TLDR: US military members with permanent change of station orders to Japan and confirmed on-base housing are the only pet owners who can bring their pets to Japan before the 180-day waiting period is complete. All other import requirements still…
TLDR: Japan's Animal Quarantine Service makes no provision for emotional support animals or psychiatric service dogs. Every dog and cat entering Japan must complete the full standard import process including the 180-day waiting period, regardless of their designation, certification,…
TLDR: Japan's health certificate has a trap built into it. USDA officially permits two forms for Japan exports: Form AC and the generic APHIS Form 7001. Only Form AC is designed for Japan's specific required fields. Any deficiency in…
TLDR: Japan requires pets to arrive at least 180 days after the titer test blood draw date, with the blood draw counted as Day 0. Arriving even one day before the 180-day window closes triggers detention quarantine for the remaining days at…
TLDR: Japan requires an ISO-compliant microchip to be implanted before or on the exact same day as the first rabies vaccination. Some US veterinarians apply an exception that allows microchip implantation on the day of the second vaccine, but AQS…
TLDR: Japan requires pets to be at least 91 days old at the time of the first rabies vaccination, with the date of birth counted as Day 0. US veterinarians standardly vaccinate at 12 weeks, which is 84 days. Any vaccination given between 84 and 90…
TLDR: Daily life with a pet in Japan comes with specific rules that catch many expats off guard. Dog owners must register with the local municipality within 30 days of arrival and vaccinate annually. Dogs must be leashed at all times…
Last reviewed and updated on September 14
TLDR: Moving a pet from Japan to the United States is significantly simpler than the reverse. Japan is classified as a low-risk country under CDC rules, which means dogs only need a CDC Dog…
