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Bringing a cat from South Korea to the United States

Yes — cats have the lightest US federal rules of any route on this site. There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, and no USDA animal-health requirement for a pet cat entering the US. Your cat must appear healthy on arrival and can be inspected at the port of entry. Korea adds its own exit step: an APQA export quarantine inspection at the airport before you fly. Check your destination state and your airline — they, not the federal government, are where cat rules live.

None

US federal paperwork

No CDC form exists for cats

None

Federal vaccine rule

Rabies proof is a state/airline matter, not federal

₩10,000

APQA export fee

Per case, paid at the airport quarantine office

Must look healthy

On arrival

An ill-looking cat can be examined at your cost

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · South Korea → the United States
Step	What to do	When
No CDC form	The CDC Dog Import Form is dogs-only. There is no federal import form, permit or vaccination certificate for a pet cat entering the United States.	Good to know
Vet documents for exit	Ask your Korean veterinarian for a health certificate and keep any vaccination records with it. APQA asks to see the vaccination certificate and the health certificate when it issues your export paperwork.	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 and appointments are recommended or required.	Departure day (or just before)
Health on arrival	Your cat must appear healthy when it arrives. A cat that looks ill can be required to have a veterinary examination at your expense before being released.	Arrival
Check state and airline rules	Some US states ask for a rabies vaccination or a health certificate for cats, and airlines set their own carriage conditions. Hawaii and Guam impose their own quarantine rules even on cats from the mainland — if either is your destination, this simple federal picture does not apply.	Before booking

Your preparation timeline

1Days ahead — Get the vet health certificate; check destination-state and airline requirements
2Departure day — APQA export quarantine inspection at the airport (₩10,000) — arrive before 17:30 at Incheon
3Arrival — Visual inspection — a healthy cat is released with no federal paperwork

The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Forgetting that 'no federal rules' is not 'no rules anywhere'. Korea's APQA export inspection is still a real, in-person step with office hours, and if your real destination is Hawaii or Guam, their quarantine regimes apply in full — owners connecting onward are caught by this every year.

Costs you can plan for

There is no US federal fee, form or permit cost for a pet cat. The Korean export quarantine inspection costs ₩10,000 per case (APQA's published fee). Beyond that: your vet's health certificate fee, plus the air fare and any pet-in-cabin or cargo fee your airline charges. Keep vaccination records with you — they cost nothing and answer most questions at check-in.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Does my cat need a rabies vaccination to enter the US?

Not under federal rules — CDC and USDA impose no rabies vaccination requirement on pet cats entering the United States. Your destination state may require one, and airlines often expect it, so check both before you fly. Korea's APQA will also want to see vaccination records at the export inspection.

Is there a CDC form for cats like the Dog Import Form?

No. The CDC Dog Import Form applies to dogs only. Cats have no equivalent federal form.

Can my cat be quarantined on arrival in the US?

There is no routine federal quarantine for cats. A cat that appears ill on arrival can be held for a veterinary examination at your expense. Hawaii and Guam run their own quarantine systems, including for cats.

Why do I need an APQA inspection if the US asks for nothing?

Because it is a Korean exit requirement, not a US entry one. APQA inspects the animal and its documents and issues the export certificate before the airline will treat your paperwork as complete.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-12

Official sources for this page

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?

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