TabiPet Get the app
Quarantine guide · Korea → U.S. mainland · Dogs & cats

Taking your pet from Korea to the U.S. mainland

The CDC classifies Korea as a low-risk country for rabies, so entry to the U.S. mainland is simpler than most routes. There is no waiting period and no titer test. What does differ is the rule set for dogs and cats, and dogs must be at least six months old at the moment they enter.

Official rules last verified: 2026-08-24

The essentials

Step by step

Almost nothing here depends on a fixed order, so the preparation itself is straightforward. The age rule for dogs, though, is only met with time, and your destination state or airline may ask for paperwork the federal rules do not.

  1. Microchip

    First

    Implant an ISO 11784/11785 microchip. It is a CDC requirement for dogs. For cats it is not a federal requirement, but it is worth doing for identification and because airlines and states often ask. It has nothing to do with age, so there is no reason to wait.

  2. Rabies vaccination

    Not required · recommended

    Leaving from Korea, a low-risk country, the CDC does not require rabies vaccination. Many destination states and airlines do ask for a valid certificate, so vaccination is still recommended and the certificate is best issued in English. If you do vaccinate, doing it after the microchip is the safer order — that way the same dose still counts if you later move to a country such as Japan that checks the sequence.

    The mainland ignores the order, but a later move abroad does not. Switch routes in the app to compare. Check in the app →

  3. Submit the CDC Dog Import Form

    Within 6 months of departure · dogs only

    You submit it yourself, online on the CDC website, and a receipt is issued immediately. The receipt is valid for six months from the date of issue, so keep it where you can show it on entry. Leaving from a low-risk country, the form needs no veterinarian input and no government endorsement. Cats are not covered by this form.

    Enter your departure date to see whether the receipt still covers arrival, and when to file it. Check in the app →

  4. Health certificate (English)

    Before departure · recommended

    A health certificate is not a CDC requirement. Airlines and some destination states do ask for one, so having it in English is the safer choice. There is no federal issue-date window, but airlines and states may set their own, so check when you book.

  5. Export quarantine certificate

    From 10 days before departure

    This is not a U.S. federal requirement — it is the export quarantine step Korea applies when a pet leaves the country. APQA issues the certificate, and booking through the pet export quarantine reservation system lets you collect it from 10 days before departure.

  6. Departure and arrival in the U.S.

    Departure day

    Dogs must be at least six months old at the moment of entry, and both dogs and cats must appear healthy on arrival. Pets may be inspected at the port of entry and can be refused entry if they show evidence of a zoonotic disease.

Documents to carry for departure and entry

Frequently asked questions

Does my pet have to be vaccinated against rabies?

It is not part of the federal (CDC) entry requirements, because Korea is classed as a low-risk country for rabies. Many destination states and airlines do ask for a valid certificate, though, so vaccination is still recommended.

My puppy is not six months old yet.

The U.S. mainland admits dogs only if they are at least six months (180 days) old at entry, and there is no separate route for younger puppies. Set your departure for a date after your dog reaches that age. The microchip has nothing to do with age, so you can have it implanted now.

Do cats need the CDC Dog Import Form?

No, the form is for dogs only. Microchips and rabies vaccination are not federal requirements for cats either — they simply need to appear healthy on arrival. Destination states and airlines often ask for a vaccination certificate or health certificate, so it is worth preparing them anyway.

My pet was vaccinated before being microchipped.

It makes no difference for entry to the U.S. mainland, because the CDC does not require vaccination for pets arriving from low-risk countries. If you later plan to move to a country such as Japan that does check the sequence, that country would need the dose repeated after the microchip.

When should I submit the CDC Dog Import Form?

Submitting it online issues a receipt straight away, and that receipt is valid for six months from the date of issue. Any time within six months of departure works. Submit it too early and the receipt can expire before you arrive, so just watch the validity date.

How recent does the health certificate have to be?

There is no federal deadline, because the health certificate is not a CDC requirement in the first place. Airlines and destination states may set their own, so check when you book your flight.

Sources and verification dates

This guide is reference information compiled from publicly available official rules. Final decisions rest with the CDC, the authorities of your destination state, APQA and your airline, and actual procedures may differ as rules change or depending on conditions on the day. Please confirm directly with the authorities and your airline before you travel.

If you need help with dates and scheduling

Enter your pet’s vaccination dates and planned departure in the TabiPet app, and it lays out the steps above around your own dates. Your first diagnosis is free.

  • Entry conditions by species and age
  • Document deadlines and D‑Day alerts
  • Airline boarding conditions by weight and breed
Download on the App Store Android version coming soon