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Bringing a Dog from the USA to South Korea: Requirements & Timeline

South Korea needs a rabies titer from the US — but, unlike the EU or Japan, there's no waiting period after the blood draw.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-08-23

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

South Korea is a titer route, but a fast one. You need a 15-digit ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, the vaccination at least 30 days before entry (for pets 90+ days old), and a rabies antibody titer of at least 0.5 IU/ml drawn at least 30 days after the shot at an APQA-approved lab. The crucial difference from Japan or the EU: there is no waiting period after the draw — the result is valid 24 months and your dog can fly once it's in hand.

A USDA-accredited vet then completes the Korea health certificate and APHIS endorses it within 30 days of export. No import permit is needed unless you're bringing 10 or more animals.

Minimum lead time: about 1.5 months (44 days). Plan about 6 weeks. The titer is required, but there's NO post-draw wait — your dog can travel as soon as the passing result (valid 24 months) is in hand.
Already vaccinated, or already have a titer result? You may be months ahead. Most of South Korea's 44-day lead time is the rabies-antibody (titer) wait. If your dog already passed a titer — and it's still valid on your travel date — use the “How far along is your pet?” selector in the planner above to re-plan from what's left. A titer that's already cleared its waiting period can turn a “too late” into “on track.”

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. ISO microchip implanted
    A non-encrypted 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination and titer so all records tie to it; the number must exactly match the health certificate.
    Official source ↗
  2. Rabies vaccination (at least 30 days before entry)
    Given after the microchip, for pets 90 days or older. The vaccination must be at least 30 days old on the entry date and still valid (within the past year is recommended).
    Official source ↗
  3. Rabies antibody titer test (required from the US)
    Blood drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, at an APQA-approved lab, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The result is valid for 24 months from the draw date. There is NO waiting period after the draw — your pet can travel as soon as the passing result is in hand.
    We plan the draw ~2 weeks out so the lab result is back before your health-certificate visit — it's a result you need, not a 3-month wait.
    Official source ↗
  4. Health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS
    A USDA-accredited vet completes the Korea health certificate (microchip, rabies vaccination and titer result) and USDA APHIS endorses it within 30 days of export.
    Official source ↗

No quarantine when compliant

APQA inspects your dog and documents on arrival and releases it the same day if everything matches. Get the microchip, titer or paperwork wrong and the dog is held — about 10 days on average, at your expense — so the microchip number must match the certificate exactly.

The return trip

South Korea is not a CDC high-risk country, so the return to the US is the simpler CDC process. Cats follow the identical microchip → rabies → titer → certificate chain and skip the CDC return entirely.

The trip home: bringing your dog back to the US

Good news — South Korea isn't a CDC high-risk country, so the return is simple. A US-vaccinated dog needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form (a receipt valid 6 months, reusable), a microchip, to be at least 6 months old, and to appear healthy — no titer or endorsed rabies certificate for re-entry. Cats have no CDC requirement either way (Hawaii and Guam set their own quarantine even from the mainland).

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

Does my dog need a rabies titer for South Korea?
Yes — a titer of at least 0.5 IU/ml, drawn 30+ days after the rabies shot at an APQA-approved lab. But there's no waiting period after the draw, and the result is valid 24 months.
How long does it take to bring a dog from the US to South Korea?
About 6 weeks: microchip, rabies (30+ days before entry), the titer drawn 30+ days after the shot (allow lab time), then the USDA-endorsed certificate. The planner computes your dates.
Will my dog be quarantined in South Korea?
No — APQA releases a compliant dog the same day. A hold (about 10 days) applies only if the microchip, titer or documents don't match.
Is it different for cats?
No — the microchip, rabies, titer and certificate chain is identical, and cats skip the CDC return process. Use the cat toggle in the planner.

Other dog routes

Compare every country's lead time, titer and return requirements side by side →

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.
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