Bringing a Pet to Japan: Import Regulations & Quarantine
Thinking of moving to Japan with your dog or cat? Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to Japan’s pet import rules, quarantine, paperwork, timelines, and tips for stress-free travel. Follow this checklist to avoid delays and make arrival day smooth for you and your pet.
At a glance
Japan is rabies-free and has strict border controls for animals. If you complete the required steps before you fly, your dog or cat is typically released within 12 hours of arrival. If anything is missing, detention quarantine can last up to 180 days, at your cost.
Key terms you’ll see
- Designated regions: Rabies-free places with a simplified process: Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, and Guam. Everywhere else is non-designated.
- AQS: Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service (under MAFF) that handles pet import checks.
- NACCS: Japan’s online customs/quarantine submission system for advance notification.
Who this guide is for
Most readers bring pets from non-designated regions (for example, the U.S. mainland, Canada, UK, EU, many parts of Asia). If you’re coming from Hawaii/Guam or the other designated regions, your steps are lighter—see the “Designated regions” section below.
Along the way, we’ll also point you to helpful reads on daily life with pets in Japan, like Pet-Friendly Apartments in Japan, Owning a Pet in Japan, and City Hall 101.
Step-by-step: Dogs and cats from non-designated regions
1) Microchip first
Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip (ISO 11784/11785 with a 15-digit numeric code) before the first rabies shot. If your chip is non-ISO, contact AQS at your arrival airport; you may need to bring your own reader. Note: microchip numbers starting with “900 202” are not accepted for identification in Japan (still under investigation).
2) Two rabies vaccinations
After microchipping, give two rabies vaccinations:
- 1st shot: pet is ≥ 91 days old; given after microchipping.
- 2nd shot: ≥ 30 days after the first and within the first shot’s effective period.
Japan accepts inactivated or recombinant/modified rabies vaccines—but not live virus or RNA rabies vaccines. If a vaccination expires before arrival, you must revaccinate within the valid period.
3) Rabies antibody test (FAVN)
Take a blood sample after the second rabies shot and send it to a designated laboratory. The result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml and is valid for 2 years from the sampling date.
Important 2024–2025 note: Biobest Laboratories (UK) was revoked from Japan’s designated lab list. If your FAVN result was issued between Nov 27, 2024 and Jun 25, 2025, contact the AQS office at your port of entry for guidance.
(From the U.S., commonly used labs include Kansas State University Rabies Lab and the DoD Veterinary Food Analysis & Diagnostic Laboratory, both referenced by APHIS.)
4) Wait 180 days
From the blood draw date (day 0), wait at least 180 days before arrival in Japan. If you arrive early, your pet must complete the remaining days in detention quarantine in Japan, so it’s best to finish the waiting period at home. If your 2-year test validity will lapse, you can retest without redoing the 180-day wait if you’ve kept rabies shots continuously valid and the new sample is drawn ≥ 180 days after the first test sample and meets ≥ 0.5 IU/ml.
5) Advance notification to AQS (≥ 40 days before arrival)
Send an Advance Notification to AQS at your arrival airport or seaport not less than 40 days before landing. You can file via NACCS or by email on the official forms. If you send it late, AQS may not accept your notification.
6) Pre-export clinical inspection (within 10 days of boarding)
Have a veterinarian examine your pet within 10 days before departure. The vet must confirm no clinical signs of rabies and—for dogs—no clinical signs of leptospirosis.
7) Health certificates (government-endorsed)
Obtain the official health certificate(s) endorsed by your exporting country’s government authority that include microchip data, rabies vaccination details, FAVN result (≥ 0.5 IU/ml), and the pre-export exam. Japan can accept electronic health certificates from some countries (e.g., the U.S., Brazil, Spain) when properly issued and verifiable; check with your AQS office.
8) Arrival and import inspection
Upon landing, go to the AQS office for import inspection. If all is in order, AQS issues the Import Quarantine Certificate and, in most cases, your pet is cleared within 12 hours. If documents or timelines are incomplete, AQS will order detention quarantine (up to 180 days) or refuse entry/return the pet.
Where you can enter with pets
Dogs may enter only through designated airports/seaports, including: New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu (Nagoya), Kansai (Osaka), Itami, Kobe, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Naha; and the seaports Tomakomai, Keihin (Tokyo/Yokohama), Nagoya, Hanshin (Osaka/Hyogo), Kanmon, Hakata, Kagoshima, Naha. If you’re bringing a cat or an assistance dog, contact AQS if your port isn’t listed.
Planning housing near your arrival airport? See Best Neighborhoods in Tokyo for Expats, Best Neighborhoods in Osaka for Expats, or broader ideas in our Expat Housing Guide and Finding an Apartment in Japan.
Designated regions: Faster path
If you’re flying from Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, or Guam, you still need microchipping and AQS advance notification, but there’s no rabies vaccination or FAVN waiting step if your pet has lived in a designated region for ≥ 180 days (or since birth). Shorter stays may require detention quarantine to “make up” days. Pre-export clinical exam and endorsed certificate are still required.
After you arrive in Japan
- Dog registration & annual rabies shot: Take your Import Quarantine Certificate to your city hall to register your dog within 30 days. Dogs must receive a rabies vaccination every year under Japan’s Rabies Prevention Law. (Cats are not registered under this law.)
New to city procedures? Our City Hall 101 explains address registration and other useful services. - Keep the import certificate safe—AQS won’t re-issue it, and you’ll need it if you ever export your pet from Japan.
- Settling in? Check out Pet-Friendly Apartments in Japan, Owning a Pet in Japan, and everyday basics like Setting Up Utilities and Trash & Recycling.
Airline booking, crates, and travel day tips
- Crates: Use an IATA-compliant container sized so your pet can stand, turn, and lie comfortably with proper ventilation and secure fasteners. Airlines (ANA/JAL) follow IATA Live Animals Regulations; review their pet pages and container requirements.
- Health risks: Cargo environments differ from home; airlines warn of possible stress or health impacts. Read your carrier’s pet safety guidance and consult your vet before booking.
- Book early and nonstop if possible: For designated region travel, Japan requires direct transport from the designated region or special sealing/ANNEX if transiting through non-designated regions.
- Arrival timing: Plan your flight to land during AQS office hours at your port; this helps avoid overnight holds. (Use the AQS contact list to confirm hours.)
Other animals (birds, rabbits, ferrets, etc.)
AQS regulates many species beyond dogs/cats—birds, rabbits, cloven-hoofed animals, horses, raccoons, foxes, skunks, monkeys, bees, and more—with species-specific rules. Japan also runs a separate public-health notification system for live terrestrial mammals and birds to prevent zoonoses; importers must submit a declaration with a government health certificate to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare quarantine station. Always check both AQS and MHLW requirements before booking.
Tip: Because avian rules can change quickly (e.g., due to bird flu outbreaks), confirm current restrictions with AQS/MHLW for your origin country before purchasing tickets.
What if something is missing?
If any key step is incomplete (wrong microchip, invalid vaccine type, antibody test below 0.5 IU/ml, insufficient 180-day wait, or late/no advance notification), AQS can order detention quarantine (up to 180 days) or refuse entry. All quarantine care and fees are the owner’s responsibility; some airports have caretaker services you can hire.
Simple planning timeline (non-designated regions)
| Phase | What to do | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | Implant ISO 11784/11785 chip. | Before any rabies shot. |
| Rabies shots | 1st shot at ≥ 91 days old; 2nd shot ≥ 30 days later, within 1st shot’s validity; avoid live/RNA vaccines. | Start 7–9 months before your move to be safe. |
| FAVN test | Draw blood after 2nd shot; send to a designated lab; need ≥ 0.5 IU/ml; result valid 2 years. | As soon as 2nd shot is done. |
| Wait period | Count 180 days from the blood draw; keep vaccines continuously valid. | Must be complete before arrival to avoid quarantine. |
| Notify AQS | File Advance Notification via NACCS or email to your arrival port. | ≥ 40 days before arrival. |
| Vet exam | Pre-export clinical inspection (and leptospirosis check for dogs) and issue government-endorsed health certificate(s). | Within 10 days before boarding. |
| Arrival | AQS import inspection; release usually within 12 hours if all requirements are met. | On landing. |
Frequently asked questions
How long is quarantine in Japan?
If all requirements are met and verified at AQS, within 12 hours. If not, up to 180 days in a detention facility.
Is there a minimum age for vaccination?
Yes. For the first rabies vaccination, your pet must be at least 91 days old.
Which labs can run the rabies antibody test?
Use a MAFF-designated lab. As of 2024–2025, Biobest (UK) was revoked—owners with Biobest results (Nov 27, 2024–Jun 25, 2025) should contact AQS at their port of entry.
What microchips are accepted?
ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit numeric). Non-ISO chips may require you to bring a reader; numbers beginning with “900 202” are not accepted pending investigation.
Do assistance dogs follow different rules?
No—assistance dogs (guide/service/hearing) must meet the same import requirements. Contact AQS early about your port of entry and any special arrangements.
What about airlines and crates?
Follow IATA crate standards and your airline’s instructions (ANA/JAL publish detailed guidance). Discuss health risks with your vet and your carrier before booking.
Are there any customs rules beyond AQS?
Japan Customs explains animal quarantine at the border and the diseases authorities aim to prevent (rabies in dogs/cats/raccoons/foxes/skunks; leptospirosis in dogs).
After arrival, what paperwork remains?
Register your dog within 30 days at city hall and keep annual rabies vaccination up to date. Store your Import Quarantine Certificate safely for future travel.
Stress-saving tips for a smooth move
- Start early. Back-plan at least 7–9 months for microchipping, two rabies shots, FAVN, 180-day wait, and the 40-day AQS notification window. (APHIS offers a helpful step-by-step overview.)
- Choose the right port. Enter via a designated AQS port and arrive during office hours. If you must use another port with a cat or assistance dog, get AQS guidance in writing first.
- Double-check the vaccine type. Japan does not accept live or RNA rabies vaccines; ensure your vet uses inactivated or recombinant/modified vaccines.
- Verify your lab. Use a designated FAVN lab; be aware of the Biobest (UK) advisory for late-2024/2025 certificates.
- Have backups. Bring printed and digital copies of all documents; Japan accepts electronic certificates from certain countries if properly issued and verifiable.
- Plan housing ahead. Many rentals restrict pets or require extra deposits. Read our guides to Pet-Friendly Apartments, Housing Deposits and Key Money, and Guarantors and Rental Contracts.
- Budget for pet-related costs. Add import fees, possible quarantine fees, vet visits, and pet-friendly rent premiums to your Cost of Living in Japan 2025 plan.
- Know everyday logistics. From setting up water/electric/gas to internet, our Setting Up Utilities guide gets your home pet-ready fast.
Special cases
- Returning pets: If your pet was previously exported from Japan and you kept its rabies vaccinations current, you may be able to reuse prior FAVN timing—check with AQS and bring the previous Export Quarantine Certificate.
- Transit via non-designated regions (for travelers from designated regions): You’ll need a sealed crate or an ANNEX certificate proving no contact with other animals during transit.
- Multiple pets: Notify all animals in your AQS advance notification; changing numbers or swapping animals after submission is usually not accepted.
Quick checklist you can print
- ISO microchip (readable; avoid “900 202” chips).
- Two rabies shots after microchip (≥ 91 days old; ≥ 30 days apart; acceptable vaccine type).
- FAVN test at a designated lab, result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml, still within 2 years.
- Wait 180 days from blood draw before arrival.
- Advance Notification to AQS ≥ 40 days ahead via NACCS/email.
- Pre-export exam within 10 days; obtain government-endorsed certificates (electronic acceptance available for some countries).
- IATA-compliant crate; airline booking confirmed.
- Land at a designated port during AQS hours.
- After arrival: dog registration within 30 days and annual rabies shot.
Final word
Japan’s rules look long—but when you follow them step by step, entry day is typically quick and calm. Start early, keep documents tidy, and coordinate with AQS and your airline. Then enjoy life in Japan with your best friend by your side—whether that means morning walks in your new neighborhood or weekend trips on Japan’s pet-friendly trails. For housing and daily-life help, don’t miss our guides to Expat Housing in Japan, Moving Companies in Japan, and International Shipping from Japan.
