This guide covers the standard first-import sequence from the US mainland, excluding Hawaii and Guam. It follows the civilian USDA-accredited veterinarian and APHIS endorsement route, leaving returning-pet and military-certificate exceptions outside its procedure.[2] Red Tape Travel has separate US-to-Japan dog and US-to-Japan cat route pages with deadline back-planners.
Establish identification and qualifying rabies vaccinations
Dogs and cats entering Japan through the standard non-designated-region process need identification and rabies vaccinations in the stated order.[1]
Start with the microchip.
Implant the microchip before, or on the same day as, the first qualifying rabies vaccination, and make sure its number can be read.[1][2] MAFF specifies ISO-compliant identification with a numeric microchip code of 15 digits.[1] For a non-ISO chip, contact AQS at the intended arrival port; if its reader cannot read the chip, the importer needs to provide a suitable reader.[1] MAFF also lists identification-number restrictions on its import page.[1]Fails if: the identification or vaccination sequence does not meet the standard preparation requirements.[1]
- Give the qualifying rabies vaccinations. The first vaccination must be at age 91 days or older, with birth counted as day zero.[1][2] For the second vaccination, MAFF says 30 days or more after the first; USDA's US-to-Japan instruction says more than 30 days, counting the first vaccination as day zero.[1][2] The US-origin procedure here uses USDA's more-than interval, with the first vaccination still within its duration of immunity.[2]
Use an inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine; MAFF does not accept live-virus or RNA rabies vaccines given outside Japan.[1] Vaccination must remain valid through arrival in Japan; if a dose is given after the previous dose's effective period expires, MAFF requires restarting from the first vaccination.[1]
Fails if: the first vaccination is too early, the second does not meet the stated interval, or vaccine type or validity fails the requirements.[1][2]
Test the antibody level and complete the waiting period
Japan's antibody-test waiting period counts from blood sampling to arrival, not from the laboratory result or the flight departure.[1][2]
Arrange the rabies antibody test.
The blood sample must be drawn after the second qualifying rabies vaccination, within the vaccination's effective period; the second vaccination and sampling may occur on the same day.[1] Use a MAFF-designated laboratory and obtain a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml.[1] The result is valid for 2 years from the date of blood sampling.[1]Fails if: the laboratory is not designated, the result is below the required level, or the sample does not follow the qualifying vaccination sequence.[1]
Complete the wait before arrival.
Dogs and cats must wait at least 180 days between blood sampling and arrival in Japan; the sampling date is day zero.[1][2] Arrival must also fall within the rabies vaccine's effective period and the antibody test's validity period.[1]Fails if: arrival is before the waiting period has elapsed. AQS detains the animal for the period needed to make up the shortage.[1][2]
Notify AQS against the arrival date
Japan requires advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service at the intended entry port at least 40 days before arrival.[1]
- Submit the notification and retain its approval. MAFF directs applicants to submit through NACCS, with email submission if that is difficult.[1] The USDA page instead describes fax or mail; its channel wording differs from MAFF's NACCS and email instructions.[1][2] The procedure above follows the Japanese AQS page's submission instructions.[1]
AQS examines the notification and supporting documents and issues an approval for import inspection of animals.[1] Print or digitally save that approval and show it when requested for an export certificate or boarding.[1] Dogs must enter through a designated airport or seaport.[1]
Fails if: notification is late or deficient. Unclear or deficient notification information can prevent AQS approval.[1]
Arrange the examination, Form AC and APHIS endorsement
Dogs and cats leaving the US for Japan need a pre-export clinical examination and the required export declaration and health certificate.[1][2] Red Tape Travel's Japan rules page separates import requirements from the reverse journey's export steps.
Arrange the clinical examination for a dog or cat traveling from the US to Japan within 10 days before boarding.
The veterinarian checks the microchip number and confirms no clinical signs of rabies in dogs and cats; the examination also checks dogs for signs of leptospirosis.[1] USDA requires inspection by a USDA-accredited veterinarian before departure.[2] The leptospirosis examination requirement applies to dogs, not cats.[1][2]Fails if: the examination misses the stated boarding window or the required clinical findings cannot be certified.[1]
- Have the veterinarian complete Form AC and obtain APHIS endorsement before travel. USDA states that Form AC contains the information required for both the owner's declaration and health certificate and needs APHIS-VS endorsement.[2] MAFF's certificate requirements include animal identity, microchip number and implantation date, vaccination dates and details, blood-sampling date, antibody result, laboratory name, and clinical-examination date and result.[1]
APHIS permits digital endorsement through VEHCS for dogs and cats traveling to Japan, but an APHIS-endorsed printed paper copy must accompany the animal.[2] For the antibody laboratory report, USDA accepts the original without endorsement or a copy with USDA endorsement.[2] The clinical-examination window above is not a published APHIS processing-time promise.
Fails if: required information or endorsement is missing, or the endorsed paper certificate does not accompany the animal.[1][2]
Present the animal and documents for arrival inspection
Dogs and cats must undergo AQS import inspection on arrival in Japan, even after completing preparation.[1]
Apply for import inspection on arrival.
Bring the dog or cat in its crate or carrier to AQS and present the required government certificate and rabies antibody report.[1] AQS issues an import quarantine certificate when inspection is complete.[1] Failure to meet import requirements can lead to detention for up to 180 days or return; this guide does not promise a release time.[1]Fails if: the animal or required documents do not meet the import-inspection requirements.[1]
Airline carriage remains a separate check: APHIS states that airlines have their own pet-transport policies and requirements.[2] Japanese entry eligibility does not establish cabin, checked-baggage or cargo availability on a particular flight.
Confirm before booking. Rules and airline policies change. Check the official pages linked under Sources, and your airline, before you pay for anything.
Sources
- maff.go.jp: Japan's standard non-designated-region dog and cat import preparation, notification, certification and inspection requirements.
- aphis.usda.gov: US-to-Japan dog and cat vaccination, test, export declaration, health certificate and endorsement requirements.