Pet Business Permit and Registration in Korea

Does a pet business need a permit or a registration?

It depends on the type of business. Animal breeding (breeding for sale), animal import (importing for sale), animal sales (buying and selling, or arranging or brokering sales) and animal funeral businesses require a permit, while animal exhibition (exhibiting 5 or more animals owned by the operator), animal boarding (temporary keeping, training or care), animal grooming and animal transport (transport by motor vehicle) businesses require a registration. Even within "pet businesses", the application form and facility standards differ depending on which group applies, so first decide the business type.

What are the requirements?

(1) Facility and staffing standards: permit businesses and registration businesses must each meet the standards in the Enforcement Rule. In common, the premises must be separated from facilities used for other purposes, allow lighting, ventilation and temperature/humidity control, and have water supply and drainage, floors that are easy to clean and disinfect, pest-proofing and disinfection equipment, fire-fighting facilities and fixed CCTV (video information processing devices). Individual standards by business type are added (e.g. for exhibition and boarding businesses, at least 1 caretaker per 20 dogs or cats).

(2) Training: before obtaining a permit or registering, you must take training on animal protection and preventing public-health hazards; the pre-application training is 3 hours within 1 year before the application date. After that, operators take 3 hours of regular training every year.

(3) Disqualifications: minors, adults under full guardianship, bankrupts who have not been reinstated, persons who have not completed the training, persons applying for the same type of business before 1 year has passed since their permit or registration was revoked, and persons for whom 3 years have not passed since serving a sentence of a fine or heavier for violating this Act, among others, cannot obtain a permit or register.

Which documents are needed?

Attach the following to the business permit application (for a permit) or the business registration application (for a registration): a statement of the premises' facilities and layout plan, staffing status and deployment plan, a business plan (including an animal keeping and care plan for breeding, import and sales businesses), documents proving that the facility and staffing standards are met, and proof of completing the pre-application training. For animal funeral facilities with cremation, drying or alkaline hydrolysis facilities, a plan for treating residues after processing remains is also required. The resident registration abstract (corporate register for a corporation), building register and land-use information are checked through shared administrative information, and for grooming or transport businesses using a vehicle, the vehicle registration certificate is checked instead of the building register.

What is the procedure?

(1) Decide the business type → (2) complete 3 hours of pre-application training → (3) prepare premises meeting the facility and staffing standards → (4) submit the application and attachments → (5) issuance of the permit or registration certificate if the standards are met. If the facility standards are met, the competent authority issues the permit or registration certificate. Not starting business within 1 year of the permit or registration is a ground for revocation or business suspension, so it is safer to apply once preparations are complete.

How long does it take?

The processing time for a permit or registration should be confirmed with the competent authority, i.e. the animal protection department of the si/gun/gu. Time for training and preparing facilities is separate.

Which authority receives the application?

Apply to the Mayor of the Special Self-Governing City, the Special Self-Governing Province Governor, or the head of the si/gun/gu with jurisdiction over the premises.

Why is an application refused or a permit revoked?

Typical reasons are facility or staffing standards not met, pre-application training not completed, and disqualifications. After a permit or registration, obtaining it by false or fraudulent means, failing to obtain a change permit or change registration, or falling below the facility or staffing standards, among others, are grounds for revocation or business suspension. Operating without a permit can lead to imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to KRW 20 million, and operating without registration can lead to imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to KRW 10 million.

What can an administrative agent help with?

YouSun Administrative Agency prepares the permit or registration application and attachments (facility statement, business plan, etc.), reviews requirements and submits them to the authority on your authorization. Veterinary work (treatment, prescriptions, etc.) and facility construction are not handled. Work restricted by other laws cannot be handled, and litigation or court representation is outside the scope of an administrative agent and is not offered. Whether a permit or registration is granted is decided by the competent authority.