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Bringing a Dog from the USA to Japan: Requirements & Timeline

Japan is rabies-free and treats the US as a non-designated region — the process works, but only in one exact order, and it takes about seven months.

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

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat 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.)

Nobody fails Japan because the rules are secret — they fail because the rules are sequenced. The microchip must go in before the first rabies shot or the shot doesn't count. The titer blood draw only counts after the second shot. And your dog may only arrive once 180 days have passed from the day that blood was drawn — land one day early and your dog is detained at the Animal Quarantine Station for the shortfall, at your expense, with detention running up to 180 days for animals that skipped the process entirely.

Done correctly, the reward is real: import inspection at the airport takes 12 hours or less, usually far less, and your dog goes home with you the same day.

Minimum lead time: about 7 months (211 days). Japan's Animal Quarantine Service itself says preparation "normally needs to begin 7 months before arrival." The chain that forces it: two rabies vaccinations 30+ days apart, then a blood draw, then 180 full days of waiting before your dog may land.
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.

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. Same-day is acceptable only if the chip goes in first — 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 (no live or mRNA vaccines), 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; 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 at the Animal Quarantine Station for the shortfall. Ask your vet whether the draw can be done at the same visit as vaccination #2.
    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). Dogs use the 'Notification of Import Inspection of Dog' form; AQS replies with an approval of import inspection.
    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. Health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS
    Government-endorsed export health certificate (AQS recommends Japan's two-part Form A/C) covering the microchip, both vaccinations, the titer result and the clinical inspection. A private vet's certificate is invalid without the USDA APHIS endorsement — it must be in hand by arrival.
    Official source ↗

Quarantine: 12 hours or 180 days — nothing in between worth having

Japan doesn't do "a little quarantine." Meet every condition and clearance is a same-day formality. Miss one — a chip that reads wrong, a titer below 0.5 IU/ml, an arrival inside the 180-day window, a certificate without USDA endorsement — and detention is measured in weeks or months. This is why the planner above is strict: the order and the day-counts are the whole game.

What it costs (rough US figures)

Expect several vet visits (microchip, two vaccinations, blood draw, pre-export exam), the FAVN titer test at a MAFF-designated lab, USDA APHIS endorsement fees, and the airline's pet fee. Most owners complete the US side for a few hundred dollars total before airfare — the expensive scenario is the one where a sequencing mistake forces detention in Japan or a rebooked flight. Confirm current fees with your vet, the testing lab and APHIS.

Airline note

Airlines layer their own rules (crate specs, weather embargoes, breed restrictions) on top of Japan's. Japan also restricts dogs to designated ports of entry. Confirm both with your airline once your 180-day wait has a firm end date — the planner tells you the earliest day flying is even possible.

Official sources

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

Rather have a professional handle the whole move? Pet relocation companies manage the vet visits, paperwork, and bookings end-to-end. (Referral placement — link to relocation partner here.)
Traveling internationally with a pet? Vet visits abroad are out-of-network by definition. (Pet insurance affiliate placement here.)

FAQ

How long does it take to bring a dog from the US to Japan?
About 7 months if you start from scratch today: microchip and first rabies shot now, second shot 30+ days later, titer blood draw, then arrival is allowed only after 180 days have passed from the blood-draw date (the draw day counts as day 0). The planner above computes your exact dates.
Can I shorten Japan's 180-day waiting period?
No. Arriving early means your dog is detained at an Animal Quarantine Station for the remaining days at your expense. The only lever you control is starting the clock sooner — the blood draw is what starts it.
Does my dog quarantine in Japan?
Not if everything was done in order: import inspection is 12 hours or less. Detention (up to 180 days) only happens when a requirement was missed.
Is it different for cats?
The timeline is identical — chip, two rabies vaccinations, titer, 180-day wait, 40-day notification. Differences are minor: the pre-export certificate for dogs must also cover leptospirosis, dogs must use designated ports, and the notification form differs. Use the cat toggle in the planner.
How long is the rabies titer test valid?
Two years from the blood-draw date — your dog must arrive in Japan within that window. If it will lapse, a second draw taken on or after day 181 from the first keeps you covered without restarting the 180-day wait, provided vaccination coverage never lapsed.

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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.