Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aaron.southkorea]

Hello,

I just want to offer some comprehensive advice on bringing a cat into Korea from the USA.

I went through the relatively easy process within the last few weeks and faced some hiccups along the way that taught me quite a bit.

If anyone is interested or needs some advice, PM me!

(Cat, cats, immigration, quarantine, question, help)

[slynne23]

but I haven't made 25 posts yet, so I can't pm you...

[aaron.southkorea]

What do you need to know?

[Skippy]

Here's an idea! Tell your story give lots of details and if people really like it will be stickied then probably moved to FAQ section.

Once again another person who does not get the idea of writing or telling details.

Hey people did you hear about the foreigner that was killed....

[slynne23]

Well, you mentioned hiccups. I've already done some research on quarantines, shots needed, airline restrictions, etc. What did you run into that you didn't anticipate? Was the overall process simple enough that you would do it again? Can you give a ballpark figure as to what the airline charged you? Were you able to avoid putting your animals in quarantine with the proper certification from the vet that they had all their shots? How much of a hassle was it to gather your animals and all your luggage and get to your new apartment? Did your cats hate you for days for putting them through a move like this?

[Captain Obvious]

Cats in Korea are different than the USA. Cats here have a different culture. If you introduce your cat to Korean cats he or she might find them really weird.

[crisdean]

[aaron.southkorea]

Skippy, please relax. I can just see your jowls get all jiggly and your face turn red like a tomato. Inhale, exhale.

The whole story is quite long. I appreciate your advice. I'll get it typed up and will post it soon.

I hope this makes you happy because really that's all I worry about all day.

[aaron.southkorea]

If traveling from the States, it's a relatively straight forward process:

1) For starters, I think Korean Air/Asiana and other airlines only allow one animal to travel per paying passenger. But I would double-check, if you have more than one. The cat can travel in the cabin (if less than 5kg) with you under the chair ahead of you but we decided not to do this. We have very vocal cats who would not have liked being close to us but not allowed to be with us. Plus, we didn't want to make it a big hassle for other passengers. We figured the cats would be scared but would have a better opportunity to relax in the heated/pressurized cargo. The airlines charge between $200 - $250 per animal and some airlines will not allow pets in the cargo area in certain months due to the heat/cold when on the ground. Also, there is a limit on some airlines as to how many pets can be on any given flight. Lesson: Check with the airline for everything.

2) Check out the following website(s):

http://www.nvrqs.go.kr/eng/index.asp

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel_basics.shtml

The NVRQS is the main handler of this situation so they have the best information. You have to dig a little, but it's all there. APHIS/USDA will provide the information you need to export the animals.

3) Ask for a health certification form (for international travel) from the vet in the home country. For the US, it was a USDA form that had like 8 carbon copies with it. The vet will do the exam and complete the form (~$150) and it may need to be notarized/confirmed with the USDA office. For us, it was the USDA regional headquarters. The fee was $40 per form and had to be sent off with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

4) Ask for a rabies certification form from the vet in the home country. To avoid quarantine it's vital that the vaccination/booster occur at least 30 days before arrival in Korea. This is very important if you want to avoid the quarantine at Incheon airport (that you pay for). I believe we sent this form along with the health form to the USDA regional headquarters as well.

5) Get ready to travel! You cannot provide any food in the cat carrier but you can provide water. We used gerbil feeders and trained our cats on them by using tuna-water for a few weeks and eventually taking away their water bowls prior to travel. On travel day we put some homeopathic drops in the water that help relax the cat (at any vet/pet store or online). We also sprayed the cages with Feliway (Google it) which mimics cat pheromones to help them feel more relaxed. Finally, we gave them some PAWS gel (at any vet/pet story or online) that also helps with stress. Drugging/tranquilizing the cats is NOT ALLOWED by the airline. It can affect the cat's ability to regulate body temperature. We included some articles of clothing that smelled like us in the cage but tried not to clutter it. The cat carrier cannot be larger than some airline determined measurement. They ask for the lateral measurements (L+W+H) but it's a relatively generous size. For cargo travel, the animal must be able to stand up in the carrier and be able to turn around. I'm not sure about cabin requirements. I believe they can't be over 5kg in weight for the cabin but I'm not sure for all airlines. An important thing we learned on the way back over to Korea is to bring something to cover the carriers when you are in the airport. It'll help relax them and gives them somewhere to "hide". When leaving the States, there isn't any vet check at the airport but the TSA will do a special screening where they swab the inside of the cage and put it in some machine. We had to hold the cats outside the cage during this process which was weird but it was in a private area so there weren't any people around. The airline then takes the animals! I would also suggested bringing zip-ties or twisty-ties to the airport so after the security check you can reinforce the lock on the cage.

6) Get ready to worry and fret like no one's business. I had to drink copiously on the plane to relax (Xanax might help!). It's uncomfortable and unnerving to know that your cat i on the plane (especially when in cargo) and they're probably having an awful time and you're sitting in a chair playing with the AVOD and eating good food. But you get used to the feeling and sleeping helps. It's hard to be so close but so far from them. Before the plane takes off, ask anyone and everyone on board and at the gate to verify that the cat is on board (if you're traveling with the cat in cargo). It's good to know and will make you feel better. Once they are on the plane (and you are) ask the flight attendants to confirm with the pilot what the temperature is in the cargo area. Continually ask until you get an answer. For me it was peace of mind to remind them that there are animals back there.

7) Understand that the cat(s) will be fine, albeit freaked the crap out. There are inspirational stories like this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/8105504.stm where animals can survive for a looooong time without food or water. Even our vet told us that when they catch feral cats in traps on a Friday, no one gets to them until Monday and the cats are cranky but fine. Really, cats are resilient animals and while they may snub you for a few weeks after you arrive, they'll generally just be soooo happy to see you.

As far as arriving in Korea - the process at the airport is really easy. Once you arrive, rush through immigration and get your luggage. There is a desk for the airlines and you can ask about the cat with the luggage tag. Someone will go off and grab them and then that person will stay with you the entire time. They'll help you through customs and will take you through to quarantine. At quarantine they briefly check the cat (but didn't take ours out of their cages - just looked at them) and go over the documentation. As long as everything is in order, it's very easy. If you have not met the requirements for rabies or the health form, quarantine is required but I can't stress enough that this isn't mandatory. Just do everything possible to avoid it for your animals!

Phew. My fingers hurt. Any other questions, let me know!

Oh, and taking them back to the States is very easy. Vet check/form in Korea (~100.000 each), another vet check at Incheon (~50.000) and bada bing bada boom you're in. Go USA!

[slynne23]

Thank you so much! This was very helpful. I would love to bring them both but I'm afraid one of them will not handle it very well so I have to think about it. Having them is the cabin with me is also not an option because they will yell the whole time.

[aaron.southkorea]

Regarding the situation of getting them into Seoul and into an apartment. From ICN, it's about a 45 minute drive so you'll want to take a taxi (preferably a black taxi or a "foreign-friendly" orange/black taxi). They have a free interpretation service if you need to use it. Just explain to the interpreter or to the driver that you're willing to pay a nice tip if they deal with the meowing for a bit. Our cats were quite meow-y but a member from our recruiter met us at the airport.

I forgot to stress one final thing: Make sure you mention that you are coming with cats all the time. Make sure you get it in writing (preferable) that it's OK that you have the cats. If you are using a recruiter, they'll tell you whatever they want in order to get you to sign with a school. They're only out for the money. Make sure that you make it absolutely clear with you school that you'll have cats.

Will you be provided school housing? This could propose a problem. Some schools won't allow animals but again stress that you're willing to give a bit more per month or put down a deposit for the animals because they are very important to you. Stress that they are good animals and that you are willing to negotiate in order to bring them with you. For example, you could have them withhold more money from your first paycheck as a security in case they think the cats will do damage.

I cannot stress enough: make sure you make it painfully clear that you have cats. Even more painful than I'm making this point now. When we arrived our school and our recruiter were SHOCKED that we had cats after countless phone calls, e-mails, and letters indicating such. My director told me flatly that "You can't have cats in Korea" although we got them here originally. Anyway, just make sure it's clear clear clear. As a note, you can always find your own housing relatively easily and other non-school sponsored apartments (especially around Itaewon/HBC) are much more likely to allow cats. Your school should be able to put down key money as well.

[Skippy]

Good Post! Very helpful! Have we me!? I am a little jowly but I do not get red when I get angry!

[noobteacher]

I posted this in another thread, but thought I'd post it here again.

Does anybody have any experience of bringing a cat who must go in checked baggage/cargo and doing it during a weather embargo (i.e. too hot or too cold climate)??? I would love to bring my cat but he is too big to be on board with me but I am leaving for Korea in mid-June (from AZ/CA) and wondering if this means that I will be SOL and won't be able to bring him?? Any help or experience would be greatly appreciated!

[izzity]

[magnolialove]

Thanks so much for these tips! I've been wondering about a lot of these things because I also want to bring my cats over eventually.