Animal/Plant Quarantines

Animal Quarantine

Travelers carrying live animals and/or animal products (leather, animal feed, etc.), those who have recently visited a farm or those who work with animals (veterinarian, feed supplier, etc.) must undergo the appropriate inspection procedure. In particular, all live animals and animal products entering Korea must be accompanied by valid quarantine or heat treatment certificates issued by the country of departure. For detailed information on animal quarantine, please contact the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) and or the airport quarantine office.

  • Meat and poultry items such as beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc.
  • Processed meat products such as ham, sausage, beef jerky, marinated beef, canned meats, etc.
  • Animal bone items such as antlers, bones, horns, tusks, etc.
  • Egg products such as whole eggs, egg whites, powdered eggs, etc.
  • Dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, etc.
  • Animal products from approved export countries must go through the quarantine process. Travelers with a certificate of quarantine from export countries meeting the import sanitation requirements of Korea will be able to bring their products into the country, provided that there are no problems upon arrival inspection in Korea.

  • Items originating from or passing through prohibited regions (including live animals and processed meats)

    * List of prohibited regions subject to change in any case of contagious livestock disease outbreak; check the APQA website for more information.

  • Import & export inspection: Import +82-32-740-2671 (English), Export +82-32-740-2660~1 (English)
  • Pending quarantine: Import +82-32-752-1271~2 (English), Export +82-32-740-2660~1 (English)
  • Availability of foreign language assistance may vary.

Plant Quarantine

Travelers carrying plants, fruits, vegetables, seeds, orchids, nursery stock, cut flowers, soil and items of a similar nature must report to customs and the items must undergo the appropriate inspection procedure.

  • Fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, seeds, kernels, sapling, bulbs or tubers, roots, nuts, dried or fresh agricultural products, medical herbs and various other related plant items
  • All fresh fruits and vegetables originating from or passing through prohibited regions
  • Unshelled walnuts, unripe beans, unpeeled potatoes and sweet potatoes, planted crops (ginseng, mushrooms, etc.), and planted saplings
  • Live pests and insects (Including pet insects)
  • Saplings and cuttings, including from the Maloideaa subfamily (apple trees, pear trees, etc.), the Rutaceae subfamily (tangerine trees, orange trees, etc.), grape vines, pine trees, etc.
  • Carry-on plant inspection: Import +82-32-740-2097 / Export +82-740-2077
  • Cargo plant inspection: +82-740-2074
  • Availability of foreign language assistance may vary.

More information on Animal & Plant Quarantine

  • Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency website: www.qia.go.kr (Korean, English)
  • Incheon International Airport website: www.airport.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Information courtesy of Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency & Incheon International Airport

This page was last updated on August 5, 2020, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here.