Animal & Plant Quarantine in Korea

Animal & Plant Quarantine in Korea: What Travelers Must Know (2025)

If you're traveling to Korea with animals, animal products, plants, or related items, it's essential to understand the country's quarantine procedures. Korea enforces strict animal and plant quarantine policies to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Here's what every traveler needs to know.

---

🐾 Animal Quarantine

Travelers carrying live animals, animal products (such as leather, animal feed), or those who have recently visited farms or work with animals (e.g., veterinarians, livestock workers) must go through the appropriate inspection procedures upon arrival.

✅ Quarantine Certificate Required

• All live animals and animal products must be accompanied by valid quarantine or heat treatment certificates issued by the country of departure.
• Animal products from approved export countries may be allowed after inspection.

📌 Items That Must Be Declared

• Meat: Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc.
• Processed products: Ham, sausage, beef jerky, canned meats, etc.
• Animal bones: Antlers, horns, tusks, etc.
• Egg products: Whole eggs, egg whites, powdered eggs, etc.
• Dairy: Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, etc.

🚫 Prohibited Items

• Items from or transiting through prohibited regions (based on livestock disease outbreaks)
• Uncertified animal products from non-approved countries

⚠️ Prohibited regions are subject to change. Always check the latest update via the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA).

📞 Contact for Animal Quarantine

• Import: +82-32-740-2671
• Export: +82-32-740-2660~1
• Note: Multilingual assistance may vary.

---

🌱 Plant Quarantine

If you're carrying any form of plant, agricultural product, or soil-based item, you must report it to customs for inspection.

✅ Items That Must Be Declared

• Fruits and vegetables (dried or fresh)
• Cut flowers, saplings, seeds, bulbs, roots
• Herbal medicines and dried plants
• Soil, nuts, and grains

🚫 Prohibited Plant Items

• Most fresh fruits and vegetables
• Rice plants, rice husks, and straws (except polished rice grains)
• Unshelled walnuts, unpeeled potatoes or sweet potatoes
• Live insects or pet bugs
• Tree cuttings or saplings of:
• Maloideae family (apple, pear)
• Rutaceae family (citrus trees)
• Grapevines, pine trees, etc.

📞 Contact for Plant Quarantine

• Import: +82-32-740-2079
• Export: +82-32-740-2077
• Note: Multilingual assistance may vary.

---

📚 Additional Resources

• Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) – Korean & English
• Incheon International Airport – Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese
• Guide to Traveling with Pets in Korea: Available via QIA and airline websites

ℹ️ This page was last updated on September 3, 2024. Regulations are subject to change. Always check the latest guidance before travel.