Japan is rabies free and its import rules are detailed and strict, but they are clear and we plan around them. Pets from the United States need an ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a rabies antibody titre test, a 180 day waiting period, and advance notification to Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service. When every step is completed on time, your pet clears a short inspection on arrival rather than a long quarantine. Pet Travel Advisors builds the long timeline early and coordinates the vet steps, the titre test, the notification, and the routing so nothing slips.
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Because timelines, airline rules, and Japan’s entry requirements all affect each other, we build a plan that fits your pet and your move date.
We use Japan's official Animal Quarantine Service guidance as the baseline, then turn it into a simple checklist and timeline you can follow.
We help choose practical routes, travel windows, and handoff procedures so your pet’s trip is safer and more predictable.
Pet Travel Advisors assigns a move coordinator who keeps you updated and checks details before travel so nothing important is missed.
Moving a pet to Japan is a regulated, well-documented process, and the steps depend on your pet and on the rules set by Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service. The 180 day wait and the advance notification drive the calendar, so early planning is essential. If you would like a simple overview of international moves first, start here. Bringing a pet the other way, into the United States? See our US import guide.
To keep everything clear, we break the process into steps:
We confirm what rules apply based on your pet and travel details.
We map out what happens when, so steps are completed in the right order.
We help keep appointments and timing aligned with what’s required.
We check the details that cause delays (microchip digits, dates, names, signatures).
We help align crate setup and routing with airline handling expectations.
We guide you on travel-day handoff and what to expect on arrival.
We keep your checklist aligned with the official rules. For the US export side, we follow USDA APHIS guidance for US to Japan travel. For the Japan entry rules, we follow the Animal Quarantine Service guidance on importing dogs and cats.
Pets travel to Japan’s approved international airports and clear import inspection with the Animal Quarantine Service on arrival. We confirm the best practical route and the arrival airport’s quarantine office before booking, since the advance notification is tied to the port of entry.
When the microchip, two vaccinations, titre test, and 180 day wait are all completed correctly, pets from the United States are not placed in long quarantine; they clear a short inspection on arrival, usually within twelve hours. If the 180 day period is not met, your pet is held in an Animal Quarantine Service facility for the remaining days, so we plan the calendar carefully to avoid that.
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether airline policies affect travel. Most moves are dogs and cats, though we handle other pets too, and the requirements can differ by species. Eligibility can come down to your pet’s type and health, airline rules for certain breeds or conditions, the documentation and timing, and which routes are available. Ready to start? Request a quote.
Your pet will need an ISO microchip fitted on or before the first rabies vaccination, two rabies vaccinations, and a rabies antibody titre test of 0.5 IU/ml or higher at a Japan-approved laboratory, valid for two years. After the blood draw there is a mandatory 180 day wait before arrival. The importer must also send advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days before arrival. We line these steps up in the right order and check that microchip numbers, dates, names, and signatures all match across the paperwork.
Japan is one of the longer moves to plan because of the 180 day wait. A typical timeline runs like this: a consultation and an eligibility check, then the microchip and the first rabies vaccination, the second vaccination, the titre blood draw, the 180 day wait, the advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days out, then the export health certificate, document review, and travel.
Costs depend on your pet’s size and crate, the route and airline, vet and titre test fees, and whether the move is door to door. The fastest way to get a real number is a quote based on your origin city and travel date. Request a quote here.
Your pet needs an ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a rabies antibody titre test of 0.5 IU/ml or higher from a Japan-approved laboratory, a 180 day wait after the blood draw, advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days before arrival, and an export health certificate.
If every step is completed correctly and the 180 day wait is met, pets from the United States are not placed in long quarantine; they clear a short inspection on arrival, usually within twelve hours. If the wait is not met, the pet is held for the remaining days.
Plan on at least six to seven months. The 180 day wait after the titre blood draw sets the pace, and the advance notification has to be in at least 40 days before arrival.
Most healthy dogs and cats can qualify if the steps are done in the right order and on time. We check eligibility for your specific pet at the start.
We plan the full timeline, coordinate the vaccinations and titre test, prepare the advance notification and paperwork, arrange a comfortable crate and routing, and stay with the move through arrival.
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