Flying with a dog or cat to Japan
The clock
210 days
from the first step, for an animal that has nothing yet
When the clock actually starts
This is the point nearly every guide gets wrong.
180 jours — Dogs and cats are required to arrive in Japan after 180 days have passed from the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody test.
The steps, in order
- Puce électroniqueAVANT toute vaccination antirabique comptabilisée
- Vaccination antirabique, deux fois au minimumaprès la puce
- Test sérologique en laboratoire désignéaprès la seconde vaccination
- Attente de 180 joursdepuis la date de prélèvement
- Notification préalable à l'AQSau plus tard 40 jours avant l'arrivée
- Examen clinique avant départdans les 10 jours avant l'embarquement
- Certificats visés par l'autorité du pays de départavant le départ
- Inspection à l'arrivéeà l'arrivée au Japon
If the paperwork does not comply
Quarantaine de détention jusqu'à 180 jours, ou renvoi
In case that the dog or cat doesn't meet import requirements, it will be subject detention quarantine for up to 180 days or will be returned.
Documented routes
27 routes in our catalogue arrive in Japan, with the airlines that accept the animal.
The other long-preparation destinations
3 countries in the catalogue impose a wait measured in months. They do not start from the same event.
Source
Animal Quarantine Service (AQS), ministère de l'Agriculture, des Forêts et de la Pêche. Read at source and verified on 2026-09-22. maff.go.jp
Further reading
The other regimes
- United States: the rules state by stateNo federal rule for a domestic flight. Eleven states require nothing.
- Overseas France: European Union or third countryFort-de-France and Nouméa look like the same flight. They are not.
- Latin America: who is exempt from the titration testArgentina, Chile and Mexico yes. Seven other countries no, and that is three months.
- Spain: the 29 entry points, and only thoseArriving anywhere else means arriving where no veterinary check exists.