I want to bring my dog from home to Korea — how do quarantine and pet registration work?
I am from Vietnam and want to bring my dog to Korea, but I heard the import quarantine process is strict. What documents, like a rabies vaccination or health certificate, do I need to prepare in advance?
Also, is pet registration mandatory after arriving in Korea, and where and how do I register, and how much does it cost?
1 Answer
I brought my dog into Korea, so I know the process takes planning. Korea treats dogs coming from countries that are not rabies-free strictly, and for many origins you need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and a rabies antibody titer test result with a neutralizing titer of at least 0.5 IU/ml, plus a quarantine or health certificate issued by the government authority in Vietnam before departure. The antibody test in particular takes time, since blood must be drawn and a set period must pass after vaccination, so start with your vet at least several months ahead. On arrival, at the airport you declare to the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) and they check your documents, and if everything is complete your dog usually passes without being held. After arriving, pet registration is mandatory for dogs over two months old; you register at your local district office or at a participating vet clinic with a microchip or an external tag, and the cost is usually around 10,000 to 30,000 won depending on the method. Because the exact requirements depend on the origin country and vaccination history, confirm the current rules with the QIA and the Vietnamese quarantine authority in advance and give yourself plenty of time.