Can I prepare all the documents myself or do I need an agent?

You can do everything yourself. The MAFF advance notification is submitted online by the owner. The health certificate requires a vet and in some countries a government endorsement, but no agent is required. Some owners use pet relocation services for complex international moves, but for Japan specifically the process is well-documented and manageable without one.

What if my pet's microchip can't be scanned at the airport?

AQS staff will attempt to read the chip with an ISO-compatible scanner. If the chip is unreadable, your pet may be quarantined until the issue is resolved. Have your vet scan the chip at the final health certificate appointment to confirm it's working before you travel.

Do I need to declare my pet separately from my baggage?

Yes. Pets traveling as cargo or in the hold must be declared and processed through AQS, separately from your standard customs declaration. Your airline will guide you through the check-in process on departure, but the AQS inspection happens on arrival in Japan.

My vet says the titer test isn't necessary. Are they right?

For Japan, no. The titer test is mandatory regardless of vaccination history, country of origin, or how many years your pet has been vaccinated. A vet unfamiliar with Japan's import rules may not be aware of this. The requirement is on the official AQS website and has not changed.

Japan Pet Import Checklist (2026)

Japan doesn't give second chances at the border. If a document is missing, dated incorrectly, or issued by the wrong person, your pet goes into quarantine while you sort it out. This checklist covers every requirement, in the order you need to complete it, for dogs and cats entering Japan in 2026.

Save it. Print it. Check off each item before you travel.

Timeline Overview

Phase	When
Microchip implant	At least 8 to 9 months before travel
Vaccine 1 (primary)	After microchip, any time
Vaccine 2 (booster)	At least 30 days before titer test
Titer test blood draw	180+ days before planned entry date
MAFF advance notification	At least 40 days before arrival
Health certificate	Within 10 days of departure
Arrival	One of 4 approved airports only

Quick navigation

Section 1: Microchip
Section 2: Rabies Vaccinations
Section 3: Rabies Titer Test
Section 4: MAFF Advance Notification
Section 5: Health Certificate
Section 6: Travel Day
Dogs vs. Cats: Any Differences?
FAQ

1Microchip

Microchip is ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit)
Microchip was implanted before any rabies vaccinations were recorded
Chip number is correctly recorded on all subsequent documents
Chip has been scanned and confirmed readable by your vet

If your pet already had a chip before you started this process, check whether it was implanted before the first rabies vaccine on record. If not, Japan may not accept the prior vaccination history, and you may need to re-vaccinate after confirming the chip.

2Rabies Vaccinations

Primary rabies vaccination given after microchip implant
Booster rabies vaccination given at least 30 days before titer test blood draw
Both vaccinations documented with the microchip number
Vaccination certificate shows: vaccine brand, batch number, date administered, vet signature
Vaccinations are not expired and will remain valid through your travel date

Two vaccinations are the minimum. If your dog or cat has had more, that's fine, but the sequence still needs to show at least two doses after the microchip, with the last one at least 30 days before the blood draw.

3Rabies Titer Test

Blood sample drawn at least 30 days after the second vaccination
Sample sent to a MAFF-approved laboratory (not your local vet)
Result: 0.5 IU/mL or higher
Test certificate shows: blood draw date, lab name, microchip number, result value
180 days have elapsed since the blood draw date before your travel date

The 180-day countdown starts from the blood draw date, not the date the result was issued. Write that date down and count forward. If your result came back failing, you need to re-vaccinate and retest before the clock can start.

The current list of MAFF-approved laboratories is available on the Animal Quarantine Service website.

4MAFF Advance Notification

Advance notification submitted through the AQS online portal
Submitted at least 40 days before arrival in Japan
Notification includes: microchip number, vaccination dates, titer test result, airline, flight number, arrival airport, arrival date
Confirmation received from AQS
Printed copy of confirmation in your travel documents

Do not wait until 40 days out to start this. The online portal occasionally has processing delays, and any error in the form means starting over. Submit at 50 to 60 days out if possible.

5Health Certificate

Issued by a government-accredited veterinarian (not a regular vet in all countries)
Issued within 10 days of your departure date
Signed and stamped by the relevant government authority in your country
Shows: microchip number, species, breed, age, sex, vaccination history, titer test reference, owner details
Original document in your carry-on, not checked luggage

The health certificate requirements vary slightly by country of departure. Check the specific format Japan accepts from your country on the AQS website.

6Travel Day

Arriving at an approved airport: Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Kansai (KIX), or Chubu Centrair (NGO)
Pet carrier meets airline size and weight requirements
Airline notified of pet travel at time of booking (not just check-in)
All original documents in carry-on: microchip record, vaccination certificates, titer test result, AQS notification confirmation, health certificate
Copies of all documents kept separately as backup
Contact details for the AQS station at your arrival airport noted

At the airport, AQS staff will scan the microchip, review all documents, and cross-reference against your advance notification. Clearance for fully compliant arrivals typically takes a few hours.

Dogs vs. Cats: Any Differences?

No. Japan applies identical requirements to both dogs and cats. Same microchip standard, same vaccination sequence, same titer test, same 180-day wait, same advance notification, same health certificate, same approved airports.

The only practical difference is that some airlines have separate cargo crate size requirements for cats versus dogs. Check with your specific carrier.

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What If You're Coming From a Designated Region?

MAFF maintains a list of "designated regions" with strict rabies control programs. Pets from these areas may qualify for a shorter quarantine of under 12 hours rather than the standard process. The list includes parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii, among others.

Even from designated regions, all documentation is still required. The designation affects quarantine length, not paperwork. Check whether your departure country is on the current list before assuming it applies to you.

For a full breakdown of Japan's entry requirements by country, see the PetTravelRules Japan country page.

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