How do I bring my dog or cat to Korea?

Your dog or cat needs an ISO microchip, a passing rabies antibody test and a quarantine certificate from your country's government. With the papers in order and a healthy animal, it can be released at the airport on arrival day. What to do 1. Microchip: ISO 11784/11785, with the number matching the certificate exactly. 2. Rabies: vaccinate, then get a rabies neutralizing antibody test from an approved lab or your government. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml, from blood drawn within 24 months before arrival. 3. Certificate: get a quarantine certificate from your country's government agency showing the chip number, the antibody result and the birth date. 4. Check the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) conditions for your country; some countries need extra papers. 5. On arrival, declare the pet on your customs declaration and show the certificate to the animal quarantine officer before customs. Good to know • Without a certificate, the pet is sent back. If the chip or antibody result doesn't meet the rules, the pet is held in quarantine at your cost. • Pets under 90 days old or from rabies-free countries follow different rules. Check APQA. • Dogs aged 2 months or older must be registered with the city, county or district office within 30 days of owning them (or of turning 2 months), usually through a designated vet clinic. Ask your district office how this applies to an imported dog. Official sources • APQA, Bringing cats and dogs to Korea: https://www.apqa.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02AnimalLivestock_007-8.jsp • Animal registration (Korean): https://www.animal.go.kr/front/community/show.do?boardId=contents&seq=66&menuNo=2000000016 Checked by the Verihood team on October 3, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you act.