Moving Your Pet to South Korea
What the Process Actually Looks Like
South Korea is home to a significant US military presence, and a growing expat community in tech, education, and corporate sectors — making it one of the more common destinations we see from the US. The process is more manageable than Japan or Taiwan: no import permit required, no mandatory waiting period after the titer test. The one thing that catches people off guard is the titer test — technically it can be done after arrival in Korea, but if it isn’t done before departure, your pet will be held in quarantine at your expense until the results are in. Do it before you leave.
Moderate. The requirements are straightforward compared to many other destinations — microchip, current rabies vaccination, titer test, and a health certificate. No import permit, no extended waiting period. What makes the process time-sensitive is getting the titer test done and results back before your departure date. The 30-day health certificate window is more generous than most destinations, which gives some flexibility in scheduling the vet exam.
Complexity level: Moderate
Recommended start time: 4–6 weeks before travel (longer if vaccines need updating)
Titer test required: Yes — dogs and cats (strongly recommended before departure)
Post-arrival quarantine: None for compliant arrivals with titer test completed before departure
Is South Korea Difficult for Pet Relocation?
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How Will Your Pet Travel?
In-cabin works for small pets in a soft-sided carrier under the seat, if your airline allows it — check their policy and weight limit (usually ~20 lbs incl. carrier) before booking.
In-cabin
Pet rides in the cargo hold on your same flight. Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Persian cats) generally aren't accepted this way and should use manifest cargo. Confirm weight/crate requirements with your carrier.
Excess baggage
Pet ships as freight, potentially a different flight than yours — standard for larger pets, restricted breeds, or if you're not traveling same-day. Global Tails handles cargo booking, check-in, and arrival coordination.
Manifest Cargo
Entry Points and Onward Travel
Most US-origin pets enter South Korea through ICN — Incheon International Airport, the primary international cargo hub serving the Seoul area
Step-by-Step: How Pet Relocation to South Korea Works
Step 1 — ISO-Standard Microchip
Your pet must have an ISO-standard microchip. This should be in place before any other step — and before the first rabies vaccination, as the microchip number needs to appear consistently across all documents.
Technically, South Korea allows microchipping to be done after arrival, but a pet that arrives without a chip will be held in quarantine until the procedure is completed and documented. Do it before departure.
Step 2 — Rabies Vaccination
Your pet’s rabies vaccination must be current at the time of arrival in South Korea. There’s no specified minimum gap from vaccination to travel, but the vaccine must be valid — not expired — when your pet lands.
Rabies vaccination is not required for pets under 90 days old.
Step 3 — Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titer Test (RNATT)
South Korea requires a rabies neutralizing antibody titer test (RNATT) with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher, performed at an internationally approved laboratory or certified by the competent authority of the exporting country. For US-origin pets, USDA endorsement of the health certificate satisfies this requirement.
The titer test can technically be performed after arrival in Korea — but if it hasn’t been done before departure, your pet will be held in quarantine at your expense until the test is completed and results are confirmed. For most clients, that’s not an acceptable outcome. We strongly recommend completing the RNATT before departure.
A previously passing RNATT result is valid for up to 24 months from the date of the test. If your pet has an existing titer result on file and it’s within that window, it may not need to be repeated.
Titer test is not required for pets under 90 days old.
Lab processing typically takes 4–6 weeks. Factor that in when scheduling the blood draw
Step 4 — Health Certificate and USDA Endorsement
The health certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA-APHIS within 30 days of export. This is a shorter window than most destinations — plan the vet exam carefully against your departure date.
South Korea requires USDA to physically ink-sign and emboss the health certificate. The endorsed original must accompany your pet during travel.
Allow 3–5 business days for USDA-APHIS processing. APHIS operates Monday–Friday, 7am– 4:30pm CT, excluding federal holidays.
Step 5 — Travel Day and Arrival
At check-in, the health certificate must be present. On arrival at the Korean port of entry, your pet will be inspected by APQA quarantine officers. For compliant arrivals — microchipped, currently vaccinated, and with a passing RNATT completed before departure — the inspection is straightforward and your pet is released.
If the microchip or RNATT is missing or incomplete, your pet will be held in quarantine at the designated facility at your expense until the issue is resolved. APQA states the average extended quarantine period is 10 days, though it can run longer depending on the case.
What Documents Travel With Your Pet
USDA-endorsed health certificate (original, physically ink-signed and embossed) — issued within 30 days of export
Rabies vaccination certificate (current at time of arrival)
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RNATT lab report (0.5 IU/ml or higher, from APQA-approved lab)
Airway Bill (AWB) — manifest cargo only
Common Questions
4–6 weeks is workable if your pet’s rabies vaccination is current. The main variable is the titer test — lab processing takes 4–6 weeks, so the blood draw needs to happen early enough that results are back before the health certificate appointment. If rabies vaccination needs to be updated first, add time for that before scheduling the blood draw.
Not for compliant arrivals. If your pet arrives with a passing RNATT completed before departure and a valid microchip, the inspection at entry is brief and your pet is released. Quarantine is only triggered if the microchip or titer test is missing or incomplete on arrival — APQA states the average is 10 days, at the owner’s expense.
No — South Korea does not require an advance import permit. The health certificate and titer documentation are what travel with the pet.
Up to 24 months from the date of the test. If your pet has a passing result on file from within that window and the result is confirmed at 0.5 IU/ml or higher, it may not need to be repeated.
Yes. Each pet will need its own health certificate and individual titer documentation. We’ll confirm that all records are complete and within valid windows before departure.
South Korea restricts certain breeds in public spaces, and some apartment buildings and residential complexes have their own breed restrictions for residents. These are domestic regulations rather than import bans — they don’t prevent a dog from entering the country, but they may affect where the owner can live with the pet. If your dog is a large or strong breed, it’s worth researching residential restrictions in your specific area before booking. Contact us and we can advise.
We guide you through the full process — titer test scheduling, health certificate coordination, USDA endorsement, and cargo booking. Vaccination appointments and the blood draw happen at your local vet; we tell you exactly what to ask for and when. We coordinate with a receiving agent at ICN for manifest cargo arrivals.
A Note on Timing
The piece most clients underestimate is the titer test timeline. Lab processing takes 4–6 weeks, and the results need to be in hand before the health certificate appointment — which itself must fall within 30 days of departure. Working backward from your travel date: schedule the blood draw at least 6–8 weeks out, and schedule the vet exam for the health certificate in the final 2–3 weeks before departure once the titer results are confirmed.
The 30-day health certificate window is more generous than most destinations, but don’t leave the vet exam to the last minute — APHIS endorsement adds another 3–5 business days, and the endorsed original needs to be in hand before departure.
Ready to Get Started?
South Korea is one of the more manageable destinations we handle. The best first step is a conversation.
Requirements sourced from USDA-APHIS (aphis.usda.gov) and Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency — APQA (qia.go.kr). Last verified: July 2026. Requirements can change without notice — we verify current conditions for every case before proceeding.