Bring a dog or a cat to Korea(FAQ) - Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency

Bringing cats and dogs to the Republic of Korea
Q&A for the import quarantine system
of cats and dogs

Q1. What kind of disease is rabies?
- ○ AS for humans, rabies mostly occurs when humans are bitten by animals that have been in contact with wild animals such as raccoons, badgers, bats, weasels, etc. that carry the rabies virus. All warm-blooded animals such as humans, dogs, and cats

Q2. What documents do I need for import quarantine?

개,고양이 수입검영 방법
Quarantine documents
○ Submission of a health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country (Only if the exporting country is an EU member country, the health certificate may be replaced by a EU pet passport.) ○ Microchip implantation and rabies neutralizing antibody titration test (Transplant numbers and rabies neutralizing antibody titration test results need to be written in the health certificate)

○ Dogs and cats of all ages must be microchipped.
○ Animals that are 90 days old or older must have a rabies neutralizing antibody titer of 0.5 IU/㎖.
- However, animals from rabies-free countries are exampted.
○ Once the animal has arrived in South Korea, the health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country must be submitted.
- The health certificate must contain the ID numbers of implanted microchips and the results of the rabies neutralizing antibody titration test.

Q3. If the health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country is not submitted after arrival in South Korea, what measures would be taken?
- ○ The health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country must be submitted for importing dog and cats
- ○ If the certificate is not submitted, the animals are not allowed to enter South Korea.
  Hence, they will be subject to measures such as being returned to the exporting country
Q4. When and where are the test for microchips transplanted and rabies antibody titers tested?
- ○ In South Korea, microchips can be transplanted in veterinary clinics registered as an agency for animal registration.
  - Veterinary clinics registered as an agency for animal registration for each region can be looked up on www.animal.go.kr
- ○ A rabies neutralizing antibody titer test should be conducted by the government agency of the exporting country or an internationally accredited agency for testing rabies.
  - The results of rabies neutralizing antibody titer test are valid within 24 months based on the blood collection date, and the titer must be 0.5 IU/ml or higher.
  
  - Internationally accredited agencies for testing rabies can be looked up on the following site.
- ○Internationally accredited test agencies
  http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/approval_en.htm
Q5. Do animals imported from any country need to have the rabies antibody titration test? Do young dogs and cats need to have the test?
- ○ Animals from rabies-free regions and those that are 90 days old or younger are exempted from the rabies antibody titration test.
  - However, their ages must be identified in the health certificate from the exporting country.
- ○ Please check to the site below for rabies-free countries.
  
  https://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Diseaseinformation/Diseasetimelines
Q6. What if animals have arrived in South Korea without a microchip implant and having undergone an antibody titration test?
- ○ If the animal does not have a microchip implant, or the implant cannot be found, they will receive an implant during the import quarantine.
  - The procedure will be carried out by a veterinarian in a clinic or by an animal registration agent, and the importer (animal owner) needs to cover the cost.
- ○If animals 90 days old or older have not been tested by an internationally accredited test agency or the government agency of the exporting country, or if rabies neutralizing antibody titration was proven to be below 0.5 IU/㎖, a test will be performed by an internationally accredited test agency such as the Department of infectious Disease Test in the Seoul Regional Office.
  - The importer (animal owner) needs to cover the cost. The quarantine period is extended until rabies neutralizing antibody titration is confirmed to be 0.5 IU/㎖ or higer.
Q7. Are animals 90 days or younger exampted from the rabies antibody titration test?
- ○ Animals 90 days old or younger are exempted from the rabies antibody titration test. However, they need to have microchip implants, and their microchip numbers must be written down.
  - The health certificate from the exporting country must contain the age of the animal.
Q8. How long does the import quarantine take after arrival in South Korea?
- ○ For dogs and cats that are 90 days old or older
  - If they can be identified by their microchip implants and have rabies neutralizing antibody titers of 0.5 IU/㎖ or higher, they are released on the day of arrival.
  
  - Otherwise, the quarantine period will be extended until they have received microchip implants and rabies vaccinations, and when their antibody titers have become 0.5 IU/㎖ or higher.
- ○ For dogs and cats that are younger than 90 days old or from rabies-free countires
  - If they can be identified by their microchip implants, they are released on the day of arrival. Otherwise, the quarantine period will be extended until they have received microchip implants.
Q9. What must the health certificate issued by the exporting country contain?
- ○ It must contain the date of birth, microchip, number, the result of rabies neutralizing antibody titration test, test date, test agency, name of the agency that issued the health certificate, issue date, and name and signature of the person who issued it.
  - It also must contain a statement guaranteeing that the animals are healthy and cannot transmit infectious diseases to domestic animals.
Q10. When dogs or cats are brought into South Korea, do they need to be certified as free or any diseases apart from rabies?
- ○ If imported from Australia or Malaysia, they need to be certified as free from Hendra virus and Nipah virus.
  - Exporting countries: Australia (cats) and Malaysia (dogs and cats)
  
  - Contents of certification : certification that the exporting country or the region (an administrative area larger than the Korean Peninsula) was free from those viruses after the first report of incidence, or certification that the animals were tested for Hendra virus and Nipah virus (blood test within 14 days before the export) and were housed in a virus-free region for 60 days before the export
  
  - Quarantine methods : in case no certificate for Hendra virus and Nipah virus is provided, the animals will be subjected to isolation in the animal quarantine office for 21 days. If there is no abnormality, they will be released.
Q11. What is a microchip?
- ○ A microchip is an elecronic chip that carries the ID number of each animal for the identification of small animal. There are two types of microchips : one is implanted in the body and the other is worn in a collar.
Q12. Do dogs or cats that are 90 days old or younger without microchip implants have to be moved to the animal quarantine office to then receive imcrochip implants?
- ○ A simple microchip implantation can be done in a port or airport quarantine station under the supervision of the quarantine officer.
Q13. How can I find animal registration veterinary clinics (animal registration agents) that transplant microchips?
- ○ You can search for veterinary clinics (animal registration agents) using the following site.
  http://www.animal.go.kr/portal_rnl/map/record_agency.jsp
Q14. What if a microchip implant does not meet the international standard (ISO11784/11785)?
- ○ Our agency has a reader that can identify microchips complying with the international standard.
- ○ If a microchip implant does not meet the international standard, the importer has to provide a reader for it.
- ○ Otherwise, a new microchip must be implanted.
Q15. What is the microchip ID number cannot be read (identified) during the import quarantine process even though the animal has a microchip implant?
- ○ if the microchip number is different from the one written in the health certificate or if the microchip number cannot be read, the quarantine period will be extended until the animal can receive a new implant.
Q16. If microchip implants or rabies neutralizing antibody titers fail to meet test crtieria, where are the animals quarantined?
- ○ Import quarantine is conducted in an animal quarantine facility in the entry airport or port. If the airport or port has no animal quarantine facility, the animals will be moved to an animal quarantine facility nearby.
- ○ Please contact the airport or port to find the animal quarantine site.
Q17. Which agencies can issue health certificates and perform rabies neutralizing antibody titration tests outside of South Korea?
- ○ Please make inquiries at the animal quarantine agency in your country or a foreign embassy in South Korea.
  - You can search for internationally accredited agencies for rabies testing at the site below.
  
  - The contact information for foreign embassies in South Korea can be found on the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. www.mofat.go.kr
- ○ Internationally accredited agencies for testing rabies
  http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/approval_en.htm
Q18. Who should be responsible for the costs of animal care during the quarantine?
- ○ If quarantine is required due to the failure to meet the quarantine requirements, the owner of the animals needs to be responsible for the costs for transports, upkeep during the quarantine period, titration test for neutralizing antibody, and microchip transplantation, as well as the fee for issuing the health certificate.
  - The government agency charges 110,000 KRW/animal for titration test for rabies antibody and 10,000 KRW/case for issuing a health certificate. Other than those items, the owner should make a contract with an agent such as a veterinary clinic for transports, rabies vaccination, and microchip transplanting.
Q19. Who is responsible for the upkeep of quarantine animals?
- ○ Owners are responsible for the upkeep of animals in the animal quarantine facility.
  - However, you can entrust it to the staff in charge of keeping animals if they are quarantined in Incheon Airport (Yeongjongdo Island).
Q20. Where are agencies that test rabies neutralizing antibody titers in South Korea?
- ○ Choong Ang Vaccine Laboratory
  - Address : Department of Disease Diagnosis, Choong Ang Vaccine Laboratory (1476-37 Yusung-daero, Yusung-Ku, DaeJeon-si)
  
  - Phone/Fax : +82-42-863-9322/8454 pharmehk@hanmail.net
- ○ Komipharm International Co. Ltd
  - Address : Animal Disease Center, Komipharm Central Laboratory (1236-6 Jeoungwang-dong Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do)
  
  - Phone : +82-31-498-6106
- o KBNP, INC.
  - Address : 235-9, Chusa-ro, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
  
  - Phone : +82-42-498-2121 (ext. 159)
- ○ Seoul Regional Office of Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA)
  - Address : 46, Deungchon-ro 39ga-gil, Gangseo-gu, SEOUL
  
  - Phone : +82-2-2650-0662 (ext. 0657)
Q21. How can I request a test for rabies neutralizing antibody titers?
- ○ Please inquire of the testing agency that you want to use regarding the request procedure.
- ○ In general, samples are collected in a veterinary clinic, from which serum (blood) is isolated, and then a test is requested accompanying a test request form filled out by a veterinarian.
  - For Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (Department of Infectious Disease Test in Seoul Regional Office), you can find the method to request a test and apply for it on the following page. https://eminwon.qia.go.kr/eminwon/rabies
Q22. What is the procedure to have a test for rabies neutralizing antibody titers of samples that were sent from a foreign country?
- ○ Please make inquiries at the testing agency that you want to use regarding the test request procedure, required documents, and how to send samples.
- ○ In addition, if test samples are to be sent from a foreign country to South Korea, a health certificate, guaranteeing that the samples (sera, etc.) have no potential to spread pathogens of livestock infectious diseases, issued by the government of the exporting country must be included to have the import quarantined.
- ○ The samples can be tested only after the import quarantine
Q23. What if an antibody titration test found a rabies neutralizing antibody titer of below 0.5 IU/㎖ 30 days after rabies vaccination?
- ○ Please determine if they need additional vaccination or if you would wait until the rabies neutralizing antibody titer becomes 0.5 IU/㎖ or higher and then request for a retest after consulting with a veterinarian.
Q24. If I have a record of a rabies neutralizing antibody titration test performed by a testing agency in South Korea when I return to South Korea after staying in a foreign country, is the record accepted?
- ○ If the test was performed by one of the four recognized testing agencies in South Korea, the titers were 0.5 IU/mL or higher, and the blood was drawn within 24 months before the arrival in South Korea, the test results are accepted.
- ○ However, the record must be the original copy, and a health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country must be included.

Anlmal,Plant and Flsherles Quarantine and Inspection Agency

Q1. What kind of disease is rabies?

Q2. What documents do I need for import quarantine?

Q3. If the health certificate issued by the government agency of the exporting country is not submitted after arrival in South Korea, what measures would be taken?

Q4. When and where are the test for microchips transplanted and rabies antibody titers tested?

Q5. Do animals imported from any country need to have the rabies antibody titration test? Do young dogs and cats need to have the test?

Q6. What if animals have arrived in South Korea without a microchip implant and having undergone an antibody titration test?

Q7. Are animals 90 days or younger exampted from the rabies antibody titration test?

Q8. How long does the import quarantine take after arrival in South Korea?

Q9. What must the health certificate issued by the exporting country contain?

Q10. When dogs or cats are brought into South Korea, do they need to be certified as free or any diseases apart from rabies?

Q11. What is a microchip?

Q12. Do dogs or cats that are 90 days old or younger without microchip implants have to be moved to the animal quarantine office to then receive imcrochip implants?

Q13. How can I find animal registration veterinary clinics (animal registration agents) that transplant microchips?

Q14. What if a microchip implant does not meet the international standard (ISO11784/11785)?

Q15. What is the microchip ID number cannot be read (identified) during the import quarantine process even though the animal has a microchip implant?

Q16. If microchip implants or rabies neutralizing antibody titers fail to meet test crtieria, where are the animals quarantined?

Q17. Which agencies can issue health certificates and perform rabies neutralizing antibody titration tests outside of South Korea?

Q18. Who should be responsible for the costs of animal care during the quarantine?

Q19. Who is responsible for the upkeep of quarantine animals?

Q20. Where are agencies that test rabies neutralizing antibody titers in South Korea?

Q21. How can I request a test for rabies neutralizing antibody titers?

Q22. What is the procedure to have a test for rabies neutralizing antibody titers of samples that were sent from a foreign country?

Q23. What if an antibody titration test found a rabies neutralizing antibody titer of below 0.5 IU/㎖ 30 days after rabies vaccination?

Q24. If I have a record of a rabies neutralizing antibody titration test performed by a testing agency in South Korea when I return to South Korea after staying in a foreign country, is the record accepted?