Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Japan → South Korea
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
We’re re-checking these rules. An official source they rely on has changed since we last verified them, so something here may be out of date. Before you book or travel, confirm the details with the official authority.
- Overseas rabies-free countries (regions): list as of 4 April 2023 (HWPX attachment, in Korean) · page changed, noticed 12 Oct 2026
How early to start
2 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
2 weeks
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Japan is in the group “On APQA's rabies-free list — no rabies antibody test” in South Korea’s published list.See every group
Headlines for South Korea
- Rabies blood test for some origins
What your dog or cat needs
Identification
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.”
Paperwork
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.
Export inspection and AQS export quarantine certificate: Bring your pet and all the original certificates to the AQS at the reserved time (an agent needs a power of attorney from you). The inspection and the English export quarantine certificate usually take 30 to 60 minutes. The inspection is done within 10 days before departure unless the destination sets a different period.
If the destination's rules set a different period for the inspection, follow that; our 10-day window is Japan's general one.
“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.”
“Export inspection is conducted within 10 days before departure, unless conditioned by the destination country.”
On arrival
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.”
Notice
Apply for export inspection (NACCS)
Once your travel is confirmed, apply to the Animal Quarantine Service through NACCS (or by email to the AQS where you want the inspection), at least 14 days before the date you want. Attach the certificates from your vet clinic, fill in your preferred date and time in the remarks, and wait for AQS to reply: you cannot reserve a time before you have applied.
Details and the official words
“at least 14 days before the desired date of inspection”
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.
- Your pet must meet both the destination country's entry conditions and Japan's exit conditions. Check the destination's conditions with its animal quarantine authority or its embassy in Japan.
- Might your pet come back to Japan? Check Japan's re-entry conditions before you leave: depending on the measures taken, the import quarantine can be under 12 hours or up to 180 days. Blood sampling and the rabies antibody test must be done at a vet clinic and a MAFF-designated laboratory.
- Check that your pet's microchip can be read before the day of export inspection.
Common questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Japan to South Korea?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
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.
Does my dog or cat need a microchip?
Yes: Every dog and cat must have a microchip.