Bringing a Pet to Korea: Import Requirements and the Rabies Titre Test

Start with the sequence, not the checklist

Most failed pet imports are not caused by a missing document. They are caused by doing the right things in the wrong order.

The required sequence for dogs and cats is:

1. Implant the microchip — ISO-compatible (11784/11785)
2. Vaccinate against rabies — the vaccination must come after the microchip is implanted
3. Draw blood for the rabies antibody titre test — after vaccination
4. Wait the required period after blood sampling
5. Obtain the health certificate shortly before travel, endorsed by the exporting country’s government veterinary authority
6. Travel and clear quarantine inspection on arrival

Why order matters

A rabies vaccination given before the microchip cannot be reliably tied to that animal, so it is not accepted. Blood drawn before vaccination proves nothing. Each step must be documented with dates showing the correct sequence.

If you discover the order was wrong, you generally have to repeat from the point of error, including the waiting period. This is why the process can take several months and why it should begin long before you book a flight.

As of August 2026. Requirements are set by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency and change; confirm the current rules directly before starting.

Designated and non-designated countries

Korea distinguishes between countries it treats as rabies-free or controlled (designated) and all others (non-designated). The route differs.

From a designated country

The requirements are lighter. The rabies antibody titre test is generally not required, though microchip, vaccination and a health certificate still are. Residence requirements in that country may apply.

From a non-designated country

The rabies antibody titre test is required.

• Blood must be tested at a laboratory approved for this purpose
• The result must meet or exceed the specified antibody level
• After the blood sampling date, a waiting period must elapse before the animal may enter Korea
• The result has a validity period — you cannot use a test from years ago

The waiting period is the constraint that determines your timeline. It is measured from the date the blood was drawn, not from when the result was issued.

Check your country’s classification with the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. Classifications are revised in response to rabies status, and a friend’s experience from a previous year may no longer apply.

Health certificate

Issued by a veterinarian and endorsed by the government veterinary authority of the exporting country. It must be recent — there is a limited window between issue and travel. Arranging government endorsement takes time in many countries, so build it into the schedule.

Travelling and arriving

Airline arrangements are separate from quarantine rules

Meeting Korea’s import requirements does not guarantee your airline will carry the animal. Airlines set their own rules on:

• Cabin versus hold — weight and carrier size limits for cabin travel
• Breed restrictions — snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds are refused by many carriers, or restricted seasonally
• Temperature embargoes — hold transport may be suspended in hot or cold months
• Advance booking — the number of animals per flight is limited

Book the animal’s travel at the same time as your own, and confirm the crate meets IATA specifications.

On arrival

• Declare the animal and present documents to the quarantine inspection desk
• Inspection covers document verification and a physical check of the animal, including microchip scanning
• Where documents are incomplete or the microchip is unreadable, the animal may be held for quarantine at your expense, or refused entry

Common failure points

• Microchip not readable by Korean scanners — non-ISO chips are a recurring problem. Bring your own scanner-readable documentation, and consider whether a second ISO chip is needed.
• Dates on documents inconsistent with the required sequence
• Health certificate issued too early
• Titre test from a laboratory not approved for this purpose

Species other than dogs and cats have different rules, and some animals are prohibited or require permits under CITES or domestic law. Check before making any plans.

After arrival: registration and daily rules

Dog registration is compulsory

Dogs above the specified age must be registered (dongmul deungnok, 동물등록) in Korea. Registration is done at the district office or at a designated animal hospital, and is linked to the microchip.

• Register within the required period after arrival or acquisition
• Update the registration when you move or change phone number — this is the part people forget, and an out-of-date registration is of no use if the dog is lost
• Deregistration is required if the animal dies or leaves the country

Failure to register can attract a fine.

Rules in public

• Dogs must be leashed in public, with a maximum leash length specified
• Certain breeds designated as requiring caution must wear a muzzle in public and are subject to additional requirements
• Waste must be collected — fines apply
• Registration details must be carried or attached, typically on a tag

Housing

Many rental contracts prohibit pets or require the landlord’s consent. Raise this before signing — an existing contract that forbids pets is not something to work around quietly, and a dispute at the end of a lease over pet-related damage is expensive.

Apartment complexes may also have their own rules on lifts and common areas.

Veterinary care

• Animal hospitals are widely available in cities, and some have English-speaking staff
• Pet insurance exists but coverage varies considerably; read the exclusions
• Annual vaccinations continue as normal; bring your animal’s full vaccination history

Leaving Korea later

Export to another country has its own requirements, often mirroring what you did to enter — titre tests, waiting periods and health certificates issued by Korean authorities. Start that process months ahead as well.