Bringing a dog or cat to Japan
From moderate to hard, depending on which of the authority's 3 origin groups your pet starts in.
Requirements
It depends on where you're coming from. Pick your country, or compare the origin groups the authority itself uses below.
Dog from Germany (Non designated regions (every country not listed elsewhere)): 10 requirements
Open as my dated checklist- 01MicrochipMicrochip before the first rabies vaccination (same day allowed), complying with ISO 11784/11785 (15 digits, numbers only). Non-ISO chip: contact the AQS at the port of entry and bring a reader if the AQS cannot read it.
- 02Rabies vaccinationFirst rabies vaccination at 91 days of age or older (date of birth = day 0), on or after the day of microchipping. Inactivated (killed) or recombinant vaccine only — live and RNA rabies vaccines are not accepted. A dose at 84–90 days (allowed in some countries) is invalid for Japan.
- On or after the microchip
- 03Second rabies vaccinationSecond rabies vaccination at least 30 days after the first (first = day 0) and within the first one's effective period (duration of immunity, not the vial's expiry date). Then keep boosting before each effective period ends until arrival — a late booster does not count and the procedure restarts from the first vaccination.
- At least 30 days after the first rabies vaccination
- 04Rabies antibody (titer) testRabies antibody test at a laboratory designated by the MAFF Minister (the AQS publishes the list), on blood drawn after the second vaccination (same day allowed) and within the vaccine's effective period. Result at least 0.5 IU/ml, valid 2 years from blood sampling; below 0.5 IU/ml, retest. If the origin country has no designated laboratory the serum must go to one abroad.
- On or after the second rabies vaccination
- At most 2 years before arrival
- 05Waiting periodArrive at least 180 days after the blood sampling date (blood sampling = day 0), and within both the rabies vaccine's effective period and the 2-year validity of the antibody test.
- At least 180 days after the blood sample
- At most 2 years after the blood sample
- 06Advance notice to the authorityNotify the AQS office at the expected port of entry at least 40 days before arrival — online through NACCS or by e-mail with the notification form (separate forms for dogs and cats). It can be filed during the 180-day wait. The AQS issues an "Approval of Import Inspection of Animals" (print or save it).
- At least 40 days before arrival
- 07Clinical examinationClinical inspection by a veterinarian within 10 days before boarding, checking the microchip: free of clinical signs of rabies (dogs: rabies and leptospirosis).
- At most 10 days before departure
- 08Health certificateCertificate issued by the exporting country's government veterinary authority with: date of birth or age; microchip number and date; every rabies vaccination (date, effective period, vaccine type, product and manufacturer); every antibody test (blood sampling date, titer, designated laboratory); date and result of the pre-export inspection. Recommended model: Form AC (filled in by a private vet and endorsed by the official government vet, or filled in by the official vet). Original needed on arrival.
- 09Port of entryDogs only through these ports. Airports: New Chitose (CTS), Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Chubu (NGO), Kansai (KIX), Osaka Itami (ITM), Kobe (UKB), Kitakyushu (KKJ), Fukuoka (FUK), Kagoshima (KOJ), Naha (OKA). Seaports: Tomakomai, Keihin (Tokyo, Yokohama), Nagoya, Hanshin (Osaka, Hyogo), Kanmon, Hakata, Kagoshima, Naha. Cats, and assistance dogs, through any other port: contact the AQS in advance. (IATA codes are our mapping.)
- 10Arrival inspectionApply for import inspection on arrival (NACCS or paper form). Documents: application, the original government certificate, the antibody test report, a copy of the air waybill / bill of lading for cargo, a power of attorney if an agent other than a customs broker acts for you. Cabin/checked baggage: go to the AQS counter in the baggage claim area before customs; cargo: collect the papers from the airline and go to the AQS office.
Dog from Germany: 10 requirements.
In short: Microchip, then two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart (first at 91 days old or more), a rabies antibody test at a laboratory designated by Japan, and at least 180 days from that blood sample to arrival. Notification 40 days ahead, vet check within 10 days before boarding, government-endorsed certificate. Arriving early means detention for the missing days; errors in the paperwork can mean up to 180 days' detention or return.
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Compare by origin group
The groups are the authority's own lists. Pick a cell to see that group's checklist above.
| From | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
Designated regions 6 placesAustralia, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, New Zealand | ||
Non designated regions (every country not listed elsewhere) | ||
Import suspended 1 placeKyrgyzstan |
Quarantine
No quarantine when the paperwork is in order (up to 12 hours on arrival)
Up to 180 days at a government quarantine station when the pet arrives before 180 days have passed since the blood sample (all else in order) — detention at the owner's cost for the missing days (180 minus the days since sampling)
If the pet does not meet the rules: detention quarantine for up to 180 days, or the pet is returned (up to 180 days).
Official fees
- Import inspection by AQS animal quarantine officersAnimal Quarantine Service, MAFF
- JPY 0 per animal
Official fees only. Vet, airline and courier prices are not part of the rules.
Going back to Germany
Returning to Germany from Japan: 0 weeks; a rabies antibody test is needed. Timing set by: Rabies antibody (titer) test.
Germany guideApproved entry points
- Dogs
Airports: CTS, NRT, HND, NGO, KIX, ITM, UKB, KKJ, FUK, KOJ, OKA
Seaports: Tomakomai Port, Keihin Port (Tokyo, Yokohama), Nagoya Port, Hanshin Port (Osaka, Hyogo), Kanmon Port, Hakata Port, Kagoshima Port, Naha Port
3 notes on this list
IATA airport codes are our mapping of the airport names in the source.
Accompanied assistance dogs (recognised under Japanese law) have a longer port list in the same Article 47.
Pets that must be detained for more than 12 hours have to arrive at a port with a detention facility.
List as of 24 Sep 2026 - Cats
Any port of entry.
2 notes on this list
Contact the AQS in advance when arriving through a port not on the dog list.
Pets that must be detained for more than 12 hours have to arrive at a port with a detention facility.
List as of 24 Sep 2026
Breed bans
The researched rules of Japan name no breed ban. Airlines may still refuse flat-faced and restricted breeds.
Transit through Japan
Transit rules for Japan have not been researched yet. Ask the authority and your airline before booking a connection with the pet.
Leaving Japan with your pet
Every dog and cat needs an AQS export inspection and export quarantine certificate, whatever the destination requires. The AQS web page asks for the application (NACCS) at least 14 days before the desired inspection date; the English import guide still says 7 days before export.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: Export dogs and cats from Japan)· checked 04 Oct 2026The export inspection takes place within 10 days before departure unless the destination country sets other conditions.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: Export dogs and cats from Japan)· checked 04 Oct 2026Export inspection is free; the owner pays for the vet treatments the destination requires.
If the pet may come back to Japan, do the microchip, two rabies vaccinations and the antibody test before leaving — it avoids a 180-day wait abroad.
Keep the import quarantine certificate issued on arrival: the AQS cannot reissue it and it is needed to export the pet again.
Rule changes
- COMING · 01 Jan 2027
From 2027-01-01 the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control make it a legal duty to file the export inspection application for dogs at least 14 days before export (unless the AQS director allows otherwise). Today the 14 days is an AQS instruction; the English import guide still says 7 days. Exports up to 2027-01-14 follow a transitional rule.
- COMING · 01 Jan 2027
The AQS announced the same change on its pets page.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: ペットの輸出入 (pets import/export index and notices))· checked 04 Oct 2026 - IN FORCE · 12 Jun 2026
Import quarantine procedures for dogs and cats exported to Japan from Kyrgyzstan are suspended in principle (AQS notice of 2026-06-12; Japanese page only).
Good to know
Dogs and cats may only enter Japan after import quarantine by the AQS. Dogs fall under both the Rabies Prevention Act and the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control, cats under the Rabies Prevention Act only; the penalties for skipping the inspection differ accordingly.
Legal basis: no dog or other animal covered by the Rabies Prevention Act may be imported or exported without quarantine (Art. 7); breaking this is punishable by a fine of up to 300,000 yen (Art. 26).
Source:e-Gov (Digital Agency) (opens official site: 狂犬病予防法（昭和二十五年法律第二百四十七号）— Rabies Prevention Act)· checked 04 Oct 2026The animals covered besides dogs are cats, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
Source:e-Gov (Digital Agency) (opens official site: 狂犬病予防法施行令 — Enforcement Order of the Rabies Prevention Act)· checked 04 Oct 2026The rules also cover first-generation hybrids such as wolfdogs and Savannah cats.
Assistance dogs get no exemption from the import requirements.
Changing planes in Japan without entering is only possible if the pet never leaves the international transit area of the arrival airport. Dogs must arrive at New Chitose, Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, Kagoshima or Naha, carry a government health certificate from the exporting country (even if the next country does not need one) and be notified to the AQS before arrival (the airline does this). A change of airline, airport (e.g. Haneda → Narita) or of cabin/baggage ↔ cargo counts as an import.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: 日本で飛行機を乗り換える場合 (changing planes in Japan))· checked 04 Oct 2026Transit counts as an import if the airline, the airport or the mode of transport changes; if the import requirements are then not met the pet may be sent back.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: 日本で飛行機を乗り換える場合 (changing planes in Japan))· checked 04 Oct 2026Returning in an emergency on a Japanese government advisory: notify the AQS of the arrival airport at once by e-mail, even if 40 days' notice is impossible — the normal import requirements still apply.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: ペットの輸出入 (pets import/export index and notices))· checked 04 Oct 2026Meat-based pet food cannot be brought in.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 2026The AQS says phone lines are congested and e-mail replies take about 7–10 days — plan the notification early.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: ペットの輸出入 (pets import/export index and notices))· checked 04 Oct 2026
Questions about Japan
Answered in plain words from the authorities' own pages, each linked to the page it comes from. Confirm with the authority before travelling.
01How long before I travel should I notify the authorities?
You must submit the advance notification at least 40 days before your planned import date.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202602What happens if my pet arrives in Japan without a microchip?
Animals without microchips may be detained for up to 180 days. Dogs might be considered to lack proper certification and could be sent back to their exporting country.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202603Which types of rabies vaccines are accepted for entry into Japan?
Only recombinant or inactivated vaccines are accepted. Live vaccines are not permitted.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202604Is there a minimum age for the rabies vaccination to be valid?
Vaccinations given to animals under 91 days of age are not accepted because their immune systems are immature and maternal antibodies may interfere.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202605Can I vaccinate my pet against rabies before they get a microchip?
Generally, any rabies vaccination given before the microchip is implanted is not accepted.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202606What is the required antibody level for the rabies test?
The 180-day waiting period starts from the date of the blood sample that shows antibody levels of 0.5IU/mL or more.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202607When should my vet perform the final clinical inspection before departure?
A clinical inspection for rabies and leptospirosis (for dogs) must be done within 10 days before boarding.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202608What happens if my pet arrives before the 180-day waiting period is over?
If all other requirements are met, the remaining days of the 180-day wait will be served as the quarantine period after arrival.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202609Can my pet complete their quarantine at my home in Japan?
No, import quarantine cannot be done at your home, regardless of the animal's age or medical history.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202610Am I allowed to bring pet food into Japan?
Pet food containing meat items is prohibited under Japanese law.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202611Who pays for the import quarantine?
While the official inspection is free, the owner must pay for veterinary visits, water, electricity, care, and transport to the facility.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202612How long does the import inspection take upon arrival?
If all preparations are correct and the quarantine period is 12 hours or less, the process usually takes under one hour.
Source:Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF (opens official site: F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan)· checked 04 Oct 202613What documents do I need to take my dog or cat out of Japan?
You must submit an export application form and veterinary certificates that meet the destination country's rules. Applications should be sent via the NACCS system or email at least 14 days before the inspection.
14Do my vet's certificates need to be in English?
Documents submitted to the Japanese Animal Quarantine Station can be written in either English or Japanese.
15Do I need a health certificate from a local vet to leave Japan?
For inspections at Kansai, Haneda, or Narita airports, a health certificate is not required for the Animal Quarantine Service. However, your airline or destination country may still require one.
16Where can I get my pet microchipped in Japan?
You can have a microchip implanted at a veterinary clinic or consult the Japan Veterinary Medical Association.
17Can I take my pet abroad if they haven't been vaccinated against rabies?
Pets can be taken abroad regardless of rabies vaccination status if they undergo export quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Service. However, the destination country may still require vaccination.
18Can I use a dog tag as proof of rabies vaccination?
Dog tags are not accepted as rabies vaccination certificates. You must obtain a certificate issued by a veterinarian.
19What happens if I take my pet on a short trip abroad and then return to Japan?
Dogs and cats are subject to export quarantine when leaving Japan and import quarantine when returning, even for short trips.
20What is the Japanese government certificate required by some destination countries?
This is the Export Quarantine Certificate for Dogs (Cats). It confirms that export quarantine is finished and the animal shows no signs of rabies (and leptospirosis for dogs).
21How do I provide proof of residence in Japan for my pet's export?
You should state the required period of residence in the remarks section of your export inspection application.
22Can a pet with a medical history or in poor health fly?
Animals that are nursing, pregnant, old, injured, on medication, or in poor health are not considered suitable for quarantine and transport. You should consult your vet and airline to see if the pet can handle the trip.
23How much does the export quarantine inspection cost?
Inspections performed by animal quarantine officers are free. However, the owner must pay for any required health checks or vaccinations.
24Do I need to hire an agent to handle the export process?
You can handle the procedures yourself, but a customs clearance agent is typically needed if you are exporting your pet as cargo.
Checklists to Japan
Step-by-step route pages for the origins people move from most, dated timeline and all.
No traveller reports for Japan yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.
Share your tripEvery official page behind this guide, with the last day its text was confirmed unchanged.
- Designated regions (countries or regions designated as rabies-free) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Export dogs and cats from Japan (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- F.A.Q. — bringing dogs and cats into Japan (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- F.A.Q. — taking dogs and cats abroad from Japan (incl. "Short trips abroad") (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Guide to importing dogs and cats into Japan from designated regions (PDF, Appended Form 5-1) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
Show all 20 sources
- Guide to importing dogs and cats into Japan from Non-designated regions (PDF, Appended Form 5-2) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 26 Sep 2026
- Import and export quarantine of dogs and cats (English index page) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Import dogs and cats into Japan (from non-designated regions) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Import dogs and cats into Japan (from the designated regions) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 24 Sep 2026
- ペットの輸出入 (pets import/export index and notices) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 指定検査施設 / Blood testing laboratories designated by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 日本で飛行機を乗り換える場合 (changing planes in Japan) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 犬、猫の旅行・短期滞在編 (dogs and cats — travel and short stays abroad) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 犬、猫の日本への入国（指定地域以外編）(Japanese version of the non-designated regions page) (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 犬等の輸入検疫要領 (AQS internal guidelines for import quarantine of dogs etc.), Annex 2 — interpretation of "direct import" (opens official site)Animal Quarantine Service, MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 狂犬病予防法（昭和二十五年法律第二百四十七号）— Rabies Prevention Act (opens official site)e-Gov (Digital Agency) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 狂犬病予防法施行令 — Enforcement Order of the Rabies Prevention Act (opens official site)e-Gov (Digital Agency) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 家畜伝染病予防法施行規則 — Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control (Art. 45, 47, 47-2, 47-3, 51-2) (opens official site)e-Gov (Digital Agency); ordinance of MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 家畜伝染病予防法施行規則 — revision taking effect 2027-01-01 (Art. 47-2, 47-3, 51-2) (opens official site)e-Gov (Digital Agency); ordinance of MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026
- 犬等の輸出入検疫規則（平成十一年農林水産省令第六十八号）— Ministerial Ordinance on Import and Export Quarantine of Dogs, etc. (opens official site)e-Gov (Digital Agency); ordinance of MAFF · checked 04 Oct 2026