🇰🇷Country requirements

South Korea pet travel requirements

Korea’s current APQA table lists 61 rabies-free countries/regions. Dogs/cats need readable implanted identification and an accepted original government certificate, the qualifying EU-passport route, or accepted Korean prior-export certificate evidence, with satisfactory arrival checks. From a non-listed origin, animals aged 90 days or older need a passing rabies titer sampled within 24 calendar months; the young-age exception is recalculated at planned arrival. US certificate requirements and Australian-cat/Malaysian-dog-cat disease statements are additional origin branches. Rabbits have an ordinary fifteen-day quarantine from facility admission and ferrets ten days, subject to authority variation. Personal ferrets can prove birth-country residence or six months, use the rabies-free alternative or the vaccination/titer route, and need an agreed certificate. Detailed non-US rabbit conditions and identified ferret protocol ambiguities remain explicit gaps.

Latest check recorded: Nov 12, 2026Source: Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), South Korea By the CollarPass team
Pet

Browse destination requirements by pet. Conditions can differ by origin, travel history and entry option.

This free guide includes the checked information and official links we have for this pet. Personal travel reports are available for dogs and cats only.

Pet travel at a glance — free

Start with the destination's requirements for this pet. Documents and preparation vary by origin and other conditions; read the full guidance and any unverified details below.

Preparation lead times

  • Personal-ferret titer is in the three-to-twelve-calendar-month pre-shipment interval
  • The day before or the day of shipment
  • The ordinary 10-day period starts at quarantine-facility admission, no earlier than arrival
Full preparation requirements

Which pets can enter

  • Dog: Some requirements need confirmation
  • Cat: Some requirements need confirmation
  • Rabbit: Some requirements need confirmation
  • Ferret: Some requirements need confirmation
Read species and route restrictions

Details to confirm with the authority

These information gaps concern specific cases. Read their conditions and linked official sources before relying on them.

The statutory rabbit/ferret quarantine period is counted from actual admission to the quarantine facility, not automatically from landing. This planner currently has the trip arrival date, so its displayed release is only the earliest possible lower bound. Confirm the approved facility, transport/admission date and any authorised shortening/extension with APQA.

Rabbits / Ferrets

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

The personal-pet exceptions apply to a qualifying traveler-accompanied companion ferret. Commercial/unaccompanied shipments can require a previously approved source facility and at least thirty days of government export isolation; those conditions must not be silently omitted or copied onto a qualifying personal pet. This planner does not determine that legal shipment status, or prove the birth-country/six-month residence evidence.

Ferrets

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

The current general mammal notice describes paired parasite treatments in Article 6(2), while its personal-pet certificate clause is conditional and the current US personal-ferret template permits no parasiticide (N/A). The applicable agreed personal-pet protocol must be confirmed with APQA/exporting government; this planner deliberately does not invent a universal treatment schedule from conflicting scope language.

Ferrets

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

The current US webpage says more than three and less than twelve months for a required ferret titer, while the currently adopted certificate says three to twelve months. Choose dates strictly inside that interval and confirm the exact endpoint interpretation with USDA/APQA; the planner expresses the general calendar-month bounds and does not assert that an endpoint is accepted.

Ferrets · Origin group: Other origin: add a rabies antibody test (sample within 24 months before arrival, no waiting period) · Departure countries/regions: US

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Country groups used by this destination

APQA’s current Korean and English tables are dated 2 October 2026 and list 61 rabies-free countries/regions. Their status can change automatically after qualifying WOAH rabies reports; confirm status before travel. Dogs/cats younger than 90 days at import or from a listed area are exempt from the antibody requirement; other dogs/cats need a passing FAVN/RFFIT sampled within 24 calendar months before arrival.

Documents, tests and permits can vary by country group, travel history and vaccination records. Check each requirement's conditions and the official guidance.

Rabies-free country on APQA's list: microchip + export certificate, no antibody test

Aruba, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Guam, Hawaii, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Bahrain, Brunei, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Maldives, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Cape Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, Réunion, Mauritius, São Tomé & Príncipe, Seychelles, Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, United Kingdom

Other departure countries: Other origin: add a rabies antibody test (sample within 24 months before arrival, no waiting period)

Source: Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), South Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), South Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Entering South Korea

Reference requirements for this pet. Read each item's conditions: different origins, histories and entry options can require different steps. Each item links to its official source and check date.

Before you travel

1

Verify birth-country residence or at least six months in the export country

The ferret must have been born and raised in the export country, or have been kept there for at least six months before shipment. The since-birth alternative is real: this is not a blanket six-month minimum age or a new six-month wait for every animal. Verify dated residence evidence with the exporting authority and include it in the agreed certificate.

Ferrets

The planner has no complete residence-start/birth-country evidence. This is a mandatory evidence check; a recent-country list alone cannot prove the since-birth or six-month condition.

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

2

Rabies antibody test for a ferret (3–12 months before shipment)

For a personal pet ferret not originating from the current APQA rabies-free list, provide rabies vaccination and a passing neutralising-antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an internationally recognised laboratory or exporting government authority. The current Korean condition specifies the three-to-twelve-calendar-month interval before shipment.

Ferrets · Origin group: Other origin: add a rabies antibody test (sample within 24 months before arrival, no waiting period)

The current US web guidance phrases the interval as more than three and less than twelve months, while its currently linked certificate says three to twelve months. For US travel choose dates strictly inside the interval and confirm the exact boundaries; do not rely on an endpoint date.

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), South Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

3

Personal ferret: final clinical examination before shipment

The general Korean condition requires a clinical examination on the day before or day of shipment, free of rabies and other contagious disease. The exporting authority must use the agreed country-specific examiner/certificate procedure. For US personal ferrets, the currently adopted certificate is examined by a USDA-accredited veterinarian on the certificate-issue date and endorsed by USDA, with an owner instruction not to travel if the animal is ill on departure.

Ferrets

Coordinate the final examination, certificate issue and government endorsement. The US dog/cat thirty-day certificate rule must not be borrowed for ferrets; the personal-ferret form does not supply that same validity period.

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

4

Declare the rabbit/ferret and submit the quarantine application

Declare the animal on arrival and submit the animal-quarantine application with the original export-government certificate. Follow APQA directions for the arrival report, unloading, approved transport and admission to the quarantine facility; do not move an uncleared animal independently. A representative may need the importer’s authorisation.

Rabbits / Ferrets

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

5

Rabies vaccination for a non-rabies-free-origin personal ferret

For a personal ferret using the rabies-vaccination/titer route, record the vaccine product, validity period and vaccination date in the agreed government certificate. The current APQA rabies-free-origin route is the alternative, including Hawaii and Guam for US pet ferrets. Do not apply the dogs/cats under-90-day titer exemption to ferrets.

Ferrets · Origin group: Other origin: add a rabies antibody test (sample within 24 months before arrival, no waiting period)

Enter the actual product expiry. A conservative twelve-month planning fallback is not a claim that every ferret vaccine has that legal duration.

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

6

Obtain the agreed original personal-ferret government certificate

The exporting government must use a certificate form agreed with Korea in advance and issue it in Korean or English before shipment. Include species/breed, individual identification such as markings or chip, age, since-birth/six-month residence, rabies-free origin or vaccine/titer records, clinical examination and any parasite-drug details, shipment and exporter/importer details, and the official issuer/signature. An implanted ISO chip has not been assumed mandatory from the dog/cat rule; the current US pet-ferret form accepts individual markings and/or a chip.

Ferrets

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

7

Confirm the personal-ferret parasite protocol with the certifying authority

General Article 6(2) describes at least two internal/external parasite treatments two weeks apart, completed at least five days before shipment. But the same notice’s pet-certificate section records drugs if administered, and the currently linked US personal-ferret certificate expressly allows N/A when no parasiticide was given. Have APQA and the exporting authority confirm the applicable personal-pet/agreed-certificate protocol before giving medication; this planner does not impose the commercial/general regimen on every personal pet.

Ferrets

This is a real scope conflict between the broad clause and the personal-pet certificate, not an invitation to omit required treatment. If treatments are used, certify product, treatment date and effective-until date.

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA APHIS, health certificate for the Republic of Korea · Checked Nov 12, 2026

8

Use disinfected transport and prevent contact with other susceptible animals

The non-livestock-mammal condition requires approved disinfection of transport containers/vehicles/ship or aircraft loading areas before use, clean uncontaminated hay/bedding/feed without replenishing it en route, and no transport contact with other susceptible animals not included in the same export quarantine. Confirm how the negotiated personal-pet certificate and carrier implement these conditions.

Ferrets

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

On arrival

1

Standard 10-day import quarantine from facility admission

The current adopted statutory table sets 10 days for this animal group. The clock starts when the animal is admitted to the quarantine facility, which may be later than airport arrival. The competent authority may shorten or extend the period based on circumstances; there is no guaranteed release exactly 10 days after landing.

Ferrets

The displayed arrival-based date is only a theoretical earliest lower bound. Confirm the actual admission date, facility, approved transport and release instruction with APQA.

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Republic of Korea, National Law Information Center / competent ministry · Checked Nov 12, 2026

How many pets can you bring?

Caps recorded for South Korea can depend on the species, origin and entry conditions. Your airline can set a lower limit.

No pet cap recorded

We have not recorded a per-person or per-entry pet cap for South Korea. Check the official sources before booking.

Official forms and documents

Links go to the issuing authority. We do not sell, fill in or issue official documents.

No stand-alone form is recorded for this destination. The steps above name the documents to carry.

Open the official page to download or complete the form. Requirements can change; confirm with the authority before you travel.

Official sources

Every rule above is checked against these pages. Dates show our last check, not the page's own update.

Recent rule changes

Sourced entries that affect this country.

Second data batch: entry rules for Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the six EU countries Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands (the EU six extend the shared EU base); US and China exit coverage for these routes; new airlines Condor, Aer Lingus, ITA Airways, Iberia, TAP, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand; and new/updated transit files for Munich, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Lisbon, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland.

All rule updates

Expanded destination-specific pet requirements, including origin-country branches, young-animal exemptions, official documents and entry options. Known unverified details remain clearly marked; free country summaries and personal trip reports use the same rules.

All rule updates

Personal reports now focus on dogs and cats; other pets keep free checked summaries and official links. Updated current China and Korea source branches, European country lists and Italian guidance; represented Japan's Kyrgyzstan suspension without incorrectly keeping Uzbekistan suspended. Vaccination expiry uses the actual certificate where required, with documented continuous-booster exemptions and explicit remaining evidence gaps.

All rule updates