#5.🇨🇦✈️ Moving to Korea with my Cat! (1)

Preparing for International Pet Travel with Chu (Part 1)
💉 From Rabies Vaccination to FAVN Antibody Test

When we welcomed Chu into our family last fall,
we had no idea we’d be preparing for a big move to Korea so soon.

Sure, one day—maybe—we thought we might end up somewhere new.
(Global pet parenting life, right? 😅)
But for now, we were just enjoying the day-to-day with Chu here in Canada.
Then earlier this year, a faint “maybe Korea?” possibility became a real plan.
And just like that, the journey of preparing for Chu’s international relocation began.

In this post, I’m sharing everything we’ve done so far—
from rabies vaccination to the FAVN antibody test, including our timeline and real experiences!

🐾 1. Rabies Vaccination – Again?

Chu already had her rabies shot back in October 2024,
a 1-year vaccine given along with her regular vaccinations.

But here’s the thing:
To enter Korea, your cat must pass a rabies antibody test (FAVN).
And some clinics recommend re-vaccinating just to ensure strong, stable antibody levels.

So, we went ahead and did a second rabies vaccination—this time the 3-year kind.
We also got Chu microchipped during the same visit, since she didn’t have one yet. 😅

📅 February 22 – Rabies vaccination (3-year valid) & microchip insertion

🕒 2. FAVN Antibody Test

The recommended wait time before testing is 2–4 weeks after vaccination,
so we scheduled Chu’s blood test 3 weeks later.

📅 March 14 – FAVN blood test (for rabies antibodies)

To draw blood, the vet had to shave a tiny patch on her neck,
so Chu left the clinic with a little bald spot—now lovingly nicknamed “Patchy Queen” 😆
Hopefully her fur grows back before the flight!

🧬 3. FAVN Test Results

Here in Canada, there’s no local lab that runs FAVN antibody testing.
So our vet sent Chu’s sample to the only approved lab in the U.S.
Yup, just one! (That explains the long turnaround time.)

And because of this, the wait for test results really determines the entire pace of this process.

📅 April 1 – Our vet called:
“Great news! Chu’s antibody levels are good!” 🎉

But don’t get too excited yet—
we still need to receive the original paper certificate via mail before moving forward.

📬 Estimated waiting time: 4–6 weeks
(I’m practicing patience and manifesting smooth delivery vibes… 🧘‍♀️)

🧾 Timeline So Far

Date	Procedure
October 2024	First rabies vaccine (1-year valid)
Feb 22, 2025	Second rabies vaccine (3-year valid), microchip
Mar 14, 2025	FAVN blood draw (antibody test)
Apr 1, 2025	Results confirmed (via phone call)

💸 Cost Breakdown

If you’re preparing to travel internationally with your pet,
I highly recommend calling a few local clinics to compare total costs.
Every clinic prices this process differently!

All the clinics I contacted were very familiar with international travel prep
and walked me through every detail step-by-step.

In the end, I chose the vet clinic Chu has gone to since kittenhood.
Although it’s outside downtown Toronto (a bit of a drive),
it was over CAD $500 cheaper than the clinics near our home.
Plus, we love the staff, and the vet is Korean—which helped a lot!

✔️ Total spent so far: approx. CAD $590
(More costs will come later when the health certificate is issued.)

📌 Useful Info for Pet Travel from Canada

To bring your cat to Korea, you’ll need an official Health Certificate
issued by a licensed vet and endorsed by CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency).

You’ll also need to book an appointment with a CFIA regional office for endorsement.

🔗 Exporting Pets from Canada – CFIA Guide
🔗 Find a Local CFIA Office

📍 Ontario Example – Markham CFIA Office
Phone: 905-513-2850

After receiving your health certificate from the vet,
visit CFIA within 10 business days before departure to get it officially stamped.

✈️ What’s Next?

Once the original FAVN result arrives in the mail:

✔️ I’ll take Chu back to the vet for a final health exam and to receive the official health certificate
✔️ Then, on the same day, I’ll head (solo) to CFIA in Markham to get it endorsed

📌 According to CFIA, you must complete this within 10 business days of your flight date
📌 I plan to schedule this 1 week before our departure
📞 Best to call and book CFIA appointments 2–3 weeks in advance

🗓️ Korea Relocation Prep Timeline (Summary)

Days Before Departure	Task	Status	Chu Present?
D – 3 months	Rabies shot & Microchipped	✅ Done	✅ Yes
D – 2.5-2 months	FAVN blood test	✅ Done	✅ Yes
	Waiting for test results (4–6 weeks)	⏳ Ongoing	❌ No
D – 2~3 weeks	Call CFIA & book appointment	📝 Planned	❌ No
D – 1 week (planned)	Vet visit → final health check	📝 Planned	✅ Yes
D – 1 week (planned)	CFIA visit → official endorsement	📝 Planned	❌ No
D-day	✈️ Fly to Korea with Chu	💼 Planned	✅ Yes

🐾 TL;DR – Key Takeaways

✔️ Re-vaccinating with rabies shot is often recommended before the FAVN test
✔️ All samples go to the U.S., so timing matters—plan ahead
✔️ Wait for the original lab result before booking vet and CFIA
✔️ Vet and CFIA visits must happen within 10 business days of travel
✔️ And… Chu’s “bald patch” is now part of the journey too 😂

✏️ Coming Next…

In Part 2, I’ll share our experiences after the FAVN result arrives—
including the health certificate process, CFIA visit, and final checklist before flying.

We’re expecting to post Part 2 sometime in mid to late June.

💬 Got questions? Drop them in the comments!

Follow along as Chu and I make our way 🇨🇦→🇰🇷
Thanks for joining us on this adventure! 😽✈️