Pet import rules are subject to change and depend on your cat’s origin country, transit countries, and flight routing. Verify all requirements with APQA and your airline before booking.
Bringing cats to Korea involves more preparation than most people expect — and the complexity increases if your route passes through another country. Getting this wrong at the airport can mean your cats are refused entry or placed in quarantine. Getting it right means a smooth arrival.
The Core Authority: APQA
Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) manages all animal imports. Their guidance is the authoritative source for:
- Which countries require quarantine on arrival
- What documents are required and in what format
- Certificate validity windows
- Microchip and rabies requirements
Contact APQA before you do anything else:
- Website: qia.go.kr
- Phone: 1588-9060
- Email: Available through the website contact form
Ask specifically about import from your origin country, whether your intended route affects the paperwork requirements, and what the current certificate timeline is.
Non-Negotiable Requirements
Regardless of origin country, cats entering Korea must have:
ISO-compliant microchip — ISO 11784/11785 standard. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination if the rabies certificate is to be linked to the chip. Confirm the chip number is on all documents.
Valid rabies vaccination — Administered after microchip implantation. Current vaccination must be documented with a certificate including the microchip number.
Official veterinary health certificate — Issued by a licensed vet within the validity window specified by APQA (typically 10 days before departure, but confirm). Must match the microchip number and vaccination records.
Some countries additionally require a rabies antibody titer test with a waiting period after the test before travel is permitted. Check whether your origin country triggers this requirement.
The Transit Country Problem
This is where most multi-country routing issues arise.
If your cats remain airside in transit — never formally entering another country — they are generally treated as coming from your origin country for Korean import purposes.
If your cats formally enter another country — meaning they pass through customs, stay overnight, or are transported outside the secure airside area — Korea may treat that country as the exporting country. This could mean you need that country’s official export documentation in addition to your origin country’s paperwork.
Concrete example: Flying Guatemala to Dallas, staying in Texas for several days, then flying DFW to Incheon — your cats have formally entered the United States. Korea may require a USDA APHIS-endorsed US health certificate for the DFW to ICN leg, in addition to Guatemala’s documentation.
Confirm with APQA whether your specific itinerary triggers additional paperwork before booking.
Airline Requirements
Each airline has its own pet policy covering:
- Whether cats travel in-cabin, as checked baggage, or as cargo
- Breed, age, and size restrictions
- Carrier dimensions and ventilation requirements
- Booking process and fees
Contact the airline’s live animal desk (not general customer service) and confirm your cats are accepted on your specific flights. Book pet travel as far in advance as possible — space is limited.
For long international routes, direct flights or routes with minimal connections reduce stress on the animals and reduce paperwork complexity.
Arrival at Incheon Airport
Cats are inspected at Incheon Airport’s animal quarantine facility on arrival. Have all documents organized and accessible:
- Original health certificate
- Vaccination records with microchip number
- Rabies titer test results (if required)
- Any additional export documentation from transit countries
If documents are in order, clearance is typically same-day. If documents are missing or incorrect, cats may be held in quarantine at your expense while issues are resolved.
When to Use a Pet Relocation Specialist
For multi-country routes, first-time pet importers, or situations involving potential regulatory complexity, a pet relocation specialist familiar with the Korea route is worth the cost. They manage paperwork compliance, airline booking, and airport procedures. Ask in the EEIK Pets in Korea group for recommendations with Korea-specific experience.