Taking your dog on holiday to South Korea

Of the five destinations here, South Korea is the gentlest to enter. South Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) recognises Hong Kong as rabies-free, which strips the entry requirements down to the bone: an ISO microchip and a government-issued health certificate stating the microchip number and date of birth. No rabies vaccination, no rabies titre test, and no quarantine on arrival — the dog is released the same day if the paperwork is clean. The catch is that you still need rabies vaccination and a titre test for the Hong Kong return, so do them before you leave.

For the South Korea health certificate, AFCD issues it as the government veterinary authority of the exporting country — it states the microchip number and date of birth, and since Hong Kong is rabies-free no rabies test result needs to appear on it. South Korea asks that you present documents to the APQA officer at the port of entry; they verify the microchip, review the certificate and do a clinical exam. Dogs can arrive through Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae or Jeju airports, among others. South Korea has no national breed import ban, though five breeds (including Tosas and Pit Bull types) are designated dangerous dogs in-country and need muzzles, insurance and registration once there.

For the return, the same Residence Certification Waiver applies. The dog must arrive in Hong Kong as manifested cargo — never excess baggage or in-cabin — with the Special Permit, a health certificate issued by a South Korean registered vet within 72 hours of export (endorsed by a Korean government veterinary officer), and a Captain's Affidavit. Do not transit a Group IIIA or IIIB country on the way back, or the waiver fails — stick to direct flights between Hong Kong and Incheon. Your maximum time abroad is one year from the blood-sampling date of the titre test, or six months from the permit issue, whichever comes first.