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Pet Transport from South Korea to Ireland

Ireland sits within the EU, which means pets arriving from South Korea face the full EU non-listed country protocol under Regulation 576/2013. A FAVN titre test and a 3-month waiting period are mandatory. Start …

Lead time needed22-26 weeks
Quarantine stayNot required
Route complexityHigh
Airlines5 on this route
Service levelFully managed
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Route at a glance
FromSouth Korea
ToIreland
Preparation22-26 weeks
ComplexityHigh
QuarantineNo
Related routes
Pet Transport Ireland to South Korea→
Step by step

The import process, step by step

Every step must be completed in sequence. Starting early is critical: a missed deadline can add months.

1
Before any vaccination.
ISO microchip implanted (if not done)

Responsible: Your vet

2
After microchip. Record all details including batch number.
Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Your vet

3
Blood drawn at least 30 days after last vaccination. 2-4 weeks for results.
FAVN titre test at EU-approved laboratory

Responsible: Your vet + EU-approved lab

4
Cannot be shortened.
3-month mandatory wait from blood draw date

Responsible: N/A

5
Once waiting period is complete.
Book cargo flight ICN to Dublin via European hub

Responsible: You or agent

6
Within 10 days of travel.
Obtain APQA-endorsed EU Annex IV health certificate

Responsible: Official vet + APQA

7
3-4 hours before departure for cargo.
Cargo check-in Incheon. DAFM inspection at Dublin on arrival.

Responsible: You + cargo airline + DAFM

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Ireland

Every item below must be completed and verified. We manage and cross-check each one.

Entry into Ireland
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination.
Required
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks. Administered after microchipping.
Required
Rabies titre test
Required. Ireland applies EU Regulation 576/2013. South Korea is a non-listed third country. FAVN rabies titre test at an EU-approved laboratory, minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after last vaccination. Mandatory 3-month waiting period from blood draw date.
Critical
Quarantine
No quarantine for fully compliant pets. DAFM Border Control Post inspection at Dublin Airport on arrival.
Critical
Import permit
Not required. EU Regulation 576/2013 conditions apply.
Required
Health certificate
EU Annex IV health certificate endorsed by APQA, issued within 10 days of travel.
Required
Leaving South Korea
Export permit
No formal export permit for personal pets. APQA issues the export health certificate.
Required
Health certificate
APQA-endorsed health certificate in EU Annex IV format (for non-listed third countries), issued within 10 days of travel. Must confirm microchip, vaccinations, titre test, and health status.
Required
Costs

What this route typically costs

Airline cargo fees ICN-DUB via European hub
IATA-compliant crate
FAVN titre test laboratory fee
APQA health certificate and endorsement fees
Veterinary fees
Agent fee (recommended for documentation accuracy)

Critical points

Ireland applies full EU non-listed country protocol to South Korea. The titre test and 3-month wait are mandatory, no exceptions.

Microchip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination. Wrong order means the vaccination doesn't count for EU purposes.

All Seoul to Dublin routings require a European hub connection. Factor transit handling time and procedures into your planning.

Always verify current DAFM and EU import requirements before travel.

Airlines

Carriers approved for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book live animal cargo correctly.

AE
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus does not have direct ICN-DUB cargo service. Pet cargo from Seoul routes through European hubs for connection to Dublin.
Cargo Only
LU
Lufthansa
Via Frankfurt FRA to Dublin DUB. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round. Strong cargo network for European connections.
Cargo Only
KL
KLM
Via Amsterdam AMS to Dublin DUB. KLM Cargo Live Animals. Reliable European hub connection.
Cargo Only
KO
Korean Air
Korean Air Cargo from ICN to European hubs, then connection to Dublin. Experienced with EU import documentation.
Cargo Only
EM
Emirates
Via Dubai DXB to Dublin DUB. Emirates SkyCargo. Brachycephalic restrictions apply.
Cargo Only

EU non-listed country rules: what Ireland applies to Korean-origin pets

Ireland, as an EU member state, applies Regulation 576/2013 to pet imports. South Korea is not on the EU’s approved country list, which triggers the non-listed country protocol.

The sequence: ISO microchip first (before any vaccination), then rabies vaccination, then FAVN titre test with blood drawn at least 30 days post-vaccination at an EU-approved laboratory, then 3 months from the blood draw date before entry. The health certificate must be in EU Annex IV format, endorsed by APQA, and issued within 10 days of travel.

DAFM inspects your documentation at the Border Control Post at Dublin Airport on arrival. If everything is in order, your pet is released without quarantine.

Getting from Seoul to Dublin

There’s no direct Incheon-Dublin cargo flight, so you’re routing via at least one European hub. Frankfurt via Lufthansa and Amsterdam via KLM are both well-used options for this type of routing. Lufthansa restricts brachycephalic breeds from cargo year-round, so if that applies to your pet, KLM or Emirates via Dubai may be better choices.

Korean Air Cargo operates from Incheon to European hubs and can connect onward to Dublin. An experienced agent who handles Korean departures will know which hubs have reliable live animal handling for transit cargo.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. Ireland applies EU Regulation 576/2013, which classifies South Korea as a non-listed country. A FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory is required, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, followed by a mandatory 3-month waiting period from the blood draw date.
No quarantine for fully compliant pets. DAFM conducts a documentary inspection at Dublin Airport Border Control Post on arrival. With all documentation correct, your pet is released the same day.
Allow 22-26 weeks minimum. The FAVN titre test (blood drawn at least 30 days post-vaccination) and the mandatory 3-month waiting period are the longest steps.
No direct Seoul-Dublin cargo route exists. Lufthansa via Frankfurt, KLM via Amsterdam, and Emirates via Dubai are the most commonly used connections. Confirm live animal transit procedures at your chosen hub before booking.
EU Annex IV is the specific veterinary certificate format required for pets entering the EU from non-listed third countries. It must be issued by an official veterinarian (authorised by APQA in South Korea) within 10 days of travel, and must include your pet’s microchip, vaccination history, titre test result, and health status.

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