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Contact information for key programs and services at this installation.
Policies and rules for shipping pets vary at each installation. It’s important to understand the regulations, prohibitions and laws at your new installation before moving with a pet. Below, you’ll find installation-specific details for registering, boarding and transporting your pet.
Traveling overseas with a pet requires additional planning and preparation. We all love our pets like family, but remember that bringing pets to South Korea is a privilege, not an entitlement. As such, the Contract Travel Office does not book pet flights, but they can book your soldier and family on a pet-friendly flight with the CTO-contracted airline Patriot Express or other airline if authorized to travel commercially. All costs associated with pet travel are at your expense. Commercial airline carriers may have specific pet policies or limitations that further restrict pet travel. Traveling with pets requires a lot of pre-planning. Do not forget to connect with your sponsors and read all the associated material related to travel and South Korean requirements. Just remember that everyone’s experience traveling with pets is different and pre-planning as far in advance as possible will pay off.
Note: Soldiers traveling without dependents will stay in barracks or senior leader quarters and pets are not authorized in those facilities.
Note: Due to increasing airline restrictions on pets, many families are running into trouble getting their pet out of Korea. Pet exportation costs, depending on the size of the animal, can cost upwards of $15,000 as of April 2021. Before deciding to bring your pet, please do your research and decide if the risk of high exportation costs is worth it. Abandoning your animal in Korea is punishable via UCMJ IAW USFK 40-5.
Note: Please keep in mind that certain medications, prescription diets and services are unavailable through the military veterinary clinics in Korea. Before deciding to bring your pet, do your research and decide if the level of care needed is available at your location.
Pet travel to Korea checklist Pet-Travel-to-Korea-Checklist-202004.pdf (army.mil) or https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/assets/doc/newcomers/pets/Pet-Travel-to-Korea-Checklist-202004.pdf
PCS with pets to Korea information https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/assets/doc/newcomers/pets/Travel-with-Pets-to-Korea-20200427.pdf
Pets Guide: https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/newcomers/pets-guide.asp
General information:
Transportation: Pets will be transported from the airport/PAX terminal to Camp Humphreys on the bus with their owners. All pets must remain in their carrier throughout the trip.
https://www.korea.amedd.army.mil/PCSing_with_Pets.html
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.
Only two pets (cats and dogs only) are authorized transport in the event of a non-combatant evacuation operation in Korea. Every attempt will be made to transport pets in the event of NEO, but pets are not guaranteed transport.
All pets must be registered at the installation VTF within 10 days of arriving in Korea.
Not all housing areas allow pets. When assigned housing in pet-restricted areas, service members that have brought pets have been required to find new owners/pet housing arrangements (including 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 separately from service member will occur more expenses and time; it takes a significantly longer time for them to arrive as cargo.
It is possible to bring a pet into Korea without meeting the importation requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination and rabies antibody testing). HOWEVER, 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 (Osan Pet Lodge/All Paws Osan Pet Care – DSN 315-784-4314 or COMM 82-10-5663-1304; Osan AB VTF – DSN 315-784-6614). THERE IS A SMALL RISK YOUR PET MAY BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AT THE DISCRETION OF QIA.
Common issues seen with pet importation:
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-$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.
Hotel Accommodations:
While staying in lodging, you will have your pet in your room with you. Be sure to plan for food, water, and bathroom breaks.
Installations across Korea have many walking trails and parks that can make for a great way for Soldiers and families to get out and acclimate. This also serves to get your pet acclimated as well. Be sure to clean up after your pet. If you haven’t checked out our traveling with pets page, go here:
https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/newcomers/traveling-pets.asp
Registration:
SOFA status personnel are required to register each domestic pet in their possession, at the appropriate Veterinary Treatment Facility, within 10 duty days of arrival on the Korean peninsula or upon the acquisition of the pet. They are also required to notify their installation housing office of their pet ownership within the same time frame.
Registration consists of creating a veterinary treatment record DD Form 2343 (Veterinary Health Record) with proof of rabies virus vaccination and proof of microchip implantation (as applicable). There are three military veterinary clinics on the peninsula where you may register your pet. You must register your pet in-person.
Pet travel from the U.S. to Korea: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/pettravel-korea
USAG Yongsan-Casey Policy letter: https://home.army.mil/yongsan/application/files/1816/1190/9725/Policy__47_Enclosures.pdf
All pets must be registered at the installation VTF within 10 days of arriving in Korea. SOFA status personnel are required to register each domestic pet in their possession, at the appropriate Veterinary Treatment Facility, within 10 duty days of arrival on the Korean peninsula or upon the acquisition of the pet. They are also required to notify their installation housing office of their pet ownership within the same time frame.
Pets shipped separately 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 incur more expenses and time; it takes a significantly longer time for them to arrive as cargo.
Pet requirements:
https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/assets/doc/newcomers/pets/Travel-with-Pets-to-Korea-20200427.pdf
Transportation:
Pets will be transported from the airport/PAX terminal to Camp Humphreys on the bus with their owners. All pets must remain in their carrier throughout the trip.
Pet care and Kenneling:
United States Army Garrison-Yongsan has the Pet Care Center on South Post Building 5256 (near gate #17) to assist families with boarding, grooming and transport of pets. Hours of operations are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, they will be available by appointment only and require a one-day advance notice for appointments. The Yongsan Pet Care Center boards and grooms dogs and cats for PCSing personnel on a space available. The cost of boarding depends on the size of the pet and reservations are needed. A deposit of $25 will be required at the time of making your reservation. If the cancellation and or changes are not made at least three days prior to the original check-in date, your deposit will be non-refundable. To better assist your pet care needs, they need one day advance notification for appointments.
POC: Ms. Gina Nam 010-9794-1125/ Email: gina@thefirstclasspet.com or yonogsanpcc@gmail.com
This center is located separately from the veterinary clinic. The Pet Care Center serves as the Yongsan quarantine facility and arrangements to transfer pets, for a fee, are made from the National Quarantine Station. The Pet Care Center is also authorized to retrieve pets from Incheon Airport accompanied by the pet owner, for transfer to the Pet Care Center for either quarantining or for relocation transport.
Please visit the airline website on specifics for pet travel, necessary documentation, carrier specifics, and fees.
https://www.koreanair.com/at/en/airport/assistance/travel-with-pet/checklist
USAG Yongsan-Casey veterinary treatment facility provides routine and urgent medical care for pets. The low fee includes health exam, spay/neuter, first vaccinations, and parasite testing and control. Dogs must be immunized annually against rabies, distemper multivalent immunizations with leptospirosis, and must be tested for heartworm infection and maintained on heartworm preventative with de-wormer year round. Cats must be immunized against rabies, feline panleukopenia virus multivalent immunization, and be tested for parasites and/or de-wormed at least annually. All animal deaths must be reported immediately to the VTF.
For veterinary clinics, go to the website below which lists veterinaries by Area I, II, III, IV & V.
Camp Casey Branch Veterinary Services are located at building S-1876, hours of operations are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
https://phcp.health.mil/Commands/Public-Health-Activity-Korea/Camp-Humphreys
Guidance from the 65th Medical Brigade, effective Feb. 12, 2021, the Korean government tightened the rules for dog owners. Under this new law, dog owners must keep their dogs on leashes of less than 2 meters when taking them outside. In some public spaces, like apartment elevators, owners must carry their dogs or hold them by the harness/collar.
There is a 200,000 won fine for a first violation (300,000 won for a second, 500,000 won for third violations). Large dogs (with high prey drive) must have a muzzle cover or that could bring a 3 million won fine. The five types of dogs with high prey drives are: Japanese mastiff, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier and Rottweiler. If someone were to get hurt or die because of the dog, that can bring up to three years in jail or 30 million won fine.
Exportation of pets from Korea
To leave the Republic of Korea, by Korean law, all dogs and cats must have proof of a rabies vaccination within the last year (not sooner than 30 days), a USDA health certificate (from your military veterinarian) issued within 10 days of departure, and a Korean health certificate, preferably on the day of departure. The Korean health certificate may be obtained up to three days prior to departure. To obtain a Korean health certificate, take the animal with the rabies certificate and the USDA health certificate to the Korean Animal Quarantine Office located at Incheon International Airport, 011-82-032-740-2660. The Korean veterinarian will issue the health certificate while you wait. There is a 10,000 won (approx. $9) fee for this service.
Animals that meet the above requirements to leave Korea will automatically meet the requirements to enter the United States. Animal owners traveling from the Republic of Korea to Hawaii or countries other than the United States should contact their local military veterinarian for specific importation requirements.
Special requirements for birds: There are very strict requirements for the importation of birds into Korea due to outbreaks of various avian diseases in different parts of the world, including the United States. Birds that do not meet the importation requirements are often euthanized so it is imperative that you research all the requirements thoroughly before you decide to bring a bird of any type into Korea. These requirements can change so the information provided here is subject to change. Bringing birds back into the United States can be difficult for the exact same reasons. The safest plan is to leave your birds at home. The current requirements are that birds have a health certificate from a USDA certified veterinarian, not just a military veterinarian, within 10 days of travel. This health certificate must have a statement to the fact that the bird is not entering Korea from a country or state that currently has an outbreak of one of several avian diseases.
Importation of pets into Korea
If you are bringing pets to Korea, you must travel via commercial airline. Air Mobility Command flights cannot transport pets to Korea due to the importation requirements of the country. The following items are required when bringing an animal into Korea:
If these requirements are met, your pet will not be quarantined and you will be allowed to transport them from the airport unless previously arranged with the Pet Care Center. If these requirements are not met, your pet will undergo quarantine for a 10-day period at your expense. When quarantine is required, all dogs and cats will be placed in the National Quarantine Station in Seoul. Upon arrival at Yongsan, you will need to go to the USAG Yongsan Pet Care Center located on Yongsan (South Post), and fill out the necessary forms for your animal to be picked up from the National Quarantine Station. At this time you will also need to present the following items:
There are restrictions for pet travel into Korea during the months of May until September unless the pet travels inside the cabin of the plane. Ask your airline for exceptions to the policy. Otherwise, you must find an international pet transport company that specializes in Korea.
Housing considerations for pets
Government owned and leased housing areas on South Post and United States Army Garrison Yongsan-controlled housing units in the Embassy Housing Area, have sufficient land mass to accommodate pets, for both exercising and relief. Some units are apartment style and would not be appropriate for larger dogs.
Many apartments off post will allow pets. Each individual landlord determines what type and how many pets will be allowed. Housing off post has very limited space for exercise and relief. Many apartments are high-rise buildings. Large-breed dogs should be provided time and space to exercise. There are parks in nearby areas that can accommodate these needs when the apartment area does not.
More information can be found at https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/newcomers/traveling-pets.asp