Bringing your pet from Australia to Korea

Getting your dog into Korea is the easy bit. Getting it back into Australia is the long one, so plan both before you book.

The short version

Australia is on Korea's list of rabies-free countries, so dogs and cats from Australia don't need a rabies antibody blood test to enter [1][2].
Every pet needs an ISO-standard microchip and a government-endorsed health certificate showing the chip number [1][3].
Cats from Australia need an extra Hendra and Nipah virus certificate. Without it, quarantine is extended by 21 days [2][3].
In Seoul, dogs aged two months or older must be registered with the local government, with fines of up to 1 million won for skipping it [4].
Staffies count as a "fierce dog" breed in Korea, which brings a special permit, a muzzle outdoors and insurance [5].

What Korea requires from Australian pets

Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) sets the rules. They're light for pets from rabies-free places, and Australia has been on that list for years [1][2]. The list can change if there's an outbreak, so check it before you fly [5].

Requirement	Dogs from Australia	Cats from Australia
ISO microchip (ISO 11784/11785)	Yes [1][3]	Yes [1][3]
Rabies vaccination	Not required for rabies-free origins [1][2]	Not required for rabies-free origins [1][2]
Rabies antibody blood test	Not required [1][2][5]	Not required [1][2][5]
Health certificate with microchip number	Yes, issued or endorsed by the Australian government [1][3]	Yes [1][3]
Hendra and Nipah certificate	Not required	Yes, or 21 extra days in quarantine [2][3]
Clinical check on arrival	Yes [1]	Yes [1]

The catch for cats: Hendra and Nipah

This one surprises people. Korea treats Hendra and Nipah viruses as a risk from Australia and Malaysia, so cats from Australia need an additional certificate [1][3]. The Australian government's export manual (MICoR) splits it by state [3]:

Cats from NSW, Queensland or the ACT in the 60 days before export need a negative Hendra and Nipah test within 14 days before export, plus 60 days' residence in premises free of both viruses.
Cats from Victoria, WA, SA, Tasmania or the NT for those 60 days must come from a state that has never reported either virus, plus 60 days' residence in premises free of both.

Without the certificate, your cat spends an extra 21 days in quarantine in Korea, at your cost [2][3].

What if your chip won't scan?

Microchips must meet ISO 11784 or 11785. Most Australian chips do. If yours doesn't, bring a scanner that reads it [5]. A missing chip, or one that doesn't match the certificate, means your pet is held until the problem is fixed [1][2].

The export side: getting out of Australia

Australia doesn't let pets leave on a vet's say-so alone. Export certification goes through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which publishes each country's requirements in MICoR [3][7]. The department's Korea entries were last reviewed in May 2021, so confirm details with APQA too [3].

Here's a workable timeline:

Three months out: check the chip. Ask your vet to scan it and confirm it's ISO standard. Fix any mismatch with the registry details now.
Two to three months out: book the flight. Korean Air, Qantas and others each have their own pet rules for cabin, checked baggage and cargo. Many pets fly as manifest cargo into Incheon. Use an airline-approved crate your pet can stand up and turn around in.
Cats in NSW, Queensland or the ACT: plan the Hendra and Nipah test. It must fall within 14 days of export [3].
Two to three weeks out: lodge the export paperwork. Work with your vet and the department so the health certificate can be endorsed in time.
Within the final days: the vet health check. The vet completes the certificate with the microchip number. One relocation firm notes a health certificate for Korea is typically issued within about 10 days of travel [6].
Get the certificate endorsed. A government-endorsed certificate is what Korea checks. Without an official certificate, Korea can send your pet back to Australia at your expense [2].

Many Australians use a pet relocation company for the export side. It costs more but takes the paperwork and airline bookings off your plate. Ask a few for quotes, as prices vary with pet size, airline and route.

Arriving at Incheon

Most pets from Australia land at Incheon International Airport. The APQA quarantine office there checks the documents, scans the microchip and gives your pet a quick clinical look. If everything matches, pets from rabies-free countries are usually released the same day [1].

Passenger terminal quarantine office: +82 32 740 2660 [1]
Cargo terminal quarantine office: +82 32 740 2680 [1]

Bring paper copies of everything: the endorsed health certificate, any Hendra and Nipah certificate, the microchip record and your flight details. If your pet flew as cargo, you or your agent will also deal with customs clearance at the cargo terminal, which takes longer. Plan for a few hours.

Bringing several animals? Korea requires advance notification for larger numbers of pets, so contact APQA early [1][2].

Life with a pet in Seoul

Register your dog within 30 days

Dogs aged two months or older must be registered with the local government, whether imported or adopted in Korea [4][5]. Owners should apply within 30 days of the dog becoming eligible [5]. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs says failing to register can bring a fine of up to 1 million won, and failing to report changes up to 500,000 won [4].

Internal chip: Registered at a designated animal hospital. Your Australian ISO chip can usually be registered. The government recommends this method [4].
External tag: Bought by the owner and registered at your gu office or an authorised agent [4].
Updates: Report a new owner, changed contact details, a damaged tag or the death of your dog, at the district office or online through the National Animal Protection Information System [4][5].

The mandatory scheme covers dogs [4]. Ask your vet whether registering your cat is worth doing for lost-pet recovery.

Staffies and the "fierce dog" rules

This matters for Aussies. Korea designates the Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler and their crosses as "fierce dogs" [5]. Since 2024, owners need a special permit from the city or provincial head, applied for within 30 days of getting the dog. Requirements include neutering, liability insurance, a temperament evaluation and a muzzle outdoors [5]. If you're bringing a Staffy, start reading up before you book the flight.

Leads, tags and clean-up

The Animal Protection Act requires a proper lead, ID tags and cleaning up after your pet, including urine in shared indoor spaces [5]. Seoul has off-lead dog parks in some districts, and the Han River parks are popular for on-lead walks.

Renting with a pet

Pets are a common sticking point. Many apartment complexes and mixed-use buildings restrict or ban pets in their management rules [5]. Even where pets are allowed, there may be rules on noise, lifts, shared spaces and complaints. Get the landlord's written agreement in the lease before you hand over a deposit.

The Australian angle: getting back home

Korea is easy to enter. Australia is hard to re-enter. Bringing a pet back from Korea means a rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody blood test, an import permit, a long wait and quarantine at Mickleham in Victoria. One relocation firm describes about 190 days from the blood sample, with the last 10 days in Australian quarantine [6]. Start the process at least six to seven months before your planned return. Our guide to bringing your pet home to Australia walks through it.

Before you leave Australia: Keep copies of vaccination records and your pet's Australian microchip registration. They help with the return.
Insurance: Australian pet insurance usually doesn't cover pets living overseas. Korean pet insurance exists, but check what it covers before you buy.
Vets in Seoul: Animal hospitals (dongmul byeongwon) are common, especially around Itaewon, Hannam, Mapo and Gangnam, and many have English-speaking vets.

For vet tips, dog-friendly cafés and landlords who say yes to pets, ask in Cooee South Korea, our Facebook group for Australians in South Korea.

Bringing your pet from Australia to Korea: the microchip, the paperwork and Incheon