The Japanese Animal Quarantine Service has laid-out a number of requirements for how to safely, comfortably, and conveniently bring your pets into the country. What follows are basic guidelines for dogs and cats. For more specific information, or for details on importing other animals, please visit the AQS Web site at http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/index.html.
Designated Regions
Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service has designated 11 locations from which the animal import process can be expedited: Australia, Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland only).
1. When importing cats or dogs, advance notification of your date of arrival and the total number of animals for import must be provided to the AQS at least 40 days before arriving in Japan. Notification forms and other instructions can be found here: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-free.html.
2. Dogs or cats that have the appropriate paperwork (the advance notice document and a certificate from the export nation’s government that includes information including the dog’s microchip number), and have been kept within the designated region for the preceding 180 days (or since birth) will be able to complete the quarantine process within 12 hours of arrival.
3. Once the quarantine process concludes, the AQS will provide an import quarantine certificate which must then be used to register your cat or dog with the local authorities within the area you’ll be living.
Non-Designated Regions
Pets arriving from states or countries beyond the 11 listed above must undergo the following quarantine process.
1. When importing cats or dogs, advance notification of your date of arrival and the total number of animals for import must be provided to the AQS at least 40 days before arriving in Japan. Notification forms and other instructions can be found here: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html.
2. Dogs or cats that have a certificate from the export nation’s government that includes information on the animal’s microchip number, dates of rabies vaccinations, rabies antibody levels, and confirms that the pet resided within the export country for 180 days before departure, will complete the quarantine period within 12 hours. Those that do not meet this criteria may be quarantined for up to 180 days.
3. Once the quarantine process concludes, the AQS will provide an import quarantine certificate which must then be used to register your cat or dog with the local authorities within the area you’ll be living.
*More information on the specific steps required for a 12-hour quarantine can be found here: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html.
