Japan Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Japan pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Japan will include proof of a microchip, rabies and other vaccinations, a permit to import, rabies titer test results, and an international pet health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dog and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO JAPAN below.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, owners, agents, or anyone transporting a pet should confirm that their veterinarian is licensed by the governing authority in their country that is responsible for the movement of live animals. This veterinarian should administer all vaccinations and treatments, as well as issue all required documentation.

Quarantine for pets entering Japan

There will be a mandatory period of up to 180 days of quarantine for your pet when entering Japan, if the regulations listed here are not met.

Japan Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog or cat to Japan must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: Country Classifications

Japan classifies countries into two categories depending on their rabies status. Pets must be born in and continuously reside in a Category 1 country for 6 months prior to import.

Category 1: Rabies-Free Countries

Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, or Guam. No rabies vaccination or titer test is required if your pet was born in
or resided in these countries for a period of not less than six months.

Category 2: All other countries

Pets from any other country not listed above. Proof of a rabies vaccination and titer test will be required to avoid quarantine when entering Japan.

Step 2: Pet Microchip

The first step to importing a pet dog or cat to Japan from any country is to have it identified with a microchip in accordance with the procedures in the country of origin. The most accepted form of identification is a 15-digit pet microchip that meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785.

All documents must reflect the microchip number. If your pet is identified with a non-compliant microchip, you can provide a microchip scanner that will read your pet’s microchip. You can also contact the Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry to see if they have a scanner that will read your pet’s microchip.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer’s or your government’s database.

Step 3: Vaccinations/Treatments

Unless your pet has resided in a country classified as rabies-free by Japan (step 1), it must be vaccinated twice for rabies with an inactive or recombinant vaccine that is approved for use in your country. Pets must not be vaccinated for rabies prior to 91 days of age.

The vaccination must be administered at the same time or after a microchip is implanted. The primary vaccination should be valid for one year. Multi year vaccines are acceptable for boosters.

The second rabies vaccination must be given more than 30 days after the primary vaccination (or booster) and before the expiration date of the previous vaccination. The second vaccination must not have expired before entering Japan. If this is not possible, see step 4.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp:

• a rabies certificate or
• government-issued vaccination booklet or
• EU Pet Passport

Note: Rabies titer test results or veterinary rabies exemption letters are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination.

Other Vaccinations

All countries: it is strongly recommended that your dog be vaccinated for a minimum of distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus. Other vaccinations are recommended.

Cats must be vaccinated for rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

All vaccinations, tests, and treatments should be recorded on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by the origination country.

Step 4: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test (RNATT) measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. It should be administered more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination. It is not required when entering Japan from a Category 1 country.

Unless your pet is originating from one of the countries that Japan considers rabies-free (see step 1), your dog or cat must have an RNATT processed by an approved laboratory.

Exception: If your pet has had an RNATT done within the past 2 years and the rabies vaccination has not expired, a new test is not required.

To reduce the quarantine period to 12 hours when entering Japan, the date when the blood was drawn for the RNATT must be more than 180 days and less than 2 years of the arrival date.

If your pet cannot enter Japan before the second rabies vaccination expires, then another rabies vaccination is administered and another titer test is performed; however, an additional 180 day waiting period is not required.

Step 5: Import Permit

Importers must file an Advanced Notification Form at least 40 days in advance of import with the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS). After processing, if facilities are available, an Approval of Notification will be returned to you. Please note that you may be requested to change the date or place of import depending on the availability of quarantine facilities at the Animal Quarantine Station.

Step 6: Parasite Treatments

Before your dog or cat can enter Japan, it must be treated against ticks, tapeworm, nematodes and cestodes.

Step 7: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate issued in the country of origin, including the following information:

A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must issue a pet health certificate for Japan within 2 days of entry stating that your pet is healthy and free of parasites and indicating the above vaccinations and the results of the titer test (if applicable). A government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals must endorse the forms.

Other Information

Entering Japan with a pet

Cats and dogs may only enter the country at the following airports: New Chitose Airport, Narita International Airport**, Tokyo International Airport, Haneda Airport**, Chubu International Airport**, Kansai International Airport, Kitakyushu Airport, Fukuoka Airport**, Kagoshima Airport** and Naha Airport. You will be required to apply for an import inspection from the Animal Quarantine Service upon arrival.

If requirements are met, your pet will be held at the Animal Quarantine Service for a short period of time (less than 12 hours) before being released. Dogs and cats not meeting requirements will be quarantined for up to 180 days.

Dogs may only enter Japan at the following seaports: Tomakomai Seaport, Keihin Seaport (Tokyo, Yokohama**), Nagoya Seaport, Hanshin Seaport (Osaka**, Hyogo), Kanmon Seaport, Hakata Seaport, Kagoshima Seaport, Naha Seaport.

**Dogs requiring quarantine (see next step) must enter at these air and seaports.

Your pet will be examined by a veterinary official, and must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Pets must travel in a pet carrier or crate that is in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA compliant?

Importers must provide prenotification to the County Veterinarian in advance. They will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing. There is a fee for this service.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of any signs of illness that can be transmitted to humans when evaluated at the entry airport. Importers will need to pay for further veterinary testing if the health of your cat or dog is not acceptable.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Japan

On arrival, dogs and cats must undergo import quarantine for a set period to screen out rabies. In the case of dogs, ( rabies and leptospirosis, depending on the status if the origin country. Furthermore, in order to check whether they have contracted the diseases in isolation from other animals or humans, the animals are held in the quarantine facilities of the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS). Please bear in mind that, quarantine must be served in the premises of AQS, even when a long quarantine period is necessary.

Your dog or cat should fly a direct route to Japan if at all possible; otherwise, your pet’s crate will need to be sealed. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Japan. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense

Dog Breeds Banned by Japan

Japan does not ban any type of dog or cat breed other than hybrids with wild animals. Pet owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Japan

Unvaccinated pets under the age of 3 months cannot enter Japan. Puppies and kittens should be microchipped no sooner than 8 weeks of age. They should be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 91 days of age and no sooner than 30 days prior to entry unless entering from a country considered to be rabies-free. If entering Japan from a Category 2 Country, a titer test should be done after vaccination and no sooner than 180 days prior to entering Japan.

Related: Transporting a puppy

Exporting resident pets from Japan

Pet owners planning to export their pets from Japan should apply for export to Animal Quarantine Service at least seven days prior to export.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Japan

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have an import permit and a health certificate to enter Japan. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is important if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If so, you will have to submit additional permit applications.

Over 180 nations participate in and enforce CITES rules and protections.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Japan Pet Import Requirements and Forms?

Further details on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Japan are available at minimal cost. Unlimited email support for you and your veterinarian is included.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Japan?

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Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to:

• make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense or
• return your pet to the country of origin, or
• euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Japan pet import requirements.