Flying a cat from the United States to Japan
Last verified 4 primary sourcesSite-wide weekly check due
Scope and research limits
This release covers first-time dog and cat imports from the United States outside Hawaii and Guam, using the standard non-designated-region preparation sequence. Departures to the US mainland are also covered. Returning-pet exceptions and designated-region import procedures are not yet covered.
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.
Quarantine: up to 12 hours
A cat must travel in the cabin, hold or as cargo if the airline accepts it, to enter Japan from the United States, with quarantine of up to 12 hours.
To meet the entry rules
- a first qualifying vaccination at age 91 days or older
- a microchip on or before the earlier rabies vaccination
- a second rabies vaccination more than 30 days after the earlier rabies vaccination
- a blood sample after the second vaccination on or after the rabies vaccination
- a blood sample at least 180 days before arrival
- advance notification at least 40 days before arrival
- a clinical examination and vet-signed certificate within 10 days before departure
- a government-endorsed health certificate, endorsed by USDA APHIS, on or before departure
If a requirement is missed: A pet that fails the import requirements can be detained for up to 180 days or returned.
Full answer
A cat must travel in the cabin, hold or as cargo if the airline accepts it, to enter Japan from the United States, with quarantine of up to 12 hours. It needs a first qualifying vaccination at age 91 days or older; a microchip; a second rabies vaccination more than 30 days after the earlier rabies vaccination; a blood sample after the second vaccination; a blood sample at least 180 days before arrival; advance notification at least 40 days before arrival; a clinical examination and vet-signed certificate within 10 days before departure; and a government-endorsed health certificate, endorsed by USDA APHIS. If any is missed: quarantine for up to 180 days. Last verified 8 October 2026.
- Rules allow in cabin
- Airline decidesJapan applies the same quarantine requirements to cabin pets, checked baggage and manifest cargo. The airline decides whether it can transport your pet; dogs must arrive through a designated port.
- Quarantine
- Up to 12 hoursarrival inspection, with a quarantine period within 12 hours when compliant
- Rabies titer
- Required
- Lead time
- 211 days
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
5 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: 211 days
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Birth
The pet must be at least 91 days old when it receives the first qualifying rabies vaccination. Birth is counted as day zero. Timing: at least 91 days before the earlier rabies vaccination.
Fails if: Done less than 91 days before the earlier rabies vaccination.
Microchip
Implant and verify the microchip before the first rabies vaccination; the same day is accepted. Use an ISO-compatible microchip or arrange an appropriate reader with Animal Quarantine Service. Timing: on or before the earlier rabies vaccination.
Fails if: Done after the earlier rabies vaccination.
Japan currently rejects microchip numbers starting with 900 202 as identification. Check the number before starting preparation and contact Animal Quarantine Service if it has this prefix.
Fails if: The microchip number starts with the rejected prefix.
Earlier rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Give the second qualifying rabies vaccination more than 30 days after the first, while the first is still valid. This US-origin route uses the stricter USDA interval. Timing: more than 30 days after the earlier rabies vaccination.
For this plan: USDA requires more than 30 days, so the plan uses a 31-day gap with the first vaccination counted as day zero.
Fails if: The second dose does not meet the stricter USDA interval, or the first dose has expired.
Use a killed or recombinant rabies vaccine. Live-virus and RNA rabies vaccines are not accepted. Vaccination must remain valid through arrival; a lapse can require restarting preparation.
Fails if: An unacceptable vaccine was used, or rabies vaccination has lapsed.
Blood sample
The calendar moves this: the earliest day is 730 to 731 days before arrival, depending on the arrival date.
Draw the blood sample after the second qualifying rabies vaccination. The vaccine and blood draw can happen on the same day; verify the microchip number at the visit. Timing: on or after the rabies vaccination.
Fails if: Done before the rabies vaccination.
Use a MAFF-designated laboratory and obtain an antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. Bring the result report for arrival inspection.
Fails if: The laboratory is not designated, the antibody level is too low, or the result report is missing.
Arrive only after the 180-day waiting period from blood sampling has elapsed. The sampling date is day zero. Shortening the wait can mean detention for the remaining period. Timing: at least 180 days before arrival.
Fails if: Done less than 180 days before arrival.
The rabies antibody test result must still be valid on arrival. The test result is valid for 2 years from the date of blood sampling. Timing: within 2 years before arrival.
Fails if: Done more than 2 years before arrival.
Advance notice
Notify Animal Quarantine Service at the intended arrival port at least 40 days before arrival through NACCS. If that is difficult, submit the notification form by email. Obtain the approval for import inspection of animals and retain a printed or digital copy. Timing: at least 40 days before arrival.
Fails if: Done less than 40 days before arrival.
Vet signs the health certificate
Arrange the clinical examination at the certificate-signing visit within 10 days before boarding. The vet checks the microchip and confirms no clinical signs of rabies; dogs must also be free of signs of leptospirosis. The planner counts the examination day as day one. Timing: within 10 days before departure.
For this plan: The source does not say whether the examination day counts. We count it as day one and schedule examination and certificate signing together.
Fails if: Done more than 10 days before departure.
Health certificate issued or endorsed
Carry the health certificate endorsed by the exporting government, with identity, vaccination, laboratory and clinical-examination details. The US export steps below use Form AC.
Fails if: Government endorsement or required identity, vaccination, test or examination information is missing.
A USDA-accredited veterinarian completes Form AC for the owner declaration and health certificate. Obtain APHIS endorsement and arrange return of the endorsed paper document before travel. Timing: on or before departure.
Fails if: Done after departure.
Dogs and cats can use APHIS digital endorsement through VEHCS. An APHIS-endorsed printed paper copy must accompany the animal; an electronic record alone is insufficient.
Fails if: The APHIS-endorsed paper document does not accompany the pet.
Arrival day
Note: Apply for import inspection on arrival and present the required original documents to Animal Quarantine Service before customs clearance.
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
Apply for import inspection on arrival and present the required original documents to Animal Quarantine Service before customs clearance.
Fails if: The pet is not presented for inspection, or required original documents are unavailable.
This planner follows the standard initial preparation sequence. Ask Animal Quarantine Service about returning-pet, repeat-test or microchip exceptions before relying on a shorter preparation period. A destination or transit country may impose additional requirements.
The export steps use the civilian USDA-accredited veterinarian and APHIS route. Active-duty military families may have a separate military-veterinarian certificate option.
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 Japan (Asia/Tokyo).
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.
1 change recorded since
Japan clarifies its advance-notification submission channel
- Was
- The route said to notify AQS by NACCS or email.
- Now
- Submit through NACCS, using the notification form by email if NACCS is difficult. The existing advance-notification deadline is unchanged.
Source: Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Service · found at a scheduled re-read
Where every rule above came from
- Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Servicemaff.go.jp/aqs/english/qanda/dogcata.htmlJapan applies the same quarantine requirements to cabin pets, checked baggage and…; Compliant dogs and cats still undergo import inspection on arrival
- Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Servicemaff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.htmlJapan applies the same quarantine requirements to cabin pets, checked baggage and…; Compliant dogs and cats still undergo import inspection on arrival; Microchip; Birth; and 9 more
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-japanRabies vaccination; Health certificate issued or endorsed; The export steps use the civilian USDA-accredited veterinarian and APHIS route; This release covers first-time dog and cat imports from the United States outside Hawaii…
- 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 2 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 Japan, or what changed across the site.