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Bringing a Cat from the UK to Japan: Requirements & Timeline

The UK is not a rabies-free 'designated region' for Japan, so cats face the same full seven-month process as dogs.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a dog instead? See the dog version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Despite the UK's rabies-controlled status, Japan treats it as a non-designated region — the same as the US — for cats and dogs alike. The order is fixed: microchip before the first rabies vaccination, a second vaccination 30+ days later, a FAVN titer draw, then arrival only once 180 days have passed. UK paperwork is the APHA Export Health Certificate (EHC 6407).

Minimum lead time: about 7 months (211 days). Japan's designated-region shortcut covers only Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam — not the UK. A UK cat needs two rabies shots, a titer test, and 180 full days of waiting.
Going on vacation, not moving? The same timeline still applies. Japan makes no exception for tourists or short stays — these rules apply to every dog and cat entering the country, so a two-week holiday needs the same months of preparation as a permanent move. There is no short-stay shortcut.
Already vaccinated, or already have a titer result? You may be months ahead. Most of Japan's 211-day lead time is the rabies-antibody (titer) wait. If your cat already passed a titer — and it's still valid on your travel date — use the “How far along is your pet?” selector in the planner above to re-plan from what's left. A titer that's already cleared its waiting period can turn a “too late” into “on track.”

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. ISO microchip implanted
    ISO 11784/11785-compliant (15-digit) microchip, implanted BEFORE the first rabies vaccination. A rabies shot given before the chip does not count and must be repeated.
    Official source ↗
  2. Rabies vaccination #1
    Inactivated or recombinant vaccine only, given at 91 days of age or older (date of birth counts as day 0), after the microchip.
    Official source ↗
  3. Rabies vaccination #2
    At least 30 days after the first (the first vaccination day counts as day 0) and within the effective period of the first vaccination.
    Official source ↗
  4. Rabies antibody blood draw (FAVN/RFFIT) — starts the 180-day wait
    Blood drawn after the second vaccination and sent to a MAFF-designated laboratory (in the UK, APHA Woodham Lane); the titer must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Your pet may only ARRIVE in Japan after 180 days have passed from the sampling date (sampling day = day 0, so day 181 at the earliest) and within 2 years of sampling.
    Arriving even one day early means detention for the shortfall. There is no residency requirement for non-designated regions like the UK.
    Official source ↗
  5. Advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service
    Notify the AQS office at your port of entry at least 40 days before arrival (via NACCS or email). Notification submitted less than 40 days before arrival is not accepted.
    Official source ↗
  6. Pre-export clinical inspection
    Within 10 days before boarding, a veterinarian must confirm your dog is free of clinical signs of rabies and leptospirosis (cats: rabies only).
    Official source ↗
  7. APHA export health certificate (EHC 6407)
    The UK Export Health Certificate 6407, signed and endorsed by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian within 10 days of export, covering the microchip, both vaccinations, the titer result and the clinical inspection.
    Official source ↗

How a cat's process differs from a dog's

The dates are identical. The only differences are lighter for cats: the pre-export certificate covers rabies only (dogs also need leptospirosis), and cats have more flexibility on ports of entry. The planner dates every step for a cat.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

Is the UK a rabies-free country for Japan?
No — Japan treats the UK as a non-designated region, the same as the US. The full microchip, two-vaccination, titer and 180-day wait apply to cats too.
How long does it take to bring a cat from the UK to Japan?
About 7 months from a standing start: microchip and first rabies shot, second shot 30+ days later, titer draw, then arrival only after 180 days from the draw. The planner computes your dates.
Who issues the UK export paperwork?
APHA issues the Export Health Certificate 6407, signed by an authorised Official Veterinarian within 10 days of export.

Other cat routes

Compare every country's lead time, titer and return requirements side by side →

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.
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