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Bringing a cat from South Korea to Canada
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarian's rabies certificate | For a cat 3 months or older, Canada's Import Reference Document requires a veterinarian's certificate, in English or French, that clearly identifies the cat and shows it is currently vaccinated against rabies. (The document also recognises two alternatives — proof of residence in a CFIA-designated rabies-free country, which South Korea is not, or a rabies antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/ml taken at least 30 days after vaccination — but the vaccination certificate is the practical path from Korea.) Cats under 3 months old are not subject to any import restrictions. | Before travel |
| No permit, no chip mandate | Canada does not require an import permit or a microchip for a personal pet cat, and there is no waiting period after vaccination. | Good to know |
| Vet health certificate for exit | Ask your Korean veterinarian for a health certificate alongside the vaccination certificate — APQA needs both documents in hand to issue your export paperwork, even though Canada itself frames its requirement as the veterinarian's certificate. | Days before departure |
| APQA export quarantine inspection | Visit the APQA office at the airport or port with your cat and its documents. The inspector reviews the documents, clinically examines the cat and issues the export (veterinary) certificate. The fee is ₩10,000 per case. Incheon airport offices (T1 and T2) operate daily 09:00–18:00 — arrive before 17:30; most other offices are weekday-only. | Departure day (or just before) |
| Arrival inspection | At the Canadian border, CBSA/CFIA officers inspect the cat and its certificate. If a cat does not meet the requirements, an inspector can order it vaccinated against rabies at your expense within a set period — another reason to sort the certificate in Korea. Keep the original with you, not in checked baggage. | Arrival |
Your preparation timeline
- 1Any time ahead — Rabies vaccination; get the vet certificate in English or French identifying the cat
- 2Days ahead — Vet health certificate for the Korean exit file
- 3Departure day — APQA export quarantine inspection at the airport (₩10,000) — arrive before 17:30 at Incheon
- 4Arrival — Border document check — compliant cats are released immediately
Costs you can plan for
There is no Canadian import permit to buy and no quarantine bill on this route. The Korean export quarantine inspection costs ₩10,000 per case (APQA's published fee), and a modest CFIA border inspection fee can apply to pet imports (imports from the US are exempt; Korea is not). Your main costs are the vet visit for the vaccination certificate and health certificate, plus the air fare.
Questions people ask about this route
Will my cat be quarantined in Canada?
No. Personal pet cats that meet the certificate requirement are released at the border; Canada imposes no post-import quarantine on them.
My kitten is 10 weeks old. What does Canada require?
Nothing — domestic cats under 3 months of age are not subject to any import restrictions under Canada's Import Reference Document. You will still go through Korea's APQA export inspection before departure.
Can a blood test replace the vaccination certificate for a cat?
Canada's rules do list an alternative: a rabies neutralising antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, from a sample taken at least 30 days after a rabies vaccination, with the lab report accompanying the cat. For most owners the straightforward vaccination certificate is simpler.
Does my cat need a microchip for Canada?
Not under federal rules for personal pet cats. Keep the cat clearly identified on its certificates — that identification is what the border officer checks.
Related guides
- Bringing a dog from South Korea to Canada
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- APQA (South Korea) — Dogs and cats export quarantine
- CFIA (Canada) — Importing food, plants and animals: pets
- CFIA (Canada) — Import Reference Document (Health of Animals Regulations)
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.