Flying a cat from Japan to the United States
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Scope and research limits
USA: Federal rules for pets entering the US mainland. Each state can add its own entry rules.
This guide covers the journey and pathways stated here. Residence, travel history and connections may change which requirements apply. Confirm these before using the countdown.
Conditional: yes, with 2 hard deadlines
A cat can enter the United States from Japan without quarantine when every condition is met.
To meet the entry rules
- an AQS export-inspection application at least 14 days before departure
- an AQS export inspection and export quarantine certificate within 10 days before departure
- a healthy appearance on arrival
If a requirement is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
Full answer
A cat can enter the United States from Japan without quarantine when every condition is met. It needs an AQS export-inspection application at least 14 days before departure, an AQS export inspection and export quarantine certificate within 10 days before departure and a healthy appearance on arrival. If any is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense. Last verified 24 September 2026.
- Rules allow in cabin
- Airline decidesA cat may arrive through any US airport. The federal rules we read set no cabin, hold or cargo limit for cats, so the airline decides.
- Quarantine
- NoneIf a rule is missed: An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it left, on the next available flight and at the importer's expense.
- Rabies titer
- Not required
- Lead time
- 15 days
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
2 of these steps are hard deadlines. Each step says how long before arrival it falls. Pick an arrival date and your browser works out the calendar dates; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 15 days
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Advance notice
Apply to Animal Quarantine Service for export inspection at least 14 days before export and reserve an inspection appointment. Use NACCS or contact the departure AQS about its email procedure. Timing: at least 14 days before departure.
Fails if: Done less than 14 days before departure.
Health certificate issued or endorsed
Present the dog or cat and original certificates to AQS for export inspection within 10 days before departure. Obtain the export quarantine certificate. The planner counts inspection and certificate issue together, with the inspection day as day one. Timing: within 10 days before departure.
For this plan: MAFF does not specify the counting convention. This plan counts the inspection day as day one and schedules inspection and certificate issue together.
Fails if: Done more than 10 days before departure.
Arrival day
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
The cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry.
Fails if: Signs of a disease that can pass to people.
A cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC recommends it, and the US destination may ask for more.
CDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do.
If the pet might return to Japan, check Japanese re-entry requirements before departure. This outward route does not plan the returning-pet exceptions.
This plan assumes one air journey, with every step done before you leave. Unless you give a departure date, it assumes you leave the day before arrival or on arrival day. Times are local to the United States (America/New_York).
Which airlines carry cats on this route
The only airline in our sources gives no plain Yes for cats on this route.
This is what airlines offer. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Airline | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Airlines | Not published | Quoted on request |
- Japan Airlines: Reserve through the JAL Contact Center with crate dimensions, total weight, species and age. Each aircraft has limited crate capacity, and confirmation may take several days.
- Japan Airlines: Use an IATA-compliant rigid, leak-proof, ventilated and escape-proof crate, large enough to stand naturally, lie down and turn. Soft or folding crates are unsuitable.
- Japan Airlines: Arrive at least 120 minutes before departure with the pet’s customs documents and completed consent form.
- Japan Airlines: For an itinerary longer than 12 hours from departure to arrival, attach a suitable water dispenser to the crate.
- Japan Airlines: French Bulldogs and Bulldogs are refused on all JAL flights. Other heat-sensitive or short-nosed breeds need a veterinary fitness assessment and JAL confirmation.
- Japan Airlines: JAL requires dogs and cats to be at least 8 weeks old and does not accept pregnant pets. Pets must be in good health. US dog entry has its own stricter minimum age; the airline age threshold does not replace it.
No rule changes recorded since
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page since , when our log began. See every recorded change.
Where every rule above came from
- eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-42.xmlA cat may arrive through any US airport; The cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry; An animal refused entry after a flight is returned by the airline to the country it…; The dog is denied admission and returned to the country it left; The airline must refuse to board a dog whose importer has not shown the CDC Dog Import…
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/catsA cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC…
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-importFederal rules for pets entering the US mainland
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-us/index.htmlThe cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry: what fails; The cat must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected at the port of entry; A cat needs no proof of rabies vaccination to enter the United States, but CDC…; CDC does not require a general health certificate, but some states and airlines do
- MAFF Animal Quarantine Servicemaff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/export.htmlAdvance notice; Health certificate issued or endorsed; If the pet might return to Japan, check Japanese re-entry requirements before departure; Without successful export inspection and the export quarantine certificate, the animal…
- Japan Airlinesjal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/support/petJapan Airlines: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed; Reserve through the JAL Contact Center with crate dimensions, total weight, species and…; Use an IATA-compliant rigid, leak-proof, ventilated and escape-proof crate, large enough…; Arrive at least 120 minutes before departure with the pet’s customs documents and…; and 3 more
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.
Related pages
See everything that applies in the United States, or what changed across the site.