Moving a pet to Japan
Rabies-free or near rabies-free nations with multi-month lead times, titer testing and government quarantine.
Destination requirements apply to every origin. Document steps below reference USDA APHIS/VEHCS because they are the most common departure route; if you are moving from another country, the equivalent filing is handled by your national veterinary authority.
Quick rules summary
| Governing body | Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) |
|---|---|
| Mandatory lead time | 6–7 months |
| Rabies titer test (FAVN) | Yes — FAVN ≥ 0.5 IU/mL |
| Import permit | Yes (advance AQS notification) |
| Post-arrival quarantine | 0 days if compliant, up to 180 days if not |
| Microchip mandate | ISO 15-digit, before rabies vaccinations |
| Primary failure point | Arriving before the 180-day wait from the blood draw date has fully elapsed. |
Biosecurity & veterinary protocol
Entry rules depend on both your departure country and your destination. The endorsement steps below are written for the US-departure route (USDA APHIS via VEHCS); from any other origin, the equivalent step is an export health certificate endorsed by your national government veterinary authority.
- 1
Implant an ISO-compliant microchip first.
- 2
Give an initial rabies vaccination followed by a booster after the microchip.
- 3
FAVN rabies antibody titer test achieving ≥ 0.5 IU/mL.
- 4
Wait 180 days counted from the exact date of the blood draw. Arriving early means detention at an AQS facility, at the owner's expense, for the remaining balance.
- 5
File advance notification with the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days before arrival.
- 6
USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the health certificate; Japan requires original paper certificates with wet-ink signature and embossed USDA seal.
Breed & airline warnings
Brachycephalic dogs and cats are widely refused as cargo by carriers serving Japan.
Airline-level restrictions apply to guarding and fighting breeds even where Japanese import rules allow them.
Crates must follow IATA Live Animals Regulations: L = A + ½B, W = 2C, H = D + bedding. Two compatible animals up to 14 kg (30 lbs) each may share a crate; heavier animals travel individually. Check your breed →
Your Japan timeline
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Tell us where your pet is travelling from and to, and we'll build a route-specific plan: the earliest realistic travel date, the steps that actually determine it, every deadline, and any quarantine on arrival.
- • Rules resolved per corridor — never a generic US or EU timeline.
- • Counts what your pet has already had done.
- • Tells you plainly when a corridor still needs verification.