A practical guide to South Korea’s APQA export process, current U.S. entry rules, verified airline fees, timeline, and airline options.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Moderate
4–8 weeks
No authoritative all-in total verified
No routine federal quarantine (mainland US)
Confirm the responsible departure-airport quarantine office, its hours, and required records before travel day.
A practical guide to South Korea’s APQA export process, current U.S. entry rules, verified airline fees, timeline, and airline options.
APQA reviews veterinarian-signed health and vaccination records before issuing the export quarantine certificate.
Veterinarian signs supporting records; APQA issues export certificate
The veterinarian signs the supporting records; APQA issues the export quarantine certificate.
Not Required
The relevant origin-side government step is APQA export certification, not USDA endorsement.
Confirm with APQA and airline
No single universal online validity window was verified for every itinerary; confirm timing with the airport office and operating carrier.
Carry required export records
Carry the APQA certificate and required veterinarian-signed records. The CDC receipt may be printed or shown on a phone.
→ South Korea is not on CDC’s high-risk dog-rabies list
→ The dog’s complete six-month travel history controls the pathway
→ Dogs need a readable microchip and CDC Dog Import Form receipt
→ APQA issues the Korean export quarantine certificate
→ Airline pet space requires advance approval
→ Arriving outside APQA office hours
→ Ignoring six-month travel history
→ Buying a ticket before pet approval
→ Overlooking the operating carrier’s codeshare rules
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
The export certificate requires coordination with the departure-airport quarantine office.
A high-risk-country visit changes the CDC pathway.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
No authoritative all-in total verified
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — dogs
→ Microchip record — dogs
→ Veterinarian-signed health or medical report
→ Rabies vaccination record
→ APQA export quarantine certificate
→ Airline approval
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No.
→ Any high-risk-country visit during the previous six months changes the pathway.
→ Healthy appearance, age six months or older, readable microchip, and CDC Dog Import Form receipt under the qualifying low-risk pathway.
→ Yes.
→ Prepare veterinarian-signed records and obtain Korean export quarantine clearance.
→ Korean Air and Asiana accept eligible pets in cabin, subject to advance approval and carrier limits.
→ No routine federal quarantine for a compliant mainland-U.S. arrival.
→ Check destination-state rules.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
This move is more about sequencing than regulatory complexity.
South Korea has an APQA export-quarantine process. Prepare veterinarian-signed records and confirm the responsible airport office before travel.
Korean Air and Asiana publish passenger-accompanied options, but weight, carrier size, aircraft type, and breed restrictions determine the available method.
Many owners can manage a small-pet cabin move. Help becomes more useful for large dogs, restricted breeds, multi-leg itineraries, or tight APQA scheduling.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Select your origin and destination countries.
Select your pet type, size, and breed characteristics.
Select how your pet will travel and any additional services.
Review your itemized breakdown and quote below, then submit your details.
