Shipping Pets

For the most current information on undergoing a permanent change of station with pets, please see information from the following services:

• United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• Korean Quarantine Inspection Agency - Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency
• Army Public Health Center

This is intended to serve as a guide. The pet owner is responsible for ensuring their pet meets all importation and shipping requirements as put forth by the USDA, QIA and airline.

• 106th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support
  • DSN: 315-784-6934
  • Commercial: 011-82-503-384-6934

General Information

• Care for pets at military veterinary treatment facilities is limited and primarily provides routine preventive medical and surgical care. Emergency care is not available at military VTFs and civilian veterinary clinics are limited in some areas.
• All pets must be registered at the installation VTF within 10 days of arriving in Korea.

Check with your local housing point of contact for policies and guidelines on pets.

When assigned housing in pet-restricted areas, service members that have brought pets might be required to make arrangements to include shipping them back to the states.

• Customs clearance is required upon entry into Korea. Service members must present travel orders and pet documentation at the customs desk to request the Status of Forces Agreement import tax waiver. Pets imported more than six months after initial entry will be assessed an import duty.
• Pets shipped separate from the service member or their family may incur additional costs (quarantine and customs fees paid in cash, Korean currency of Won) when they travel as air cargo. Owners should discuss the details of these costs with the transportation broker prior to shipment. Shipping pets into the country as cargo separate from service member will occur more expenses and time; it takes a significantly longer time for them to arrive as cargo.

We strongly recommend completing all these requirements prior to travel to avoid costly fees and quarantine of the pet at your expense. Contact the quarantine facility in advance to ensure there is space at the Osan Veterinary Treatment Facility.

• Commercial: 82-505-784-6614

There is a strong possibility that if all requirements aren't met, you can be returned to the country of origin. This is at the discretion of APQA or QIA.

Common issues seen with pet importation:

• Improperly performed or incomplete health certificate. Be sure that your health certificate has the correct microchip on the necessary forms. Also, that your health certificate is original with a blue ink signature and endorsed by the USDA or military veterinarian.
• Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization issues including not having a FAVN performed, original FAVN results not available, FAVN performed at an unauthorized laboratory or FAVN titer too low. Make sure your veterinarian is using an appropriate laboratory and that you are planning far enough in advance that you can receive your FAVN results. This Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization test can take six to eight weeks on average, sometimes longer. This report will also need to be the original copy with a blue ink signature.

Note: If your pet is granted quarantine, it will be at your expense. Your pet cannot leave the quarantine facility during this period (i.e. they cannot quarantine with you). Quarantine costs an average of $20 to 50 per day. Additional FAVN testing will cost a minimum of $250 and results can take up to one to three weeks to receive. Health certificate reissues and/or endorsement cost $52 minimum. Pets must be up-to-date on vaccines (rabies, DAPV (dogs), bordetella (dogs), FVRCP (cats)).

Pet Travel Requirements from the Continental United States to Republic of Korea

• Original complete USDA health certificate
• Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to Korea issued by an USDA accredited veterinarian and endorsed by a USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer or military/GS veterinarian.

All health certificates must include original signatures in blue ink and no copies will be accepted.

A ISO-complaint Microchip (ISO 11784 or 11785) is required for all dog and cats regardless of age. Ensure the microchip number(s) in your pet match that on the health certificate, rabies certificate and rabies antibody test.

Rabies Vaccination

• Required for pets over 90 days old. Pets under 90 days old are exempt.
• Vaccination must be current and be accompanied by a valid rabies certificate issued by the administering veterinarian.

Rabies certificates must have original signatures in blue ink.

Rabies Antibody Test (FAVN or RFFIT)

• Only required if the pet is over 90 days old. Pets under 90 days old are exempt.
• FAVN test result must be >0.5 IU/mL and original test report must be presented. Results, to include date of results and laboratory, must be stated on the health certificate.
• The FAVN or RFFIT must be run by an internationally-approved laboratory. See the QIA website for a list of approved laboratories. In the United States, the only two authorized laboratories are the Defense Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory or Kansas State University. Do not use a different. Those results will be rejected.
• FAVN results are only valid for two years and only if the rabies vaccine has not lapsed.
• If the test cannot be run prior to travel, it can be done after arrival in Korea but will result in quarantine of the animal at the owners’ expense as well as cost of the test.

Pet Travel Requirements from Outside of the Continental United States Area

• Consider contacting the Korean APQA directly or through your sponsor to confirm the travel documentation for your pet's travel.
• The same requirements above apply, except:
  • Original health certificate issued by a military/GS veterinarian or official government veterinarian from the host nation (e.g. certificate and kennel stamp from the Japanese export veterinarian or an EU pet passport signed and stamped by a German government veterinarian) must be presented at time of entry.
  • Certain countries are considered "rabies-free" by QIA. Pets originating from these countries do not require a rabies vaccination or rabies antibody test if they have been present in that country for the last six months.
    • Their health certificate must contain the following statement from the veterinarian: "I certify that this (these) animal(s) were kept for more than six months prior to shipment in rabies free countries/regions (provide the name of the country/region) designated in the ROK quarantine regulations."
    • Check the QIA website for list of countries. This list is subject to change based on current outbreak statuses of individual countries.
      • Animals traveling from Australia or Malaysia require additional documents relating to Hendra/Vipah virus. See the QIA website.

Pet Shuttle Service

• Pet Transportation Guidance
  • Effective January 1, 2024, service members can claim pet transportation expenses for reimbursement (NTE $2000 per PCS, for one pet). If you have any question about this new travel entitlement, please contact the Osan Finance Office during customer service hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or create a CSP inquiry.

The 129th Medical Detachment, Veterinary Medicine along with elements of the 106th Medical Detachment, Veterinary Service provide comprehensive animal care to all Status of Forces Agreement status personnel in the Republic of Korea. There are four animal hospitals where veterinarians are permanently stationed in a fixed veterinary facility. These are located in Busan, Osan, Daegu and Yongsan. The numerous other bases are managed on an attending or referral basis.

The capabilities of the facilities in Korea vary in the scope of care they can provide due to instrumentation and staffing. Complicated cases or cases involving other than routine surgery may be referred to a veterinary facility off the installation.

Pet Transportation Guidance

Effective January 1, 2024, service members can claim pet transportation expenses for reimbursement, not to exceed $2,000 per permanent change of station, for one pet.

If you have any question about this new travel entitlement, please contact the Osan Finance Office:

• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• DSN: 315-784-5616
• Commercial: 0505-784-5616
• Email: 51cptscustomerSvs@us.af.mil
• Create a CSP inquiry: https://csp.cce.af.mil/#/