Bringing Pets to Japan

Advise on how to bring your pet into Japan

If you are bringing in a pet from non-designated country, you must begin the following procedure around 210 days prior to the planned moving date.
The designated countries are Taiwan, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, and Guam.
(Please be sure to check the most current list of designated countries, as it is subject to change due to new discovery of rabies in certain countries, as it was the case in UK in recent years.)

- IMPORTANT REMARKS -

If you import a pet without satisfying the procedures, you will be required to place your pet into a quarantine facility operated by the Narita Quarantine Office. The cost is about JPY3,000 per day.
If, for example, you did not get the rabies vaccination nor any rabies anti-virus test, you will be required to have your pet held for quarantine for a maximum of 180 days in Japan, and your total expense will come out to: 180 days x JPY3,000/day = JPY540,000.

If you are bringing a pet from a designated countries, as long as the following conditions are cleared at the origin country and also in Japan, no quarantine period will be required as a general rule.
Designated countries at this moment are as follows.
Taiwan, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Guam
* Please note that the designated countries are subject to change, so please check to make sure before bringing in your pet.

Animal-Dogs

Detention Period for Importation and Exportation of Dogs

Dogs vaccinated against rabies
Exceeding 30days after vaccination
With a health certificateWithout a health certificate
Import14days30days
ExportWithin 12hours
Not exceeding 30days after vaccination
With a health certificateWithout a health certificate
Import45days minus days after vaccination61days minus days after vaccination
Export31days minus days after vaccination
Dogs imported from designated area
With a health certificate
Importwithin 12hours
Export -

Cat importation

Only a valid health certificate from the origin country is required.

- Contact us -

4-6-11 Nishiogi-Minami Suginami-ku
Tokyo 167-0053 Japan
TEL:03-3334-9066
Free Dial:0120-981-862