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Dog or cat from Ecuador to South Korea: the rules

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 3 days ahead. The main steps: ISO microchip, rabies blood test (antibody titer) and health check by a vet registered with Agrocalidad (valid 10 days) and 2 more.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 4 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: South Korea → Ecuador

In short

At a glance

The rules on this route are the same for dogs and cats.

How early to start

3 days

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Your vet requests Agrocalidad's export health certificate, at least 72 hours before the trip (request sent 72 hours before the trip)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route

  • Rabies blood test needed
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Official stamp on the certificate

Which rules apply to you

South Korea puts Ecuador in the group “Country not on South Korea’s rabies-free list”. See every group

Official name: Not on APQA's rabies-free list — rabies antibody test needed (pets aged 90 days or older)

Prefer a feed reader? Ecuador rule changes · South Korea rule changes

Ecuador → South Korea

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Ecuador (leaving) or South Korea (entering) asks for it.

  1. Get ready

    1. IdentificationEntering South Korea

      ISO microchip

      Every dog and cat must have a microchip. It should be ISO-compliant (ISO 11784 and 11785); with any other chip you must bring your own scanner. Its number must match the one on the health certificate.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: An animal without a microchip, or whose chip number doesn't match the certificate, may be quarantined longer so one can be implanted at the owner's expense.

      “Microchips implanted in cats and dogs must be ISO-compliant (ISO11784 and 11785 standards). For any other chips, importers must bring their own microchip scanners.”

      “it is mandatory that they have microchips implanted in them.”

    2. Blood testEntering South Korea

      Rabies blood test (antibody titer)

      Dogs and cats aged 90 days or older that come from a country not on APQA's rabies-free list need a rabies-neutralizing antibody test at an internationally approved laboratory (or by the exporting country's competent authority). The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml and is listed on the health certificate. Pets under 90 days old, or from a rabies-free country, do not need it.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Our age cut-off is 3 calendar months at arrival (APQA says 90 days): a pet whose 90th day falls just before its 3-month birthday in a long month is treated as under 90 days. If your pet is that close, ask APQA.

      Labs: APQA points to the EU's list of designated laboratories and Taiwan's list of approved laboratories.

      If this is missed: An animal that has not had the antibody test, or whose titer is below 0.5 IU/ml, may be quarantined for an extended period (average about 10 days, longer in some cases) to have the test done, at the owner's expense.

      “The rabies-neutralizing antibody test must be administered by an internationally approved laboratory or by the competent authority of the exporting country within 24 months after collecting blood samples.”

      “whose rabies-neutralizing antibody titer is below 0.5IU/㎖”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examLeaving Ecuador

      Health check by a vet registered with Agrocalidad (valid 10 days)

      A vet registered with Agrocalidad examines your pet and enters the health certification online in Agrocalidad's GUIA system, checking your destination's requirements. The health certification is valid for 10 days. The vet attaches the original vaccination card (vaccines and dates, microchip date, sterilisation if any, internal and external parasite treatments) and any extra document your destination asks for.

      Details and the official words

      “La certificación de salud animal tendrá una vigencia de 10 días, la información de la inspección clínica será ingresada en línea mediante el Sistema GUIA habilitado para cada médico veterinario registrado ante la Agencia, donde deberá cumplir las exigencias sanitarias establecidas por el país destino.”

      “El Médico Veterinario Registrado ante AGROCALIDAD deberá adjuntar los siguientes requisitos en el sistema GUIA y aquellos adicionales que establezca el país de destino en formato PDF.”

      “Carnet de vacunas original, debe incluir las fechas y vacunas aplicadas, fecha de aplicación del microchip y esterilización (si corresponde), así como, las fechas de las desparasitaciones internas y externas.”

    2. PaperworkEcuador and South Korea

      Health certificate from the exporting country's government

      A health certificate issued by the government agency of the country your pet is leaving. It must show the microchip number and birth date, and for pets aged 90 days or older not from a rabies-free country, also the rabies antibody test result. You hand it to the animal quarantine officer on arrival.

      Details and the official words

      APQA's pet page doesn't say how many days before arrival the certificate must be issued. Ask the exporting country's authority and APQA.

      Agrocalidad export health certificate: Once the request is approved, you collect the paper certificate at the Agrocalidad office or exit border post your vet chose. Its dates follow the destination's rules for the certificate.

      “a health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country confirming the animal's microchip number and the result of the rabies antibody test must be submitted to the animal quarantine officer.”

      “a health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country which states the animal's microchip number and birth date.”

      “Una vez aprobada su solicitud podrá retirar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación, de forma física en la oficina de la Agencia o punto fronterizo de salida que seleccionó en la solicitud.”

    3. Official stampLeaving Ecuador

      Your vet requests Agrocalidad's export health certificate, at least 72 hours before the trip

      Your registered vet sends the request for the export health certificate in GUIA at least 72 hours before the trip and chooses the Agrocalidad office (or exit border post) where you collect the paper certificate, giving the request number. It costs USD 28.90 per animal, debited from the vet's GUIA account: settle it with your vet.

      Details and the official words

      “Para poder solicitar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación de animales de compañía convencionales el Médico veterinario registrado, deberá enviar la solicitud 72 horas previas al viaje y seleccionar la oficina de AGROCALIDAD más cercana para retirar el documento en físico.”

      “Recordar que el valor del Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación emitido por la Agencia es de $28,90 dólares por animal”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering South Korea

      Quarantine inspection at the port of entry

      On arrival the quarantine officer checks your documents and your pet's health with a clinical exam. If all is in order your pet may be released the same day.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: Animals with missing or mismatched microchip, missing antibody test or low titer may be quarantined for an extended period at the owner's expense.

      “may be released on the day of arrival.”

Good to know

  • Whether your pet needs a rabies antibody test depends on APQA's list of rabies-free countries. The only version we could read is dated 4 April 2023, and APQA changes the list as countries report rabies or declare themselves free. Ask APQA (or check its current list) before you rely on the 'no blood test' route.
  • If you arrive without the government health certificate, your pet has to go back to the country it came from, at your cost.
  • APQA's pet page does not set a rabies vaccination schedule or a waiting period; it asks for the antibody test (pets aged 90 days or older, not from a rabies-free country). Your vet will need to vaccinate before that test.
  • Before you apply, check your destination's entry requirements and your airline's rules, and the rules of any country your pet transits. If your destination isn't covered by Agrocalidad's list, contact certificacion.zoosanitaria@agrocalidad.gob.ec (02 3828860, ext. 2012 or 2013).
  • Your pet doesn't need a clinical inspection at Agrocalidad before leaving (the registered vet records it online), but Agrocalidad carries out random inspections before boarding.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Ecuador publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 28.90 USD (each currency separately)

May also apply, depending on your case

  • APQA health certificate when quarantine is extendedEntering South Korea10,000 KRW

    Per case. APQA states it in its answer on the costs of an extended quarantine (when a pet doesn’t meet the requirements); it doesn’t say whether it is charged on a normal clearance.

    “The government agency charges 110,000 KRW/animal for titration test for rabies antibody and 10,000 KRW/case for issuing a health certificate.”

    Bring a dog or a cat to Korea (FAQ) · as of 2026-10-13

  • Rabies blood test done by APQA on arrivalEntering South Korea · 110,000 KRW for each extra pet110,000 KRW

    Per animal, only if your pet arrives without a valid test; quarantine is extended, at your cost, until the result is in.

    “The government agency charges 110,000 KRW/animal for titration test for rabies antibody and 10,000 KRW/case for issuing a health certificate.”

    Bring a dog or a cat to Korea (FAQ) · as of 2026-10-13

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

No published prices yet for Ecuador: microchip, health certificate (vet’s fee), vet examination.

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Ecuador

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Ecuador (dogs).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip, vet examination within 10 days before the trip, internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding and rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before) and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Ecuador (cats).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip, vet examination within 10 days before the trip, internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding and rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before) and more.

Every step from South Korea to Ecuador

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.

Entering South KoreaLeaving EcuadorReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Ecuador to South Korea?

Yes: Dogs and cats aged 90 days or older that come from a country not on APQA's rabies-free list need a rabies-neutralizing antibody test at an internationally approved laboratory (or by the exporting country's competent authority).

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into South Korea?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in South Korea?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Ecuador to South Korea?

With nothing done yet, start at least 3 days ahead. The main steps: ISO microchip, rabies blood test (antibody titer) and health check by a vet registered with Agrocalidad (valid 10 days) and 2 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

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