Pet Relocation to Korea (South Korea)

If you’re planning to move to Korea, you’ll want to take your pet along with you. Discover and live in this beautiful country that has a harmony between tradition and modernity, together! Before you go, it’s important to check out the regulations in Korea for the transportation of pets, as these regulations can change based on destination.

Traveling to Korea with a Pet

To travel to Korea with your pet, there are certain protocols that you must follow and documents that need to be filled in and sent ahead to the quarantine officers in Korea. If you fail to follow the procedures or make a mistake, your pet may be refused entry and sent home.

If you’re struggling to get your head around your responsibilities for transporting your pet, it’s a good idea to speak to one of our pet relocation professionals at Ferndale. They will be able to help you with the documentation, assist in booking your vet appointments at the right times and even help you to prepare your pet for the journey by making them comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.

Pet Vaccinations in Korea

All pets that travel to Korea should have had their rabies vaccination, or equivalent booster at least 30 days prior to the travel date and should have their rabies vaccination certificate to hand as part of the travel documentation.

The original signature in ink must be provided on the rabies certificate to make it a valid proof of vaccination, along with the batch number and expiry date.

We can guide you on what other vaccines are required for travel to Korea. However, it is recommended that your dog or cat remains up to date with their annual vaccinations to guard against distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis. For cats, their annual vaccines protect against feline flu and enteritis.

Microchips for Travel

Your pet must be microchipped before traveling to Korea. This helps the authorities to match you with your pet if they become lost and also gives you extra peace of mind.

The microchip must be ISO standard 11784 or 11785 to comply with regulations in Korea and work with their microchip machines.

Your pet must have had their microchip injected prior to their rabies vaccination, as the vaccination will be recorded against their chip number.

Animal Health Certificate

Prior to travel, we will arrange for your pet to have a full health check. This includes checking that their vaccinations are up to date, undergoing a full health assessment, and understanding what medications need to be transported for your pet or obtained when your reach Korea.

This vet check is time sensitive, as pet’s health can change, and so will need to be completed no more than 10 days prior to travel. If it was prior to 10 days ago, they won’t be allowed to travel as the check is no longer seen as an accurate picture of their current state of health.

Quarantine Regulations

Quarantine may not be needed for your pet. However, if there are any concerns with your documentation or your pet’s health, the quarantine officer is able to detain your pet for up to 10 days. This is why guidance from Ferndale pet relocation experts are so helpful.

Is Korea Pet-Friendly?

Traditionally, Korea isn’t known for being very pet friendly, though the pet industry has grown in recent years. So, if you plan to take your dog or cat to Korea, you may struggle to find pet-friendly activities or places to walk your dog.

There are also a lot of restricted dog breeds, due to dogs being seen as dangerous or because of overbreeding. It’s important to do your research and check that your pets are allowed here before making the leap. Ferndale will let you know the latest requirements, for pet relocation to Korea.