Japan Pet Import Requirements: How to bring a pet to Japan in 2026

1. Microchip implantation
Dogs and cats must be identified with a microchip prior to their first rabies vaccination.

• The microchip must comply with ISO 11784 and 11785 (15 digit microchip, consisting of numbers only).
• Ensure that the microchip number can be read by a microchip reader
• Microchip numbers starting with “900 202” are currently under investigation for their validity. Please note that these microchips will not be accepted as a means of identification at this time. Apr 7, 2023)

2. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies two or more times after microchip implantation.
First rabies vaccination
• At least 91 days old at the time of vaccination (date of birth is considered day 0)
• After microchip implantation (including the same day of implantation)
Second rabies vaccination
• More than 30 days from the date of the first vaccination (date of the first is counted as day 0)
• During the period of validity of the first vaccination

3. Rabies antibody test (serological test)

• The rabies antibody test must be performed in one of the designated laboratories.
• The blood sample for the test must be taken after the second rabies vaccination.
• (The second rabies vaccination and blood sample can be performed on the same day.)
• The rabies antibody titer must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml.

4. Waiting period (180 days or more)

Dogs and cats must arrive in Japan after 180 days have passed from the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody test.
In addition, the date of arrival in Japan must be within the “rabies vaccine expiration period” and “rabies antibody test validity period after 2 years from the blood sampling date.”
(The blood sampling date is considered as day 0).
NOTE:
^{* If the antibody test has expired}

There is no need to repeat the waiting process if rabies vaccination is continuously administered within the validity period and another valid antibody test result is obtained for the scheduled arrival.

It is not necessary to continue antibody testing every two years.

Three conditions must be met:

1. The effective period from the first rabies vaccination continues until arrival in Japan with the required rabies booster vaccinations.
2. The blood sampling date for the updated test is at least 180 days after the blood sampling date for the first rabies antibody test.
3. The antibody titer tested is 0.5 IU/mL or more.

Dogs and cats whose waiting period is less than 180 days will be subject to quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Service detention facility for a period to make up for the shortfall. But it is strongly recommended that your pet complete the waiting period before arrival.

5. Advance Notification:
Applicants must notify the Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry at least 40 days before arrival in Japan.
You can submit the notification form by email.
Or notifications can be made online through NACCS.

6. Clinical examination before departure (pre-export inspection)
Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before landing), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical examination by a veterinarian.
(Contents of clinical examination)
• Dogs and cats were free from any clinical signs of rabies.
• In the case of dogs, the dogs were also found to be free from any clinical signs of leptospirosis.

7. Obtaining certificates issued by a government agency of the exporting country.
Applicants must obtain certificates issued by a government agency (corresponding to the Animal Quarantine Service in Japan) of the exporting country.
Required information in certificates:
• Personal information (including date of birth or age)
• Microchip number and date of implantation → Step 1
• Date of rabies vaccinations, effective period, type of vaccine, product name and vaccine manufacturer → Step 2
• Date of blood sample collection for rabies antibody test, antibody titer and name of the designated laboratory →Step3
• Result and date of clinical inspection (pre-export inspection) → Step 6
Using the recommended certification form (Form AC) allows the importer to fill in the required information without any omissions.
*Form AC was revised at the end of March 2018.
However, the previous form (Form A, Form C 1/3, 2/3, 2/3, 3/3) and the new form are also available.

Advance Notification:

Applicants must notify the Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry at least 40 days before arriving in Japan.
You can submit the notification form by email.
• Notification form for dogs (PDF: 139KB)
• Notification form for cats (PDF: 137KB)
• How to fill out the notification (non-designated regions)
Or notifications can be made online through NACCS.
• Contact list of the Animal Quarantine Service at the airport or seaport
Approval of Animal Import Inspection
• The Animal Quarantine Service will examine the “Notification” and related documents to issue an “Approval of Animal Import Inspection”. For export or landing procedures, please print out or digitally save the issued form.

If any changes are made to the notification, you must submit a “Modification of Animal Import Notification” by email to the Animal Quarantine Service.
Changing an Animal Import Notification (PDF: 56KB)
If you submitted your notification through NACCS, changes must be made through NACCS.

Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies twice or more after microchip implantation.

First rabies vaccination
• At least 91 days old at the time of vaccination (date of birth is counted as day 0)
• After microchip implantation (including the same day of implantation)
Second rabies vaccination
• More than 30 days from the first vaccination (date of first is counted as day 0)
• During the validity period of the first vaccination
The validity period is not the expiration date for use of the vaccine, but the duration of immunity.
Acceptable vaccines: Inactivated (killed) virus vaccine or recombinant/modified vaccine
• If the rabies vaccination period expires before arrival in Japan, a booster rabies vaccination must be administered within that period.
• Rabies vaccination administered after the validity period of the previous period is not accepted as a “booster vaccination”. The importer must start the procedures with the first rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination given before microchip implantation is invalid, but may be accepted under certain conditions.
• Live virus vaccine is not accepted.
• In some countries, the first rabies vaccination can be given at 12 weeks (84 days – 90 days) or older, but under Japanese law, vaccinations given before 91 days are invalid.

If there are any deficiencies in the certificates, the dog or cat will be quarantined for up to 180 days or sent back. To prevent any errors in the certificates, we recommend that you send us a copy of the certificates in advance so that we can check them.
Dogs and cats must be inspected by the Animal Quarantine Service upon arrival in Japan.
The importer must apply for import inspection to the Animal Quarantine Service upon arrival in Japan.
If no problems are found in the import inspection, we will issue an import quarantine certificate for the dog or cat.
If the dog or cat does not meet the import requirements, it will be quarantined for up to 180 days or returned.

Required Documents:

• Animal Import Inspection Approval
• Certificates issued by the government agency of the exporting country (initial)→Step 7
• Rabies Antibody Test Report→Step 3
• (For cargo) Application for Import Inspection (NACCS online system can be used) and a copy of Air Waybill or Bill of Lading

Dogs can only be imported through the following ports:
Airport
New Chitose Airport, Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu International Airport, Kansai International Airport, Osaka Itami Airport, Kobe Airport, Kitakyushu Airport, Fukuoka Airport, Kagoshima Airport, Naha Airport.
Seaport
Tomakomai Seaport, Keihin Seaport (Tokyo, Yokohama), Nagoya Seaport, Hanshin Seaport (Osaka, Hyogo), Kanmon Seaport, Hakata Seaport, Kagoshima Seaport, Naha Seaport.

If you import cats or bring your service dog (guide dogs, service dogs, and hearing dogs regulated by law in Japan) through a port other than the above, please contact the animal quarantine office in advance.

Minimum age for import is 10 months

Quarantine service
Accredited laboratories

Official requirements
List of laboratories
Contact list of animal quarantine office at the airport or seaport. Entry only through them
Notifications of arrival can be made online through NACCS

The rabies antibody test must be performed at one of the designated laboratories.
The blood sample for the test must be collected after the second rabies vaccination.
(The second rabies vaccination and blood collection can be performed on the same day.)
The rabies antibody titer must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/mL.

NOTE:
• The blood sample must be collected during the effective period of rabies vaccination.
• Japan checks the antibody test result report during import inspection.
• If there is no designated laboratory in your country, you need to send the blood sample to one of the designated laboratories in other countries.
• If you send a dog’s blood sample to a designated laboratory in Japan, it must be accompanied by an inspection certificate issued by a government agency of the exporting country.
You can use the recommended certification form for dog(s) serum. PDF (PDF: 105KB) ,
• To ensure proper import inspection of shipped goods, please ensure that the international postal service fills out the dog serum declaration form attached to international mail items and clearly indicates the contents of the parcels being shipped on their outer packaging (e.g. label: “Animal Quarantine Required (PDF: 534KB)”).
• If you are sending a dog or cat blood sample to a designated laboratory in another country, please check each country’s export and import procedures in advance.
• As for how to apply for an antibody test, please ask the designated laboratory you are using.
• If the antibody titer is less than 0.5 IU/ml, the dog or cat should be retested.

ATTENTION:
Entering the country with pets
• Dogs can only enter Japan through designated airports and seaports.
• In principle, notification submitted less than 40 days before arrival in Japan will not be accepted.
• Please provide a copy of some documents (such as rabies antibody test result report, quarantine export certificate if the dog or cat was exported from Japan) with the advance notice to facilitate procedures.
• Changes of “movement of arrival date after notification”, “increase in number of heads”, “announcement with different animals”, and “any change after the scheduled arrival date” are not accepted in principle.
• If there are any unclear points or deficiencies in the notification, we cannot issue the approval form.
• In case the detention facility is fully occupied, it may be necessary to change the arrival date or port of entry.

Health certificate:
Not required.

Exit certificate:
At least 7 or 10 (in case of departure from Narita or Haneda airports) days before departure from Japan, you must write to the quarantine service a request for permission for the animal to leave the country and provide the necessary documents. In the response letter, you will receive a list of the necessary documents:
export form (filled out on the quarantine service website);
import form (filled out there, needed in case of returning to Japan);
European certificate (sent to you by mail in case of traveling to EU countries; fill it out yourself as much as possible, the remaining fields are filled out by the quarantine service staff before departure);
rabies antibody test.

On the day of departure or 1-2 days before it, you must come to the quarantine service in person with the animal, with the animal’s passport (it must contain a chip, vaccinations, treatments), with the passport with which you will travel, and printed and filled out documents from the quarantine service.

Validity of the certificate

The exact validity period is still unknown.

Rabies titers

Needed for returning to Japan, as well as to Turkey without returning.

Rabies Vaccination
Rabies Antibody Test

In Japan, there is no minimum age limit for exporting pets, as long as all necessary veterinary requirements are met. The main requirement is a rabies vaccination, which can be done no earlier than 60 days of age, as well as microchipping and the execution of the relevant documents.

Quarantine service
Accredited laboratories