Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from South Korea → Northern Ireland (UK)
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.
How early to start
about 4 months
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
about 3 months
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
South Korea is in the group “Not listed — rabies antibody titration test needed” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into Northern Ireland’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Northern Ireland (UK)
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit for some pets
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
What your dog needs
Dogs
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number). Under the EU rules the chip is implanted or read before the rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO standard, bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
“Prior to the rabies vaccination, the pet animal (dog, cat, or ferret) must be marked by the implantation of a microchip.”
“You must bring your own microchip reader when you travel if your pet’s microchip does not meet ISO standards.”
“Your pet must be microchipped. They do not need rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatment if you have a PTD.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
An authorised vet vaccinates your pet against rabies when it is at least 12 weeks old, after the microchip. Wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling (30 if the vaccine's datasheet says so); a booster given before the previous vaccination expires needs no wait.
Details and the official words
“the pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine is administered,”
“This must be at least 21 days after the primary vaccination is given.”
“(This wait does not apply to an annual or 3 yearly booster vaccination, provided the booster is administered before the original vaccination expires),”
Blood test
Rabies antibody blood test, then a 3-month wait
From a country that isn't listed (Category 3), a blood sample is taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and must show the vaccination worked. Your pet then waits 3 calendar months before travelling (not needed if it was vaccinated, tested and given a pet passport in the EU or Northern Ireland before it left).
Details and the official words
“a blood test taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and the blood test must show the vaccination was successful. (the date of the vaccination counts as day zero not day 1)”
“to wait 3 calendar months after the blood test shows the vaccination was successful before travelling.”
Paperwork
Animal health certificate
An official vet in the country you travel from issues an animal health certificate. It is valid for 10 days from issue for entering Northern Ireland, then for 6 months of onward travel within the EU (after the endorsement on arrival).
Details and the official words
APQA quarantine certificate: The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency issues the quarantine certificate within the 10 days before departure (some destinations want it closer, for example within 7 days or 48 hours). Offices are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00 (lunch 12:00 to 13:00); the offices at Incheon Airport Terminals 1 and 2 also open on weekends and public holidays. You can get it at the airport on the day of departure: arrive at least two hours before check-in, with every document ready, and call ahead because same-day issue isn't guaranteed.
The certificate has a validity period set by the destination, typically counted from issue (for example 10 or 30 days). A certificate can be corrected and reissued at the issuing office or another one.
“Animal Health Certificate (valid for 10 days from date of issue for entry into an EU Member State (including NI) and for 6 months onward travel within the EU)”
“A quarantine certificate issued by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency can be obtained within 10 days before departure.”
“Quarantine certificates are issued on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, except for weekends and public holidays.”
“visit the airport quarantine office at least two hours before check-in.”
Treatment
Tapeworm treatment (dogs)
A vet treats your dog against tapeworm between 120 and 24 hours before it enters Northern Ireland, and records it. Not needed coming directly from Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway, or from Great Britain with a pet travel document.
Details and the official words
The window is in hours: check the treatment time against your arrival time.
“Tapeworm treatment must be administered not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before scheduled entry into the territory.”
“However please note when travelling between NI and the ROI tapeworm treatment is not required.”
“Dogs moving directly between any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) or Norway are exempted from the treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis”
Route
Enter through a travellers' point of entry
From a Part 2 listed or unlisted country, enter Northern Ireland through a travellers' point of entry: Belfast or Larne port, or Belfast International, Belfast City or City of Derry airport. Contact it before you arrive.
Details and the official words
“to enter EU (including NI) through a Travellers Point of Entry”
“Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport can be contacted at daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk .”
Vet exam
Vaccination and health certificate from a Korean animal clinic
Get the vaccination certificate and the health certificate from the clinic that vaccinated and treated your pet. Even if a rabies vaccination given abroad is accepted, you must also get a vaccination and health certificate from a domestic clinic within 10 days before departure.
Details and the official words
“you must get a vaccination and health certificate from a domestic animal clinic within 10 days before departure and submit it along with the foreign certificate.”
Only in some cases
Notice · only in some cases
Flying in: tell DAERA in advance
Only if you arrive by air: email DAERA (daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk) before you travel: at least 10 working days ahead from Great Britain, at least 10 days ahead from elsewhere.
Details and the official words
“You must tell the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at least 10 working days before you travel.”
“If you will be arriving into Northern Ireland via air, you must contact daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk at least 10 days in advance of your intended date of travel to pre-notify your arrival.”
Good to know
- The wait after a first rabies vaccination is at least 21 days, but if the vaccine's datasheet says immunity only starts on day 30, you wait 30 days. Your vet records the date the vaccination is valid from.
- Arriving on an animal health certificate and travelling on to Ireland or another EU country? Report to the travellers' point of entry when you arrive so DAERA officials endorse the certificate. Without the endorsement it isn't valid for onward travel.
- APQA says the deadlines for the quarantine certificate, and its validity, depend on the destination country's own rules, so check the importing country's requirements first.
- APQA calls travelling or moving abroad with a pet 'non-commercial'. Sales, exhibitions, competitions and adoption are 'commercial' and usually face stricter rules, which we don't cover.
- If your pet fails the destination's quarantine check it may be denied entry, quarantined or sent back.
What your cat needs
Cats
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number). Under the EU rules the chip is implanted or read before the rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO standard, bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
“Prior to the rabies vaccination, the pet animal (dog, cat, or ferret) must be marked by the implantation of a microchip.”
“You must bring your own microchip reader when you travel if your pet’s microchip does not meet ISO standards.”
“Your pet must be microchipped. They do not need rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatment if you have a PTD.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
An authorised vet vaccinates your pet against rabies when it is at least 12 weeks old, after the microchip. Wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling (30 if the vaccine's datasheet says so); a booster given before the previous vaccination expires needs no wait.
Details and the official words
“the pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine is administered,”
“This must be at least 21 days after the primary vaccination is given.”
“(This wait does not apply to an annual or 3 yearly booster vaccination, provided the booster is administered before the original vaccination expires),”
Blood test
Rabies antibody blood test, then a 3-month wait
From a country that isn't listed (Category 3), a blood sample is taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and must show the vaccination worked. Your pet then waits 3 calendar months before travelling (not needed if it was vaccinated, tested and given a pet passport in the EU or Northern Ireland before it left).
Details and the official words
“a blood test taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and the blood test must show the vaccination was successful. (the date of the vaccination counts as day zero not day 1)”
“to wait 3 calendar months after the blood test shows the vaccination was successful before travelling.”
Paperwork
Animal health certificate
An official vet in the country you travel from issues an animal health certificate. It is valid for 10 days from issue for entering Northern Ireland, then for 6 months of onward travel within the EU (after the endorsement on arrival).
Details and the official words
APQA quarantine certificate: The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency issues the quarantine certificate within the 10 days before departure (some destinations want it closer, for example within 7 days or 48 hours). Offices are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00 (lunch 12:00 to 13:00); the offices at Incheon Airport Terminals 1 and 2 also open on weekends and public holidays. You can get it at the airport on the day of departure: arrive at least two hours before check-in, with every document ready, and call ahead because same-day issue isn't guaranteed.
The certificate has a validity period set by the destination, typically counted from issue (for example 10 or 30 days). A certificate can be corrected and reissued at the issuing office or another one.
“Animal Health Certificate (valid for 10 days from date of issue for entry into an EU Member State (including NI) and for 6 months onward travel within the EU)”
“A quarantine certificate issued by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency can be obtained within 10 days before departure.”
“Quarantine certificates are issued on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, except for weekends and public holidays.”
“visit the airport quarantine office at least two hours before check-in.”
Route
Enter through a travellers' point of entry
From a Part 2 listed or unlisted country, enter Northern Ireland through a travellers' point of entry: Belfast or Larne port, or Belfast International, Belfast City or City of Derry airport. Contact it before you arrive.
Details and the official words
“to enter EU (including NI) through a Travellers Point of Entry”
“Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport can be contacted at daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk .”
Vet exam
Vaccination and health certificate from a Korean animal clinic
Get the vaccination certificate and the health certificate from the clinic that vaccinated and treated your pet. Even if a rabies vaccination given abroad is accepted, you must also get a vaccination and health certificate from a domestic clinic within 10 days before departure.
Details and the official words
“you must get a vaccination and health certificate from a domestic animal clinic within 10 days before departure and submit it along with the foreign certificate.”
Only in some cases
Notice · only in some cases
Flying in: tell DAERA in advance
Only if you arrive by air: email DAERA (daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk) before you travel: at least 10 working days ahead from Great Britain, at least 10 days ahead from elsewhere.
Details and the official words
“You must tell the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at least 10 working days before you travel.”
“If you will be arriving into Northern Ireland via air, you must contact daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk at least 10 days in advance of your intended date of travel to pre-notify your arrival.”
Good to know
- The wait after a first rabies vaccination is at least 21 days, but if the vaccine's datasheet says immunity only starts on day 30, you wait 30 days. Your vet records the date the vaccination is valid from.
- Arriving on an animal health certificate and travelling on to Ireland or another EU country? Report to the travellers' point of entry when you arrive so DAERA officials endorse the certificate. Without the endorsement it isn't valid for onward travel.
- APQA says the deadlines for the quarantine certificate, and its validity, depend on the destination country's own rules, so check the importing country's requirements first.
- APQA calls travelling or moving abroad with a pet 'non-commercial'. Sales, exhibitions, competitions and adoption are 'commercial' and usually face stricter rules, which we don't cover.
- If your pet fails the destination's quarantine check it may be denied entry, quarantined or sent back.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from South Korea to Northern Ireland (UK)?
Yes: From a country that isn't listed (Category 3), a blood sample is taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and must show the vaccination worked.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into Northern Ireland (UK)?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in Northern Ireland (UK)?
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: Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number).