Destination Profile: South Korea (Republic of Korea)

Last verified: 24 February 2026
Competent health authority: Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA)
Official URL: https://www.qia.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02animal_livestock_03.html

Global classification of the destination

Regulatory model

Model C: no general quarantine, with retention authority. South Korea allows immediate release of pets that strictly meet the ISO microchip and rabies antibody titre requirements. In case of non-compliance (undetectable chip, RNATT below threshold or incomplete documentation), APQA retains the animal at the official quarantine stations in Incheon or Gimhae until the requirement is met. Quarantine is entirely at the owner's expense.

Rabies status of the destination country

Advanced control. South Korea is not strictly a rabies-free country: there are sporadic cases in wildlife near the demilitarised zone (DMZ). It maintains active surveillance and an advanced control system.
Source: WOAH — https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/

Country-of-origin classification system

Yes. APQA divides all countries in the world into two groups: rabies-free countries and non-rabies-free countries. This classification determines whether RNATT is required. Peru is a non-rabies-free country. Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mexico share this category in Latin America. Chile is frequently listed as rabies-free by APQA; verify directly at https://www.qia.go.kr before starting any process from Chile.
Verification URL: https://www.qia.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02animal_livestock_03.html

Requirements for dogs

Microchip

— Required standard: ISO 11784/11785, 15 digits (APQA Import Regulations).
— Must be implanted before vaccination? Yes. For the vaccine and subsequent RNATT to be binding to the animal, the chip must be in place before any health milestone.
— If the chip was implanted after: vaccination and RNATT must be repeated under the new microchip registration. Everything prior becomes invalid.

Rabies vaccine

— Mandatory: Yes.
— Minimum age for vaccination: 90 days (3 months) for the vaccine to be valid internationally (APQA Guide).
— Minimum post-vaccination period: at least 30 days before sample collection for RNATT.
— Recognised validity: must be current at the time of arrival in South Korea. 1- or 3-year vaccines accepted according to manufacturer data sheet.
— Accepted vaccine types: inactivated or recombinant.
— If expired: the animal will be vaccinated on arrival and held at the APQA quarantine station until antibody levels are verified or the established observation period is completed.

Rabies serological titre (RNATT)

— Mandatory: Yes, for animals from Peru and all non-rabies-free Latin American countries.
— Minimum threshold: 0.5 IU/mL (APQA Animal Quarantine Notification).
— Sample collection window: within the 24 months prior to the date of arrival in South Korea. The test must be performed at least 30 days after rabies vaccination.
— Waiting period after result: none. Unlike the EU (90 days) or Japan (180 days), South Korea does not require any waiting period after obtaining the positive RNATT result. The animal can travel as soon as it has the result in hand (APQA FAQ). This is what makes South Korea the fastest Asian destination for owners from Peru.

— The relevant counter: the sample collection date must be within the 24 months prior to landing.
— Accredited laboratories: must be laboratories approved by the government of the country of origin or WOAH-certified laboratories. There is no accredited laboratory in Peru or Colombia. Samples must be sent to international reference laboratories: in Brazil (TEC-SAÚDE), in Mexico (SENASICA), in the United States (Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) or in Europe. Verify at: https://www.qia.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02animal_livestock_03_01.html
— If the result is below threshold: mandatory re-vaccination and new sample collection.

Other vaccines required by entry regulation

APQA does not require vaccines in addition to rabies as a federal import requirement.

However, SENASA — the official veterinary authority of Peru — requires a complete and current vaccination scheme to issue the International Health Certificate for export. Without that scheme, SENASA does not certify the animal and the process cannot start. For dogs: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious canine hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza (current quintuple vaccine). Verify directly at https://www.gob.pe/senasa before starting the process from Peru.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in the primary regulation consulted as a mandatory federal requirement prior to shipment in APQA regulations.

Health certificate

— Official name: Health Certificate for Export of Dogs/Cats.
— Who can issue it: private or clinical veterinarian, obligatorily endorsed by the national health authority of the country of origin. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). In Colombia: ICA. In Ecuador: AGROCALIDAD.
— Validity window: 10 days from official endorsement until arrival in South Korea.
— Requires endorsement? Yes, mandatory. Without the official SENASA stamp the certificate is not valid before APQA.

Official entry document

— Exact name: Quarantine Certificate from the country of origin.
— Who issues it: national health authority. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa).
— Validity window: 10 days from endorsement.

Mandatory digital forms

No mandatory pre-arrival digital form identified in the primary regulation consulted for pets. Processing is carried out on arrival at the APQA port of entry.

Quarantine

— Mandatory: Not routinely if microchip and RNATT requirements are met.
— Conditional: Yes. It is triggered if the chip is not detectable, if RNATT is below 0.5 IU/mL, if documentation is incomplete or if the certificate lacks official endorsement.
— Facilities: APQA Quarantine Station at Incheon (ICN) and Gimhae (PUS).
— Cost: entirely at the owner's expense.

Breed restrictions

Not covered in this profile. Consult APQA directly before starting the process: https://www.qia.go.kr

Minimum age for entry

90 days. Animals under 90 days do not require RNATT but must be identified with an ISO microchip. Verify specific conditions for puppies directly with APQA.

Transport mode

Cabin baggage (PETC), hold (AVIH) and Manifest Cargo are permitted according to airline policy. APQA does not impose a mandatory transport mode. Verify with the airline for the specific route from Peru.

Requirements for cats

Microchip

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Rabies vaccine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Serological titre (RNATT)

Same as dogs — see previous section. The 0.5 IU/mL threshold applies equally to cats. No waiting period after the positive result.

Other vaccines required by entry regulation

APQA does not require vaccines in addition to rabies for entry. However, SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) requires a complete current vaccination scheme for cats to issue the International Health Certificate from Peru: Feline Triple (Calicivirus, Feline viral rhinotracheitis and Panleukopenia) plus rabies vaccine. Without this scheme, SENASA does not certify.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in the primary regulation consulted as a mandatory requirement for cats or dogs in APQA.

Health certificate

Same as dogs — see previous section. Issued and endorsed by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) in Peru.

Official entry document

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Mandatory digital forms

Not identified in the primary regulation consulted.

Quarantine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Breed restrictions

Not identified in the primary regulation consulted for cats.

Minimum age for entry

Same as dogs — 90 days minimum.

Transport mode

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Variations by country of origin

Differentiated requirements by origin? Yes, based on the rabies status of the country.

Risk classification system

APQA's own list in two categories: rabies-free countries (exempt from RNATT) and non-rabies-free countries (RNATT mandatory). No post-RNATT waiting periods in either category.
Verification URL: https://www.qia.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02animal_livestock_03.html

Situation of Peru and Latin America

Peru is a non-rabies-free country according to APQA. Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mexico share this classification. Export certification is provided by SENASA in Peru (https://www.gob.pe/senasa), ICA in Colombia, AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador, MAPA Brazil SDA in Brazil, SAG in Chile, SENASICA in Mexico, SENASAG in Bolivia, SENACSA in Paraguay, MGAP-DGSG in Uruguay and INSAI in Venezuela. Chile is frequently listed as rabies-free; verify directly before starting the process from Chile.

Situation of rabies-free countries

Australia, New Zealand, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and other rabies-free countries recognised by APQA: no RNATT, only ISO microchip, current rabies vaccine, animal over 90 days and official health certificate. Immediate release at Incheon if documentation complete.

Key difference with the EU, the UK and Japan

The element that most surprises owners familiar with other difficult destinations is the absence of a post-RNATT waiting period. In the EU and the UK the 90 days are mandatory from sample collection. In Japan it is 180 days. In South Korea there is no such period: the animal travels as soon as the laboratory delivers the positive result. This reduces the process from Peru from 4 months to approximately 45 days.

Transit through third countries

If the animal transits through a high-risk country without leaving the international area of the airport, the health conditions of the country of origin apply. Verify specific transit conditions directly with APQA before scheduling any layover.

Common mistakes

MISTAKE 1: RNATT older than 24 months

What happens: the owner presents an RNATT result from a previous process more than two years old, thinking it is still valid.
Regulatory consequence: the animal is sent to quarantine at the APQA station in Incheon while a new test is performed in Korea, with a minimum of 24 to 48 hours retention (APQA).
How to prevent it: ensure the sample collection date is within the 24 months prior to the day of landing in South Korea.

MISTAKE 2: Undetectable or non-ISO standard microchip

What happens: the chip has migrated within the animal's body or the Korean reader does not recognise the standard of the implanted microchip.
Regulatory consequence: retention of the animal and re-implantation of a new ISO chip at the airport facilities (APQA).
How to prevent it: scan the chip at a veterinary clinic between 24 and 48 hours before the flight. If the chip is not ISO 11784/11785, re-implant before leaving Peru. The chip number on the SENASA certificate must match exactly the chip read at Incheon.

MISTAKE 3: Rabies vaccine expired on arrival

What happens: the vaccine expires during the journey or between the certificate issue date and arrival at the airport.
Regulatory consequence: the animal is vaccinated at APQA facilities and held until new antibody levels are verified.
How to prevent it: calculate the expiry date of the active vaccine before scheduling the flight and ensure it is still valid on the day of landing, not just on the certificate issue date.

MISTAKE 4: Use of laboratory not recognised by WOAH or APQA

What happens: the sample is processed at a national laboratory in Peru or Colombia that has local accreditation but not the international recognition required by APQA.
Regulatory consequence: the result is void. Mandatory quarantine at Incheon until the test is repeated with a valid result (APQA).
How to prevent it: send the sample exclusively to international reference laboratories: Kansas State University (USA), TEC-SAÚDE (Brazil), SENASICA (Mexico) or other WOAH-accredited laboratories. Verify at https://www.qia.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02animal_livestock_03_01.html

MISTAKE 5: Health certificate without official SENASA endorsement

What happens: the certificate signed only by the private veterinarian without the official SENASA stamp is presented at Incheon.
Regulatory consequence: document invalid before APQA. The animal cannot be released and is retained (APQA).
How to prevent it: obtain the official endorsement from SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) before travel. The certificate must bear the SENASA government stamp for international validity.

Minimum calendar from scratch

Scenario A — Animal with microchip and current vaccination (vaccine more than 30 days old)

— Day 0: sample collection for RNATT and shipment to accredited laboratory outside Peru (Kansas State, TEC-SAÚDE, SENASICA or other WOAH-accredited).
— Day 10–15 (approximate): receipt of positive result (≥ 0.5 IU/mL).
— Day 12–15: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) issues and endorses the Quarantine Certificate and Health Certificate. 10-day validity window.
— Day 15–16: suitable date for shipment to South Korea. No post-RNATT waiting period.
— Minimum total time Scenario A: approximately 15 days from sample collection.

Scenario B — Animal with no prior history, from scratch

— Day 0: ISO microchip implantation + rabies vaccine + additional vaccines required by SENASA (quintuple for dogs, feline triple for cats). Minimum age 90 days.
— Day 30: sample collection for RNATT (minimum 30 days post-vaccination).
— Day 40–45 (approximate): receipt of positive result from accredited laboratory. SENASA issues and endorses the certificates.
— Day 45: minimum suitable date for shipment.
— Minimum total time Scenario B: approximately 45 days from scratch.

Authorised entry points

Yes, there is an entry point restriction. Animals must be inspected at APQA offices located at authorised international airports and ports:

The main entry airport from Latin America is Incheon (ICN), which handles most intercontinental flights.
Official URL: https://www.qia.go.kr

Directory of authorities

Cited current regulation

1. Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases (Republic of Korea) — Legal framework regulating animal import quarantine. URL: https://www.qia.go.kr — Verified: 24 February 2026.
2. Animal Protection Act (Republic of Korea) — Regulations on handling of dogs with restrictions in public spaces. URL: https://www.qia.go.kr — Verified: 24 February 2026.
3. APQA Animal Quarantine Notification — RNATT standards — Regulation on antibody threshold and recognised laboratories for pet import. URL: https://www.qia.go.kr/english/html/Animal_livestock/02animal_livestock_03_01.html — Verified: 24 February 2026.

South Korea is the Asian destination that most surprises owners who have dealt with EU or UK applications. The absence of a post-RNATT waiting period makes it the shortest process in this category: what takes 4 months in Europe takes 45 days from scratch in Korea. The critical point is not time but the laboratory. There is no accredited laboratory in Peru or Colombia, and that sample must leave the country with a cold chain, reach Kansas, Brazil or Mexico, and return the result within a timeframe that must be factored into the process. The microchip check at Incheon is the most precise in the world: the scanner reads the chip three times and if there is any discrepancy between the chip number and the SENASA certificate the animal does not leave. That verification must be done in Lima before boarding, not at Incheon.

This profile was verified against primary official sources on February 24, 2026. Requirements may change without prior notice. Always verify directly with the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) and SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) before initiating any export process from Peru.