Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Singapore → 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 An official source they rely on has changed since we last verified them, so something here may be out of date.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
4 days
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
4 days
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
Singapore 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 needs
Dogs
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.
AVS endorsement of the destination's health certificate: If the destination needs a vet health certificate: a licensed private vet examines your pet and completes the destination's template; if the destination wants an official vet's endorsement, apply on GoBusiness and drop the original template, vaccination records and lab results at the AVS drop-off box (Raffles Building, Singapore Botanic Gardens). Endorsement takes two working days; express isn't available.
If the destination has no certificate template of its own, AVS can issue a QR-verifiable certificate from your vet's certificate; it is valid for only seven days from issue.
“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.”
“The service standard for endorsement of importing country’s veterinary health certificate template is two (2) working days.”
“The QR verifiable veterinary health certificate is only valid for seven days from its date of issue.”
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.”
Permit
AVS export licence (GoBusiness)
Every pet leaving Singapore needs an export licence. Apply on the GoBusiness Licensing Portal within 90 days before you leave: it is valid for 90 days from issue. It costs S$50 and is issued two working days after you submit all documents (S$100 for the one-working-day express service).
Details and the official words
“This licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.”
“Licence issuance will take place two working days after submission of all completed documents.”
Only if the destination asks for it
On arrival · only if the destination asks
Pre-export inspection (only if the destination requires it)
If the destination makes a pre-export inspection a condition of entry, request an appointment through NParks eServices at least five days before departure. The inspection is at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station during its opening hours. Turning up without an appointment means an inspection fee.
Details and the official words
“at least five days before the animal’s departure”
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.
- AVS tells you to check the destination country's import requirements first: some countries ask for vaccinations, lab tests or a vet health certificate before your pet can enter.
- Once your dog has left Singapore, cancel its dog licence in PALS.
- AVS fees: export licence S$50 (normal, issued 2 working days after complete documents) or S$100 (express, 1 working day); vet certificate endorsement S$23 (normal) or S$46 (express, not available for endorsing a destination's own template).
- On the day, bring your pet to the ground handling agent (SATS Gateway or dnata at Changi) with a copy of the AVS export licence, the original vet health certificate and any other documents the destination needs.
What your cat needs
Cats
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.
AVS endorsement of the destination's health certificate: If the destination needs a vet health certificate: a licensed private vet examines your pet and completes the destination's template; if the destination wants an official vet's endorsement, apply on GoBusiness and drop the original template, vaccination records and lab results at the AVS drop-off box (Raffles Building, Singapore Botanic Gardens). Endorsement takes two working days; express isn't available.
If the destination has no certificate template of its own, AVS can issue a QR-verifiable certificate from your vet's certificate; it is valid for only seven days from issue.
“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.”
“The service standard for endorsement of importing country’s veterinary health certificate template is two (2) working days.”
“The QR verifiable veterinary health certificate is only valid for seven days from its date of issue.”
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.”
Permit
AVS export licence (GoBusiness)
Every pet leaving Singapore needs an export licence. Apply on the GoBusiness Licensing Portal within 90 days before you leave: it is valid for 90 days from issue. It costs S$50 and is issued two working days after you submit all documents (S$100 for the one-working-day express service).
Details and the official words
“This licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.”
“Licence issuance will take place two working days after submission of all completed documents.”
Only if the destination asks for it
On arrival · only if the destination asks
Pre-export inspection (only if the destination requires it)
If the destination makes a pre-export inspection a condition of entry, request an appointment through NParks eServices at least five days before departure. The inspection is at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station during its opening hours. Turning up without an appointment means an inspection fee.
Details and the official words
“at least five days before the animal’s departure”
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.
- AVS tells you to check the destination country's import requirements first: some countries ask for vaccinations, lab tests or a vet health certificate before your pet can enter.
- AVS fees: export licence S$50 (normal, issued 2 working days after complete documents) or S$100 (express, 1 working day); vet certificate endorsement S$23 (normal) or S$46 (express, not available for endorsing a destination's own template).
- On the day, bring your pet to the ground handling agent (SATS Gateway or dnata at Changi) with a copy of the AVS export licence, the original vet health certificate and any other documents the destination needs.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Singapore 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 into South Korea?
Yes: Every pet leaving Singapore needs an export licence.
Will my dog 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 need a microchip?
Yes: Every dog and cat must have a microchip.