Import restrictions for South Korea 🇰🇷

Updated: July 2026

Customs rules can change. Before sending a parcel or travelling, check the current requirements on the customs authority's website. This material is for reference only and is not legal advice.

General information

These rules are useful both for people carrying items across the border themselves and for those sending a parcel with a fellow traveller. The value of goods in your baggage may not exceed the equivalent of USD 800 — otherwise you must fill out a declaration. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume are not included in this amount (they have their own allowances). Allowances are calculated per person and may not be combined between people.

✅ Allowed with restrictions

💰 Cash

You may bring in any amount of cash, but amounts of USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared. You can file the declaration online (registration required) or directly when crossing the border.

🍷 Tobacco and alcohol

Duty-free (persons aged 19 and over by Korean reckoning — by year of birth):

• alcohol — no more than 2 litres in total and worth no more than USD 400 (several bottles are allowed);
• tobacco — 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco;
• 20 ml of nicotine e-liquid for e-cigarettes.

💻 Personal items

Perfume and eau de toilette — no more than 60 ml per person.

🍕 Food

Important: meat products (including jerky, sausage, ham, processed meat) may not be imported into Korea — even in vacuum packaging. Violations carry heavy fines (due to the risk of introducing animal diseases).

Other food may be imported for personal use within limits (each type of agricultural, animal and fishery product — up to 5 kg, up to 40 kg in total and worth no more than KRW 100,000), for example: sesame oil, sesame, honey, mushrooms, walnuts — 5 kg each; pine nuts — 1 kg; seafood — 5 kg. Fruit, vegetables and animal products go through quarantine control and may be held.

💊 Medicines

Medicines for personal use (roughly up to 6 packages) are usually imported without problems if you have a prescription (preferably in English) issued in the name of the person carrying them. Medicines containing psychotropic or narcotic substances require prior approval from the Korean authorities before entry. Traditional (oriental) medicine — no more than 3 kg.

🐶 Pets

Only cats and dogs older than 90 days may be imported without permits. The animal must have a chip or tattoo for identification and a health certificate. For pets from countries not on the list of rabies-controlled countries, rabies vaccination records and usually a rabies antibody test result are required (whether it is needed depends on the country of departure).

🌸 Plants

Most plants and plant products may be imported only with a phytosanitary certificate.

❌ Prohibited without special permits:

• materials that threaten the country's constitutional order;
• hides and similar animal products;
• pornographic material;
• counterfeit money;
• drugs, weapons (including imitations), etc.

This service provides information for reference purposes only, is not a customs authority, and does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Responsibility for complying with customs rules and for the contents of the goods being moved lies with the person importing or exporting them. Before moving goods, check the current requirements in official sources.

Sources:

Korea Customs Service

Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA)