Overview
When preparing to bring your pet to South Korea, keep in mind the following to make the process as easy and smooth as possible:
- Microchip & health certificate: All pets must be microchipped (ISO-compliant) and have a health certificate with their microchip number and birthdate.
- Vaccinations & tests: Rabies vaccination and a rabies-neutralising antibody test may also be needed.
- Preparation time: Expect the medical preparation to take up to approximately 60 days depending on rabies status of your departure country.
- No minimum age for pets: Pets under 90 days don’t need rabies vaccination but must be microchipped.
- Special conditions for Australia & Malaysia: Additional health certificates may be required due to disease concerns.
Be sure to allow sufficient time to prepare your pet before relocating your pet to South Korea.
Relocating pets to South Korea: Everything pet owners need to know
South Korea has had an ambiguous reputation regarding its pet friendliness, much due to its long standing dog meat industry.
But there’s a strong increase in pet ownership, in particular dogs, and according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the proportion of households with pets in Korea reached a record high of 28.2 percent last year, up from 23.7 percent in 2018.
Last month Reuters reported that the Korean government is planning a ban on dogs bred for food in 2027. There will be efforts to help rehome almost half a million dogs bred for food and dog farmers will receive subsidies and incentives to help them prepare for a ban.
In parallel, hotels are making efforts to accommodate the new furry family members, whilst restaurants and coffee shops are lagging behind due to the Food Sanitation Act that makes it technically illegal for people to dine with their pets at restaurants and cafes, currently under deregulation efforts since December 2022.
Most pet friendly options are adapted to small to medium sized dogs, whilst we still see a lot of room for improvement in regards to larger breeds, both in terms of public spaces as for available housing alternatives. So if you plan to bring a larger fur baby along to Korea, we recommend you do some more extensive research ensuring you’ll both feel welcomed and comfortable.
In terms of the actual arrival to Korea though, we find that the preparations and documentation are fairly easy compared to many other countries with similar levels of pet friendliness and care. This is one of the major reasons why we often recommend pet owners moving from a non-approved country to Australia to consider transiting their pet in South Korea. Read more about it in our recent destination guide about bringing a pet to Australia here.
Timeframe
Depending on the current clinical status of your pet and what country you are travelling from, the maximum preparation time should be close to 60 days before your pet is allowed entry to South Korea. If travelling from a country that is not rabies-free, the timeframe is highly dependable on the processing time of the laboratory testing your pet’s blood for rabies antibodies.
Age limit
There’s no minimum age limit to import a dog or a cat to South Korea.
If the pet is below 90 days old, it is not required to be vaccinated against rabies, but will need to be microchipped.
Requirements and preparations
South Korea imposes different basic requirements depending on your country of origin. In most cases it will depend on whether the country is rabies-free or not, but there can also be other exceptions requiring additional blood tests and/or vaccinations and treatments.
General import requirements for dogs and cats to South Korea are:
- ISO-compliant microchip
- A health certificate from the government agency of the exporting country showing the microchip number and the pet’s birthday.
If coming from a country that is not considered rabies-free:
- Valid rabies vaccination
- A rabies-neutralising antibody test issued by an internationally approved laboratory or by the competent authority of the exporting country within 24 months after collecting blood samples.
- Anti flea, tick, and de-worm treatments are highly recommended
Special requirements coming from Australia and Malaysia
Cats imported from Australia and cats and dogs imported from Malaysia need an additional certificate confirming that there has been no cases of Hendra and Nipah virus disease in the exporting country or state (if larger than the Republic of Korea).
Alternatively, they can be exempted from quarantine upon producing a negative test result for Hendra and Nipah virus within 14 days prior to export and proof that the animal has been kept in an area where no cases of Hendra and Nipah virus were reported for 60 days prior to departure.
Consider hiring a pet transport agent
After thorough research, you are most likely to be able to handle your pet move, or parts of it, on your own.
However, hiring a professional pet transporter, also known as pet shipper or pet mover will make the process smooth and effective, helping you to avoid wasting time and making unnecessary mistakes along the way.
Post-entry quarantine
Pets will not be quarantined if they can produce the required documentation and do not show signs of any illness upon inspection at the arrival port.
Budget
Relocating pets to South Korea can range from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars depending on factors like pet breed, season, airfare and the mode of travel.
Introduction to South Korea: A pet-loving nation with a rich cultural heritage
Famous for its global sensation of kimchi and K-pop culture, South Korea is a country of rich cultural heritage and modern convenience. The country offers a stunning variety of landscapes; long coast lines to the east, west and south, numerous hiking trails, tea plantations and dense metropolitan centres.
For dog owners, suburbia and countryside outings on the weekends are magical, and also inner city life is becoming increasingly pet friendly. But keep in mind that the country has yet to ban dog meat consumption, so depending where you’re coming from, there might be some major cultural differences when it comes to pet ownership.
Read on to familiarise yourself with what’s ahead when moving to South Korea with a pet.
Cultural differences
More and more, Koreans are considering their pets like family members. Pets being out in public spaces; cafes, shopping malls, parks, has become a rather common sight.
And as for general life in Korea, there are also strict societal rules around pet ownership, so adjusting to local pet etiquette is a must. Going to extra lengths when it comes to maintaining cleanliness, and abiding with local walking habits and leash laws will be well appreciated by Korean locals.
Additionally, public parks or sidewalks may be less dog-friendly than in your home country. Always check local regulations and be respectful of pet-friendly spaces.
Pet-friendly housing
While pet ownership is common, many apartment buildings still have strict rules regarding pets.
Since not all housing options allow for pets, and some may have rules about pet sizes and breeds, always clarify these details before signing a lease. Please also be aware that some landlords may require a pet deposit.
And don’t worry, pet-friendly buildings DO exist, especially in the larger cities like Seoul and Busan, just keep in mind to:
- Conduct careful research on Naver to find suitable housing.
- Get help from a trusted real estate agent with experience and knowledge about pet friendly housing options.
Pet care services
If you love to pamper your fluffball Korea is the place to be! South Korea offers a wide range of pet care services including grooming, pet sitting, and veterinary clinics with Korean and English-speaking staff.
Especially the big cities like Seoul and Busan offer many of those services. We highly recommend spending some time surfing Naver to find the best local options in terms of pet healthcare, grooming, or even pet-friendly travel accommodations. Naver offers thorough reviews and recommendations and is a much more popular alternative to Google for local Koreans.
How do Purrfect Pilots work and how can we help you
As an experienced pet moving agent specialising in international relocation, we are familiar with the full process of relocating pets to South Korea. Our job is to ensure that your pet has the most comfortable transition possible during their journey and to give you regular updates about your pet throughout the move.
To take off some of the financial burden of bringing your pet to South Korea, we can offer tailored payment plans. Ask your Purrfect Pilot about available options.
During our years of operations, we have built a wide network of professional pet care professionals with the same commitment and passion as we have.
Your pet will only be handled by carefully selected partners where our team can not be present. Our partners are professionally trained in handling live animals according to the IATA live animal regulations and meet Purrfect Pilots’ strict partner requirements.
We offer full transparency from pricing to execution of your pet move and we are great at planning perfect moves.
But to be honest, our biggest strength lies in our industry knowledge and ability to “fix things” when needed. Because moving a pet can become quite the adventure and we always work with a B and a C backup plan to get your pet to destination.
Few pet moves are one-size-fits-all, at Purrfect Pilots we want to listen to your expectations and preferences, and support you in the way you need and want us to.
A smooth transition for you and your pet in South Korea
Moving to South Korea with your pet is an exciting adventure, but it’s important to be well-prepared. With its pet-friendly culture and modern amenities, South Korea offers plenty of opportunities for you and your pet to settle in comfortably.
Purrfect Pilots specialises in relocating pets to and from five countries in Southeast and East Asia, including South Korea. Our team of pet relocation agents can help you with everything Pet Travel, from vaccinations and treatments, to pet transportation and adjusting to your new life in South Korea.
If you want to start reading up on how to prepare yourself and your pet for your big adventure, sign up to get your own tailored pet travel guide.
