Korea Code

Travel Basics

Pet Travel & Quarantine

Plan documents, airline acceptance and the return journey separately. Requirements depend on the animal and its route.

Source-based desk guide · sources checked 2026-10-16. Not a firsthand visit report. Reference links below; send corrections through Contact.

Define the journey before booking

Write down species, age, origin, transit stops and destination, plus how the animal will travel. Ask the exporting authority and Korea’s animal quarantine authority which requirements apply to that exact case. This guide focuses on planning for accompanied dogs and cats; do not apply it unchanged to other species or commercial transport.

A checked example, not a worldwide rule

For travel from the United States, USDA APHIS lists an ISO-compliant microchip, rabies requirements with age exceptions, and a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS within 30 days of export. Read the current full requirements and certificate with the veterinarian. This US process is not the certificate procedure for every country.

The Korean quarantine page linked by APHIS could not be retrieved during this review. We therefore do not publish a universal vaccination timetable, certificate deadline or exemption list. Confirm the Korean requirements directly before committing to travel; an airline booking is not quarantine approval.

Build a document calendar

Questions for the responsible authorities and veterinarian

  • Which identification and test records must match the microchip number?
  • Which laboratory and certificate format are accepted for this route?
  • Who must issue and endorse the certificate, and what dates apply?
  • What changes if the flight is delayed or the transit route changes?

Airline approval is a separate check

Confirm the operating carrier on every segment, carriage mode, animal and carrier dimensions, breed or weather restrictions, space availability and total fees. Get the pet booking confirmed separately from the passenger ticket. Do not use a generic weight table to decide that a particular flight will accept your animal.

Arrival, accommodation and return

Keep original documents accessible and locate the animal quarantine procedure for the arrival airport before travelling. Do not promise a fixed clearance time or cost. Ask the accommodation about species, size, number of animals, unattended stays and cleaning charges; a pet-friendly label is not enough. Arrange transport that explicitly accepts the animal and carrier.

Check the next destination’s entry requirements before leaving home, including your own country’s return rules. Leave space in the plan for veterinary appointments or document corrections. If the itinerary cannot accommodate those conditions, consider a different route or postponing travel rather than relying on airport exceptions.