmosis and equine infectious anaemia (EIA)
Arrival quarantine with an observation period at an approved APQA facility
Origin country must not be on APQA's prohibited-region list for contagious livestock disease
Disease panels and quarantine length depend on the exporting country and its disease status; the prohibited-region list changes with outbreaks (e.g. African horse sickness). The exact equine quarantine days, fees and full disease panel could not be confirmed from a primary APQA/USDA source in this review (those pages were unreachable) and should be treated as indicative only. Confirm the current protocol directly with APQA.
Reptiles
Import permitted
Reptiles can be brought into South Korea but are not a routine pet import. They need a veterinary health certificate, and any CITES-listed species (including many turtles and tortoises) requires an import permit from the Ministry of Environment. Endangered species are restricted under the Wildlife Protection and Management Act, so eligibility depends heavily on the exact species.
Veterinary health certificate for the reptile from the exporting country
Verify the species is not banned under Korea's Wildlife Protection and Management Act
CITES Appendix I/II species require an import permit from Korea's Ministry of Environment
Provide CITES export documentation from the country of origin where applicable
Reptiles are not subject to rabies vaccination but must clear quarantine inspection
Coordinate species eligibility with both APQA (animal health) and the Ministry of Environment (CITES)
No rabies requirement, but reptiles are handled case by case. CITES-listed turtles, tortoises and many other species are the main hurdle, and endangered species cannot be privately imported. Specific permits, fees and quarantine handling could not be confirmed from a primary APQA source in this review and are UNVERIFIABLE here; verify the exact species with APQA and the Ministry of Environment.
Pet-type requirements researched and last updated June 2026. Always confirm current rules with the destination’s government authority before booking — regulations change frequently.
How much does it cost to ship a pet to Korea, South?
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