Bringing a Cat or Dog into Korea - Govt Requirements

Korea National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service Quarantine & Inspection Requirements for
Bringing a Dog or Cat into Korea


Importation and quarantine procedure
for pets (cats and dogs) to The Republic of Korea

1. Documentation required and permitted number of animals for import to South Korea :

- Quarantine certificate or rabies vaccination certificate issued by a Quarantine Authority or Veterinarian. When the animal is younger than 90 days, a health certificate issued by a Veterinarian is required.

- Number of animals allowed to be imported without prior notification: Four animals or less. If more than four animals are to be imported, then the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service branch office of entry need to be informed in advance so that animals can be held in a quarantined area for one day.

2. When the imported pet (cat or dog) is older than 90 days, the rabies vaccination date should be clearly specified on the health certificate issued by the Quarantine Authority or Veterinarian, and the date of entry to South Korea should be at least 30 days from date of the rabies vaccination.

- If the pet enters South Korea after 30 days from date of the rabies vaccination, and no health problems are found upon inspection, then no quarantine confinement is required.

- If the pet enters South Korea within 30 days from date of the rabies vaccination, then the pet will need to be confined in quarantine until the complete 30 day immunity formation period has been completed.

- If the pet enters South Korea and the owner is not able to prove vaccination against rabies or the vaccination has not been administered, the pet will be vaccinated against rabies, then confined in quarantine for a 30 day immunity formation period, at the owner's cost.

  
3. When the imported pet (cat or dog) is under 90 days old, the health certificate issued by the Quarantine Authority or Veterinarian should state that the pet is healthy and no symptom of animal infectious disease has been found.

- If the pet enters South Korea and the owner can present a valid health certificate, then there will be no requirement for quarantine confinement.

* For pets being imported from a rabies-free zone
(i.e. Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Cyprus, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore, Portugal, Iceland, Jamaica, Guam, Hawaii, Samoa, United Kingdom), there will be no requirement for quarantine confinement, regardless of the age of the cat or dog.

* Additional Certification is required to import cats from Australia, and cats & dogs from Malaysia.
Documentation required: a valid health certificate which testifies that the stated animal has been kept in a Hendra and Nipah virus-free region, or a valid health certificate which documents that the stated animal has been kept in a Hendra and Nipah virus-free area for 60 days before export and confirms a negative Hendra and Nipah virus test result (blood test should have been conducted within 14 days prior to importation).

If you would like any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service on:
Tel : +82 (0)32 740 2662
(Inchon Int'l Airport-Animal Quarantine)
Fax : +82 (0)32 740 2669
(Inchon Int'l Airport-Animal Quarantine)
Fax : +82 (0)31 467 1717 (NVRQS)
 
The above information is from the NVR&QS Website: http://www.nvrqs.go.kr/eng/rese_quarantine_02.asp?pageNumber=3-0

For required forms, go to: http://www.nvrqs.go.kr/eng/rese_quarantine_04.asp?pageNumber=3-0