Pet Import Requirements: Japan (2026) | Dogs & Cats

What to Know About Importing Dogs and Cats to Japan

Japan has one of the most demanding pet import processes in the world. The timeline runs a minimum of six months and hinges on a precise sequence of microchipping, vaccinations, and a blood test. Get one step wrong or out of order and the clock resets. Here is exactly what dogs and cats need to enter Japan from the United States.

Requirements at a Glance

Microchip

Your dog or cat must be identified with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip before entering Japan. The microchip must be implanted before or on the exact same day as the first rabies vaccination. If the vaccination is given before the microchip is implanted, it is invalid and the process must restart from the beginning.

The microchip number must match exactly on every document: the health certificate, the titer test result, the advance notification, and the import application. A single digit mismatch at inspection will trigger detention quarantine.

Rabies Vaccination

Japan requires at least two rabies vaccinations after the microchip is implanted. The first vaccination must be given when the animal is at least 91 days old. The date of birth counts as Day 0. Vaccinations given at 84 to 90 days old are 100% invalid with no exceptions. This catches many US-origin pets whose veterinarians follow the standard AAHA protocol of vaccinating at 12 weeks (84 days).

The second vaccination must be given at least 30 days after the first and within the effective period of the first vaccine. The effective period is the duration of immunity, not the product's expiration date. Your veterinarian can confirm the effective period for the specific vaccine used.

Japan only accepts inactivated (killed) or recombinant/modified rabies vaccines. Live virus vaccines and RNA vaccines are not accepted. RNA rabies vaccines are used in a number of countries outside Japan. If your pet was vaccinated outside the US, confirm the vaccine type before assuming it qualifies.

The vaccine's effective period must remain unbroken from the blood draw date through arrival in Japan. If it lapses at any point during the 180-day wait, any new vaccination is classified as a primary vaccination, not a booster. This restarts the titer requirement and the full 180-day wait from zero. At the start of every Japan move, map three dates: the vaccine effective period end, the blood draw date, and the 180-day target arrival window. Schedule a booster before expiry if needed.

Rabies Antibody Titer Test

After the second rabies vaccination, your pet must have blood drawn and tested at a laboratory designated by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). The blood draw can be done on the same day as the second vaccination. The result must be 0.5 IU/ml or greater. A result below this threshold means the test must be repeated.

The titer result is valid for 2 years from the blood draw date, provided the vaccine's effective period remains continuous. For US-origin pets, the two approved laboratories are Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory and the DOD Veterinary Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory at Fort Sam Houston. Both are available to all US exporters.

The original laboratory result report must be presented at import inspection. Copies are not accepted unless endorsed by USDA APHIS.

The 180-Day Wait

After the blood draw, your pet must remain outside Japan for at least 180 days. Day 0 is the blood draw date. Arriving even one day early means your pet will be held at an AQS detention facility for the remaining days, at your expense.

Your pet must arrive in Japan within both the validity period of the titer result (2 years from blood draw) and the effective period of the current rabies vaccination. If the titer result expires before your planned travel date, a second titer test is required. If all three conditions below are met, a new 180-day wait is not required: the vaccine effective period has remained continuous since the first vaccination, the new blood draw is at least 180 days after the original blood draw, and the new titer result is 0.5 IU/ml or greater.

Advance Notification

You must submit advance notification to the AQS office at your intended port of entry at least 40 days before your pet arrives in Japan. Missing this deadline will block or significantly delay entry. The notification can be submitted during the 180-day waiting period. AQS will review the notification and issue an Approval of Import Inspection, which you will need for boarding procedures.

Dogs may only enter Japan through designated airports and seaports. Cats have no port restrictions, but if arriving at a non-standard port, contact AQS in advance. Contact information for all AQS offices is available at the AQS contact page.

Health Certificate and Pre-Export Inspection

Within 10 days before your pet boards, a USDA-accredited veterinarian must perform a final clinical inspection and complete Form AC, the Japan-specific health certificate that combines the owner declaration and the health certificate in a single document. For dogs, the exam must confirm the animal is free from clinical signs of both rabies and leptospirosis. For cats, it must confirm freedom from clinical signs of rabies.

Form AC must be endorsed by USDA APHIS before travel. Any deficiency in the certificate, including missing information or incorrect vaccine details, will result in detention quarantine for up to 180 days at the importer's expense. To avoid errors, send a draft of the completed Form AC to the AQS office handling your notification before obtaining the USDA endorsement.

For the full USDA endorsement process, see the USDA APHIS Japan page.

Arrival and Customs

Upon arrival, present your pet and all documents at the AQS inspection counter before clearing customs. If all requirements are met, inspection takes less than 12 hours and is typically completed within a few hours. If any problem is found with the documents or the pet's health, detention quarantine of up to 180 days applies.

Book your flight to arrive before 5PM. Pets arriving after 5PM cannot be released from their crates until customs reopens the following day.

Breed and Transport Restrictions

Japan does not ban any dog breeds from import. However, Japanese airlines require metal kennels for the following breeds on domestic Japanese routes and departures from Japan: Akita, Kishu, Great Dane, Shepherd, St. Bernard, Tosa, Doberman, and Pitbull. Confirm kennel requirements directly with your airline before booking.

Domestic airlines in Japan do not accept snub-nosed breeds as cargo between May 1 and October 31 due to summer heat restrictions.

After Arrival

Within 30 days of import, dog owners must register with the local Japanese municipal office and present the Import Quarantine Certificate issued by AQS. Dogs must receive a rabies vaccination annually in Japan under the Rabies Prevention Law. Keep the Import Quarantine Certificate permanently. It cannot be reissued and is required if you ever export your pet from Japan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Japan pet import process take?

A minimum of six months from the date of the blood draw for the titer test. In practice, most moves take seven to eight months from start to finish when you account for microchipping, two vaccinations, the 30-day gap between vaccines, the blood draw, the 180-day wait, and advance notification. Start as early as possible.

My vet vaccinated my dog at 12 weeks. Does that count?

No. Japan requires the first rabies vaccination to be given when the animal is at least 91 days old, counting the date of birth as Day 0. Twelve weeks is 84 days, which is below Japan's minimum. A vaccination given at 84 to 90 days is invalid with no exceptions and the process must restart once the animal reaches 91 days.

What happens if my pet arrives before the 180 days are up?

Your pet will be quarantined at an AQS detention facility for however many days remain in the 180-day period. All costs, including boarding, food, and transport to the facility, are the importer's responsibility. It is strongly recommended to complete the full waiting period before departure.

Can my pet travel to Japan as cabin baggage?

Pets from the US to Japan generally travel as cargo, not in-cabin. Most international flights do not permit pets in the cabin. Your relocation coordinator or airline can confirm the options for your specific routing.

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