Dominic Garcia brought his two corgies, seen here during a walk in Songtan on Feb. 19, 2026, with him to Osan Air Base, South Korea. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — More than 70 pets brought to South Korea by U.S. service members failed to meet import requirements over the past year — lapses that led to long quarantines, unexpected costs and, in some cases, animals being sent back to the United States.
Incomplete paperwork, strict housing policies and limited quarantine space often create problems for military families who have not met basic requirements before a permanent change of station, said Maj. Mark Ryan, chief of clinical operations for the 106th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support at Humphreys.
Many soldiers arrive unaware of South Korea’s strict pet import rules, with delays often beginning before an animal ever boards a flight, Ryan told Stars and Stripes in a Feb. 12 interview.
“In the past year, 72 (pets) did not meet the full import requirements, three of which required being sent back to the United States,” he said.
Before entering South Korea, pets must have a current rabies vaccination, a microchip linked to that vaccination, a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel and a fluorescent antibody virus neutralization, or FAVN, blood test.
Service members often wait too long to begin the process, Ryan said. The FAVN test can take weeks, leaving soldiers unable to meet timelines if orders arrive late or processing requirements are underestimated.
Dominic Garcia, stationed at Osan Air Base, poses with his corgies in Songtan, South Korea, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
Quarantine remains a major risk for families arriving through Osan Air Base, where no official South Korean government quarantine facility is available on or near the installation and kennel space is limited, Ryan said. Other military installations have boarding facilities that also serve as pet hotels for vacationing families, reducing availability during peak PCS season.
Pet-related challenges often continue after arrival. Ownership rules vary among the barracks, family housing and off-post rentals, Army housing officials said. Violations can result in financial hardship or forced relocation.
Families living on Humphreys are limited to two pets, said Marjorie Ulloa, the installation’s unaccompanied housing chief. Still, some service members arrive with more animals than allowed.
“We only allow two, max,” she told Stars and Stripes in a Jan. 28 interview.
Junior enlisted soldiers may face additional obstacles, as off-post landlords sometimes refuse pets, extending housing searches and forcing longer stay in temporary lodging, Ulloa said.
“For E-6 and below, because of their [overseas housing allowance] not being what the fair market value is, they run into a problem that the landlords don’t want pets,” she said.
In the U.S., E-6 and sometimes E-5 soldiers may live off post using a housing allowance. In South Korea, overseas allowances and housing policies often limit those options for single service members, Ulloa said.
“While you are authorized pet travel, that does not mean you’re authorized to bring a pet here,” Shawn Peyton, chief of Army Family Housing at Humphreys, told Stars and Stripes on Jan. 28.
Ryan said families who coordinate early with a veterinarian can complete the required rabies vaccination, microchip and FAVN testing months in advance, reducing the risk of quarantine, separation or last-minute decisions during an already stressful PCS.
“Please plan ahead and talk to your preferred veterinarian as soon as [you] get orders to Korea,” he said.
