Moving to Japan With a Pet: Rabies Quarantine, Documents and Timing

This article is part of Zagdim’s wiki series on moving to Japan with a pet. It explains the rabies quarantine, documents, waiting period and flight arrangements that a dog or cat owner must complete before moving to Japan. If you live outside Japan and are already planning, or thinking about, bringing a pet into the country, this article is written for you.

Example: Mori lives outside Japan and wants to move with one dog and one cat. This is a fictional example, used only to apply the rules to a situation.

What’s the First Step Before Bringing a Dog or Cat to Japan?

First, confirm what kind of animal you have. Japan’s rules, and the agencies that enforce them, differ by animal type.

Dogs and cats:

Both dogs and cats must undergo rabies quarantine.
Dogs must also undergo quarantine for leptospirosis (レプトスピラ症).
Guide dogs, mobility service dogs and hearing dogs are subject to the same import conditions as other dogs. A service animal may travel in the cabin, but that does not exempt it from Japan’s quarantine requirements.

Other animals:

Ferrets, hamsters, squirrels, parrots and similar animals require an import notification (輸入届出) filed with a quarantine station under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, telling the authorities in advance that the animal is being brought in.
Filing the notification alone is not enough. The animal must also meet the notification conditions, including an attached health certificate, before it can be brought into Japan.
That health certificate is issued by the government of the exporting country, meaning the government agency where the pet is departing from.
Rodents such as hamsters and squirrels are not expected to be able to obtain this certificate. Without it, they cannot be brought in.
The vaccine, antibody and waiting-period rules for dogs and cats do not apply to other animals.

Example: Both of Mori’s pets must undergo rabies quarantine, and the dog must also undergo leptospirosis quarantine.

Is Your Country a “Designated Region”?

Japan keeps a list of designated regions (指定地域) for dogs and cats, and the list determines which procedure applies.

As of October 31, 2026, the list consists of Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam. Most departure points for international pet owners, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, mainland China and Malaysia, are not on this list, so pets from those places must go through the non-designated-region procedure.

*Image: Excerpt from the Japan Animal Quarantine Service website listing designated regions and government certificate requirements (screenshot, checked October 31, 2026).*

Dogs and cats coming from a designated region must meet one of the following residency histories, meaning a record of where the pet has lived:

Lived only in a designated region since birth.
Lived only in a designated region for at least 180 days before traveling to Japan.
Lived only in a designated region continuously since being exported from Japan.

If none of these apply, the pet must make up the shortfall in days at an animal quarantine facility (係留施設) after arrival. The Animal Quarantine Service is the Japanese authority responsible for inspecting animals entering the country. The shortfall is 180 days minus the number of days actually spent living in the designated region.

The designated-region procedure still requires a certificate from the exporting country’s government. (A companion article on how the paperwork differs for owners departing from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore covers that in more detail.)

Example: Mori is departing from a country that is not on the designated list, so both the dog and the cat must go through the non-designated-region procedure.

Before You Depart: Microchip, Vaccines, Antibody Test and the 180-Day Wait

Dogs and cats departing from a non-designated region generally must follow this sequence.

Step	What to Do	Key Conditions
1	Implant a microchip (マイクロチップ)	In principle, done before the first rabies vaccine. The chip must meet ISO 11784 and 11785 standards, and a reader must be confirmed to read the number correctly.
2	First rabies vaccination	Given no earlier than 91 days after birth (the day of birth counts as day 0). It can be given on the same day as the microchip, but the chip must go in first.
3	Second rabies vaccination	At least 30 days after the first (the first vaccination date counts as day 0). The first vaccine’s effective immunity period must not have ended yet when the second is given.
4	Blood draw for antibody test	Done only after the second vaccination; it can be the same day, but must fall within the effective immunity period. The serum is sent to a testing facility designated by Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (指定検査施設). The antibody titer must reach 0.5 IU/ml or higher. The result is valid for 2 years from the blood-draw date.
5	Wait	The blood-draw date counts as day 0; at least 180 days must pass before arrival in Japan.
6	Clinical examination	Within 10 days before departure, by a private veterinarian or a government veterinarian of the exporting country. It must confirm the animal has no sign, and no suspected sign, of rabies and leptospirosis. For cats, only rabies needs to be confirmed.
7	Obtain the exporting government’s certificate	Issued by the exporting government, stating the animal’s identity, microchip, vaccination, antibody test and pre-departure clinical examination details. A document signed only by a veterinarian, without going through a government process, does not count on its own.

*Image: Excerpt from Japan’s “Check Sheet for Entry into Japan Within 12 Hours of Quarantine (Non-Designated Regions),” showing the microchip, rabies vaccine, antibody test and arrival-date fields (screenshot, checked October 31, 2026).*

The effective immunity period is the period during which the vaccine is effective inside the pet’s body, not the vaccine product’s shelf life.

Points to watch when vaccinating:

Japan recognizes inactivated vaccines (不活化ワクチン) or recombinant vaccines (組換え型ワクチン), both of which must meet World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards.
Live vaccines (生ワクチン) and RNA vaccines are not recognized.
Dogs and cats following this procedure must keep up booster vaccinations before traveling to Japan.
If the effective immunity period is interrupted for even one day, the antibody test result already obtained becomes invalid, and the process must restart from the first rabies vaccination.

Exceptions:

Vaccinating before implanting the microchip: allowed only if the case qualifies for an official conditional-acceptance procedure.
Returning to Japan for a short period after leaving: a separate advance-preparation procedure applies.
Not having to restart the wait after an antibody retest: all continuation conditions must be met.

(A companion article covers the full document steps: microchip, vaccines, antibody test and health certificate.)

Example: In principle, both of Mori’s pets must complete this entire table. At step 6, the dog must be confirmed free of both rabies and leptospirosis, while the cat only needs rabies confirmed.

How Do You Report in Advance, and Will Your Pet Be Quarantined at the Airport?

Dogs and cats departing from a non-designated region must file their notification no later than 40 days before arrival in Japan. Whether the pet faces extended quarantine depends on whether it meets Japan’s conditions.

Before departure: file the advance notification

The advance notification (事前届出) is filed with Japan’s quarantine authorities before arrival. You must notify the animal quarantine station responsible for the arrival airport or port. In principle, a notification submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

How to file: You can file through the NACCS Animal Quarantine System and submit the import inspection application at the same time. If NACCS is unavailable, you can submit the notification form by email attachment instead.
Flight not yet booked: You may file the notification in advance and enter “undetermined” or your planned flight in the vessel/flight field.
Once the flight is confirmed: You must update it in NACCS. Those using the paper process must email an amendment notification to the quarantine station that originally accepted the filing.
Notification acceptance letter (届出受理書): Issued once the quarantine station confirms the filing has no problems; it serves as a receipt confirming the filing was in order.
Keep the acceptance letter: Departure-side procedures and the airline may ask to see it when loading the pet, so keep a paper or digital copy. This document does not mean quarantine has already been passed.

After arrival: the import inspection

The owner must go through an import inspection at the animal quarantine station, generally submitting:

The original certificate from the exporting government.
The antibody test result notification.
The import inspection application form. Those who filed and applied together through NACCS do not need to reapply separately.
For cargo shipments, an Air Way Bill or Bill of Lading copy, both of which are transport documents.

An electronic certificate from the exporting government can substitute for the original only if it meets conditions on advance notice and the issuing body. If someone else handles this on your behalf, it must follow the power-of-attorney (委任状) rules, a document authorizing someone else to act for you.

Once the inspection clears, the animal quarantine station issues the import quarantine certificate (輸入検疫証明書) and permits the pet’s import.

How long quarantine lasts depends on which situation applies

Quarantine confinement (係留検査) means keeping the pet at a quarantine facility for a period.

Situation	Outcome
Meets the conditions for quarantine of 12 hours or less	Quarantine of 12 hours or less. The official Q&A states arrival procedures take about 1 hour, and the import manual states the process usually finishes within a few hours. The actual time varies with how busy the facility is and is not a guaranteed limit.
Only the 180-day wait is short; every other required condition is met	The quarantine period equals 180 days minus the number of days already waited. Neither the date the inspection application is submitted nor the day the import quarantine certificate is received counts toward this.
Does not meet Japan’s import conditions	Possible quarantine of up to 180 days, or the animal may not be imported at all.

A pet’s existing illness or advanced age does not shorten or waive the quarantine. (A companion article covers the full process: advance notification, airport inspection and quarantine risk.)

Example: Mori hasn’t booked a flight yet, but can still file the notification in advance, entering “undetermined” in the flight field. Once the flight is confirmed, Mori will need to file the amendment.

Cabin, Checked Baggage or Cargo: What’s the Difference?

The difference is in how the pet travels and where it is collected after arrival in Japan. The quarantine requirements themselves do not change based on the transport method.

Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service treats carry-on/checked baggage separately from cargo shipment. A pet placed in the cargo hold as checked baggage is not the same as a cargo shipment.

Comparison	Carry-On/Checked Baggage (携帯品／受託手荷物)	Cargo Shipment (貨物輸送)
During transport	Can be carried in the cabin or the cargo hold	An Air Way Bill is issued
After arrival in Japan	A pet in the cargo hold is handed over at baggage claim or a similar location	The pet is sent to a bonded warehouse in the cargo area, where animal quarantine is completed before customs

Airlines also have their own terms. Below are the rules of two carriers as checked on October 31, 2026, for this article.

All Nippon Airways (ANA), international routes:

When a passenger and pet travel on the same flight, the pet is accepted as cargo-hold checked baggage.
Only available to passengers whose flight is actually operated by ANA and booked under an ANA flight number.
Tickets issued under another carrier’s flight number are not accepted.
For codeshare flights (one aircraft carrying multiple carriers’ flight numbers), check with the airline that actually operates the flight.

Asiana Airlines:

Dogs, cats and small birds may travel in the cabin with the passenger, subject to weight and carrier requirements.
The combined weight of the pet and carrier must be 7 kg or less.
Pets under 16 weeks old, or pets given sedatives or sleeping medication, are not accepted.
Still subject to route, aircraft type and destination regulations.

Separately, dogs in principle can only be imported through specific designated airports and seaports in Japan. Cats or legally recognized service dogs must use other ports and should confirm with the animal quarantine station first. (A companion article covers flight and transport choices in more detail.)

Example: If Mori chooses cargo shipment, the pets will be sent to a bonded warehouse in the cargo area on arrival, where animal quarantine happens before customs. If checked as baggage instead, the quarantine requirements are the same.

After Arrival: What Else Do You and Your Pet Need to Do?

Four more things remain: registering the dog, keeping the import quarantine certificate safe, confirming that you personally can enter and stay in Japan, and confirming that your housing allows pets.

1. Register the dog

A dog that has not yet completed dog registration (犬の登録) generally must be registered within 30 days of import, per general guidance.
The owner brings the import quarantine certificate to the municipal (市町村) office where the dog will live.
For a puppy acquired at 90 days old or younger, the deadline is 30 days from the day it turns 90 days old.
Some local governments have their own exceptions, so follow the procedure where the pet will live.
This registration requirement does not apply to cats.

2. Keep the import quarantine certificate

This certificate cannot be reissued. It will be needed again later if you take the pet out of Japan, so keep it safe and contact the animal quarantine station early when that time comes.

3. Confirm that you personally can enter and stay in Japan

Your pet passing quarantine does not mean you are permitted to enter Japan or obtain residency status. Buying property in Japan, or an airline agreeing to transport your pet, likewise does not mean this either.

Whether a foreign national may land, meaning enter Japan, is reviewed by an immigration inspector, who checks the passport, visa validity, purpose of entry and planned length of stay.

If the conditions are met, landing permission (上陸許可) is granted. The permit specifies the status of residence (在留資格) and period of stay (在留期間), meaning what status you hold while in Japan and how long you may stay.

4. Confirm that your housing allows pets

Renting: Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism publishes a standard residential lease template (賃貸住宅標準契約書). The template lists dogs and cats as requiring the landlord’s prior written consent, but not every lease in Japan is required to use this template.
Owning a condominium unit: Check the building’s house rules (管理規約) to see whether pets are allowed, which kinds and how many, and how waste and rule violations are handled.

(A companion article covers ongoing costs after moving: rental restrictions, vet care, insurance and daily expenses.)

Example: Mori must bring the import quarantine certificate to register the dog; the cat does not need registering. If Mori’s lease uses the standard template, written consent from the landlord is needed before keeping the dog and cat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a service dog brought into Japan still need quarantine? Yes. Guide dogs, mobility service dogs and hearing dogs are subject to the same import conditions. Being allowed in the cabin does not exempt an animal from Japan’s quarantine.

If departing from a non-designated region, when does the 180-day count start? It starts from the date of the blood draw for the rabies antibody test, which counts as day 0, not the date the report is issued. On arrival, the vaccine must still be within its effective immunity period, and the antibody result must still be within its 2-year validity from the blood-draw date.

Does the notification acceptance letter mean quarantine has already been passed? No. The notification acceptance letter (届出受理書) only confirms that the advance notification itself had no problems. After arrival, the pet still must pass the animal quarantine station’s import inspection before the import quarantine certificate is issued.

Is pet quarantine free, and is the stay at a quarantine facility free too? No. The inspection carried out by the Animal Quarantine Service itself is free, but the importer must cover:

Transport to the quarantine facility.
Daily care fees during confinement, with the amount to be confirmed with the facility operator.
Utility costs at the facility.
Fees for a private veterinarian attending on-site.

Is an antibody test report from a previously designated laboratory always valid for two years? Not necessarily. Biobest Laboratories has had its designation revoked for not meeting the designation standard. Anyone holding a certificate issued between November 27, 2024 and June 25, 2025 should check with the animal quarantine station at the planned arrival airport.

Glossary

Leptospirosis (レプトスピラ症): An additional disease dogs must be tested for before traveling to Japan; this does not apply to cats.
Designated region (指定地域): The list of source regions for dogs and cats maintained by Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service. As of October 31, 2026, this is Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam.
Microchip (マイクロチップ): The chip that dogs and cats imported from outside a designated region generally must have implanted, meeting ISO 11784 and 11785 standards.
Advance notification (事前届出): The filing that owners importing dogs and cats from outside a designated region must submit to the animal quarantine station no later than 40 days before arrival in Japan.
Notification acceptance letter (届出受理書): The document issued once the animal quarantine station confirms the advance notification has no problems; it does not mean the import inspection has passed.
Import quarantine certificate (輸入検疫証明書): The certificate issued once the animal quarantine station confirms, after arrival, that there is no problem; it cannot be reissued.
House rules (管理規約): The condominium rules governing whether dogs and cats are allowed and related matters.

About This Information

The facts in this article were checked as of October 31, 2026.

The main conditions for importing dogs and cats into Japan are drawn from the official pages of the Animal Quarantine Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The quarantine station at the arrival airport makes the final determination for each individual animal.
The information on rodents such as hamsters and squirrels follows a Q&A from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
The dog registration deadline for puppies follows Article 4 of the Rabies Prevention Act.
Airline rules cite the official pages of ANA and Asiana Airlines as archived on October 31, 2026. These are carrier terms, not Japanese government regulations, and do not represent other airlines.
This article does not cover Japan’s list of banned dog and cat breeds, the specific cost of veterinary care and pet insurance, or any airline’s real-time flights, aircraft type or pet cabin availability.

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Important Notice

This article is a general information summary and does not constitute legal or quarantine advice for any individual case. The facts were checked as of October 31, 2026. Rules in Japan and elsewhere may be updated; follow the current announcements of the relevant authorities, and consult a qualified professional for individual cases.