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Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Uruguay to South Korea: the rules

Possible. There is no official waiting period, but you still need: ISO microchip, rabies blood test (antibody titer), health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and health certificate from the exporting country's government.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 5 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: South Korea → Uruguay

In short

At a glance

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

How early to start

No official wait

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

No official wait still means appointments: ISO microchip, rabies blood test (antibody titer), health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and health certificate from the exporting country's government. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.

On this route

  • Rabies blood test needed
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine

Which rules apply to you

South Korea puts Uruguay 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? Uruguay rule changes · South Korea rule changes

Uruguay → South Korea

What your pet needs

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

  1. Get ready

    1. IdentificationUruguay and 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

      Dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA): A dog leaving Uruguay must be microchipped and registered with the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal; the chip is linked to its international health certificate.

      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.”

      “SI ES PERRO: Microchip y registrado en el Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal, el que estará asociado al Certificado Sanitario Internacional, según Resolución Nº 273 de la DGSG del 27/08/2018.”

    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 Uruguay

      Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet

      Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”

      “Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”

      “01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”

    2. PaperworkUruguay 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.

      MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.

      “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.”

      “Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”

      “Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”

      “No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”

      “Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”

  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.
  • The destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
  • If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.

Money

What it costs

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

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 1,316 UYU (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 Uruguay: 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 Uruguay

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

The trip back asks for 8 steps: dogs: microchip (ISO 11784, HDX or FDX-B), linked to the certificate, rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), dogs: negative leishmaniosis test within 60 days before entry and vet examination within 10 days before the certificate and more.

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

The trip back asks for 6 steps: rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), vet examination within 10 days before the certificate, internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before the certificate and international veterinary certificate (CVI) from the official authority and more.

Every step from South Korea to Uruguay

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

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

Entering South KoreaLeaving UruguayReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

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

There is no official waiting period, but you still need: ISO microchip, rabies blood test (antibody titer), health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and health certificate from the exporting country's government.

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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