Moving Your Pet to Japan
What the Process Actually Looks Like
Japan is one of the most process-intensive pet relocation destinations in the world — and one of the most unforgiving if a step is missed or done out of sequence. The process is entirely manageable, but it requires 7 months minimum and a strict order of operations that can’t be shortcut.
That applies equally to civilian expats and military families on PCS orders. The requirements don’t change based on why you’re going — though there are a few things the military community should know that make the process smoother. More on that below.
Here’s an honest breakdown of what the process involves, what drives the timeline, and how Global Tails guides and coordinates each step.
Yes — Japan sits at the top of the complexity spectrum alongside Australia and New Zealand. The process centers on a 180-day waiting period that follows the rabies titer test. From the date your pet’s blood is drawn, Japan requires 180 days to pass before the pet can be cleared without quarantine. If a pet arrives before that window closes, they complete the remaining days in quarantine at an AQS facility — at the owner’s expense.
For most civilian moves, the goal is to complete the 180-day wait before departure and avoid quarantine entirely. That’s what drives the 7+ month recommended start time. For military families on PCS orders, traveling early and completing the remaining quarantine days on-base is a valid option — more on that below.
Complexity level: HIGH
Recommended start time: 7+ months before travel (or earlier if quarantine on arrival is not an option)
Titer test required: Yes — dogs and cats
Post-arrival quarantine: None if 180-day wait is complete before travel; remaining days served in Japan (AQS facility or on-base for PCS) if arriving early
Is Japan Difficult for Pet Relocation?
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How Will Your Pet Travel?
In-cabin is available for small pets that fit in a soft-sided carrier tucked under the seat in front of you. Most airlines set a combined carrier-and-pet weight limit of around 20 lbs, though this varies by carrier. You’ll book directly with your airline and reserve a spot.
In-cabin
Excess baggage means your pet travels in the cargo hold on the same flight as you. This is the typical option for medium-sized pets too large for the cabin. You’ll book directly with your airline — confirm weight limits for pet plus crate with your carrier before booking. Two important restrictions: airlines generally do not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds — such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, or Persian cats — as excess baggage due to breathing risk. Many carriers also restrict breeds classified as strong or aggressive from cargo hold travel. For those pets, manifest cargo is the right path.
Excess baggage
Manifest cargo means your pet travels as freight, unaccompanied, on a flight that may or may not be yours. This is the standard option for larger pets, restricted breeds, or situations where the owner isn’t on the same flight. Global Tails handles the cargo booking and check-in at the cargo facility, and coordinates the handoff with the receiving agent in Japan.
Customs clearance at the destination can typically be handled by the owner upon arrival. Because Global Tails is US-based, we’re not able to assist directly with in-country clearance — but we can connect you with a preferred clearance agent at the destination if you’d rather not handle it yourself. Their fees apply independently.
Manifest Cargo
Entry Points and Onward Travel
We arrange flights into HND (Haneda Airport, Tokyo) and NRT (Narita International Airport), both of which have Japan Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) facilities on site. If your final destination is elsewhere in Japan — Okinawa, Misawa, or another location — we’ll connect you with a preferred import agent who can manage customs clearance and arrange onward delivery from the port of entry.
Step-by-Step: How Pet Relocation to Japan Works
Step 1 — Microchip
Your pet must have an ISO-standard microchip. The microchip must be implanted on or before the date of the first rabies vaccination — this is non-negotiable. If a vet vaccinates first and chips later, the entire titer test sequence must be repeated.
If your pet isn’t chipped yet, this is the first appointment to make — before any vaccines are given.
Step 2 — Rabies Vaccinations (Two Required)
Japan requires two rabies vaccinations given in sequence:
• First vaccination: Pet must be at least 91 days old, and already microchipped.
• Second vaccination: Given more than 30 days after the first, and within the validity period of the first vaccine.
Both vaccinations must be documented with dates, vaccine product, manufacturer, and lot number.
One detail worth knowing: many US vets vaccinate at 12 weeks as standard practice. Twelve weeks is 84 days — and Japan’s minimum is 91. A vaccination given at 84 days is invalid with no exceptions. If your pet’s records show a 12-week rabies vaccine, we’ll flag it before anything else moves forward.
Step 3 — Rabies Titer Test
After the second vaccination, your pet’s blood is drawn and sent to an approved laboratory for a rabies antibody titer test (FAVN). The result must be ≥0.5 IU/ml.
Only two laboratories are approved by Japan for this test:
1. Kansas State University (KSU) Rabies Laboratory — the standard option for civilian pet owners
2. DOD Veterinary Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory — available to military families with access to on-base veterinary services
Lab results are valid for two years from the date the sample was collected. Original results must accompany the pet, or copies with USDA endorsement.
Step 4 — 180-Day Wait
From the date the blood sample is collected for the FAVN test, 180 days must pass before your pet can be cleared at arrival without quarantine. If your pet arrives before that window closes, they’ll complete the remaining days in quarantine at an AQS facility, at the owner’s expense.
One thing to monitor during the wait: your pet’s rabies vaccine must remain continuously valid from the blood draw date all the way through arrival in Japan. If it lapses and a booster is given, that new vaccination is treated as a primary — the titer test requirement and the full 180-day wait restart from zero. We track vaccine expiry dates for every case we manage and flag a booster appointment if one is needed.
Traveling before the 180 days are up is an option — some families on tight timelines do exactly that. For civilian moves, completing the full wait before departure is simpler. For military families, see the quarantine FAQ below.
Step 5 — Advance Notification to Japan AQS
The importer must notify the Japan Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) at the intended port of arrival at least 40 days before your pet arrives in Japan. This is submitted by Global Tails, your import agent, or yourself — we’ll guide you through it either way, typically around 60 days out once travel dates are taking shape.
For military families on PCS orders: the notification can be submitted with an estimated travel date and updated once orders are confirmed, so a compressed timeline doesn’t have to hold things up. If your pet is traveling on military air (MILAIR), advance notification is not required at all.
Step 6 — Health Certificate and APHIS Endorsement
Within the validity window before departure, a USDA-accredited veterinarian issues a health certificate, which is then endorsed by USDA-APHIS through VEHCS. Digital endorsement is accepted 3 for dogs and cats. An APHIS-endorsed paper copy must accompany your pet during travel.
The preferred form for mainland US pets traveling to Japan is Form AC, which covers both the owner declaration and health certificate in one document.
For military families: - Active duty personnel and their families may use a valid health certificate issued by a military veterinarian without APHIS endorsement. - Retired military personnel still require APHIS endorsement, but may use the APHIS Form 7001, Form C, or the MDJ 2209 form.
Step 7 — Travel Day
Your pet’s health certificate, FAVN lab results, vaccination records, and advance notification confirmation must physically travel with them. Upon arrival at HND or NRT, the AQS will inspect your pet and verify documents. If everything is in order, the AQS inspection is typically completed the same day. One practical note: AQS operates during business hours. Pets arriving after 5PM cannot be released until the following day — we book flights with this in mind.
For onward travel within Japan, our preferred import agent handles customs clearance and coordinates delivery to your final destination.
Step 8 — After Arrival — Registration (Dogs Only)
Within 30 days of import, dog owners must register with the local Japanese municipal office and present the Import Quarantine Certificate issued by AQS at arrival. Keep this certificate permanently — it cannot be reissued and will be required if you ever export your pet from Japan.
What Documents Travel With Your Pet
USDA-endorsed health certificate (Form AC or equivalent)
FAVN rabies titer test results (original or USDA-endorsed copy)
Vaccination records (rabies + recommended immunizations)
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Advance notification confirmation from Japan AQS
Airway Bill (AWB) — manifest cargo only
Common Questions
7 months is the minimum, and that assumes everything goes right the first time. We recommend starting as soon as you know Japan is your destination. For military families, that means the moment PCS orders are issued — or even before, if Japan is a strong possibility. The 180-day wait is unforgiving, and there’s no way to compress it.
If the 180-day wait is complete before travel, arrival is a straightforward document check — no quarantine. If your pet arrives before 180 days have passed, they complete the remaining days in quarantine. For SOFA status military families living on base, Japan AQS allows that quarantine to be served at home on the installation rather than at a commercial facility — the pet just can’t leave the base or interact with outside animals until 4 cleared by the VTF. It’s also worth checking with your finance office — some quarantine-related costs may be partially reimbursable through your PCS entitlements.
A few things worth knowing. Active duty personnel can use a military veterinarian’s health certificate without APHIS endorsement. The DOD Vet Lab is an approved FAVN option if you have access to on-base vet services. If traveling on MILAIR, advance notification to Japan AQS isn’t required. If on a commercial flight with a compressed timeline, the advance notification can be submitted with an estimated date and updated once travel is confirmed. And if you’ll be living on base, your pet can complete any remaining quarantine days at home on the installation rather than at a commercial facility.
Yes — Japan has no stated limit on the number of pets per entry. Each pet must meet all requirements independently, with their own documentation.
Japan is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, which means returning dogs fall under the simpler re-entry track — no FAVN test, no waiting period. Your dog will need a valid rabies vaccination accepted by the US, and your documentation should be in order. Cats have no additional CDC import requirements on the way back unless they appear ill at the port of entry.
One caveat: CDC requirements are based on every country your dog has been in during the 6 months before returning to the US — not just where you’re flying from. If your dog traveled to a high-risk country at any point during that window, the more complex re-entry requirements apply regardless of your departure point. For most families staying in Japan, this won’t be a factor — but it’s worth knowing if travel took you elsewhere in the region. One thing worth planning ahead: airline policies for US-bound flights don’t always match what you did on the way out. Don’t assume the same travel method — in-cabin, excess baggage, or cargo — will be available for the return. Confirm with your carrier well before the move back.
Ready to Get Started?
We’ve moved pets to Japan many times — for civilian relocations and military PCS moves alike. The best first step is a conversation.
Requirements sourced from Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) and USDA-APHIS. Last verified: July 2026. Requirements can change without notice — we verify current conditions for every case before proceeding.