Import dogs and cats into Japan from the designated regions

To import dogs and cats from the designated regions (Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii and Guam), they must meet import requirements including microchipping and clinical inspection.

And you need to obtain certificates, which satisfy necessary information, issued by the government authorities of the exporting country.

Import guide

In the beginning, please read the import guide.

Import guide (designated regions)

Import guide from the designated regions English(PDF : 415KB) , Japanese(PDF : 800KB)

Flow chart

flowchart for import from the designated regions

Step 1 Microchip implanting

Dogs and cats must be identified by a microchip.

The microchip should comply with ISO 11784 and 11785 (15 digit microchip code consists only of numbers).
Make sure the microchip number can be read by a microchip reader at veterinary hospitals.

（Precautions）

In case that the microchip implanted is not ISO standards, you should contact Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry.
If our microchip reader cannot read the non-ISO microchip, you need to prepare a reader which can read it.
Microchip numbers starting with "900 202" are currently under investigation for their validity. Please note that for the time being, these microchips will not be accepted as a means of identification. (Apr. 7, 2023)
There have been cases where microchips with the same identification number were implanted into different animals.
In such cases, it may be necessary to re-implant a new microchip and redo the required procedures.
Therefore, once the timing of import is decided, please promptly submit the notification for import to the Animal Quarantine Service that has jurisdiction over the airport of arrival. (Dec. 19, 2025)
Example: Microchip numbers starting with “900”, especially those starting with“900113”, “900115”, “900128”, “900201”, “900215”, “900217” and “900263”.

F.A.Q. about microchip is here

Step 2 Regulations on residence

Dogs and cats must fulfill at least one of the following three conditions:

1．The dog or cat has been continuously resident in a designated region since birth.

2．The dog or cat has been continuously resident in a designated region for at least 180 days immediately before export to Japan.

3．The dog or cat has been continuously resident in a designated region since being directly imported from Japan.

If none of the above three conditions is fulfilled and the dog or cat has been continuously resident in a designated region for less than 180 days, it must be detained for quarantine upon arrival in Japan to compensate for the insufficient days (180 days minus the days when it was kept in a designated region).

Step 3 Advance notification

＜Advance notification＞

Applicants must notify import of animal to the Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry not less than 40 days before arrival in Japan.

Notification is made online through the NACCS.

If you find difficulties, you may submit the notification form by e-mail.

List of Animal Quarantine Service at airports and seaports

＜Approval of import inspection of animals＞

Animal Quarantine Service examines the notification and other attesting documents and issues an "approval of import inspection of animals".
Print or digitally save the "approval" and indicate it upon request, if any, when applying for an official export certificate or boarding an airplane.

＜Modification on notification＞

In case of any changes in the notification, modify it through NACCS or submit a ‘modification on notification of import of animals’ by e-mail to the Animal Quarantine Service.

Modification on notification of import of animals（PDF：30KB） (EXCEL : 15KB)

Notification made via NACCS needs to be modified through NACCS.

（Precautions）

Dogs can enter Japan only through the designated airports and seaports.
In principle, a notification submitted less than 40 days before arrival in Japan is not accepted.
Please also submit a copy of attesting documents, such as an export quarantine certificate if the dog or cat has been exported from Japan, to facilitate procedures.
Modifications of ‘moving up arrival date after submitting the notification’, ‘increasing the number of heads’, ‘replacing with different animals’, and ‘any change after the scheduled arrival date’ are not acceptable.
If there are any unclear points or deficiencies in the notification, we may not issue an approval.
In case that the detention facility is fully occupied, you may need to change the arrival date or the port of entry.

F.A.Q. about advance notification is here

Step 4 Clinical inspection before departure (pre-export inspection)

Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before boarding), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical inspection by a veterinarian. Please also check the animal's microchip number.

（Contents of clinical inspection）

Dogs and cats have been found to be free from any clinical signs of rabies.
In case of dogs, also the dogs have been found to be free from any clinical signs of leptospirosis.

Step 5 Obtaining certificates issued by the government authorities of the exporting country

Applicants must obtain certificates issued by the government authorities of the exporting country (corresponding to Animal Quarantine Service in Japan). Health certificates in the form of electromagnetic records are acceptable from Hawaii and Guam, USA.

（Required information in the certificates）

（1）Individual information （including date of birth or age）

（2）Microchip number and implanting date ［→Step 1］

（3）Certificate of residence ［→Step 2］

（4）There has been no case of rabies for at least 2 years prior to export in the exporting country.

（5）Result and date of clinical inspection （pre-export inspection） ［→Step 4］

（6）Seal number (if the crate is sealed） ［→Step 6］

By using a recommended certification form (Form AB), it is possible to fill in the required information without any omissions.

（How to fill out Form AB）

1. The private veterinarian fills in the Form AB. Then it must be endorsed by the government authorities of the exporting country.

2．In some countries, the government veterinarian would both fill in the Form AB and issue the certificate.
Be sure to have all the blanks of Form AB to be filled in and endorsed/certified by the government authorities of the exporting country.

3．If you need more pages, fill in the ATTACH form in a same manner, and attach it to the Form AB.

The original health certificates must be submitted to the Animal Quarantine Service.
Health certificates in the form of electromagnetic records are acceptable from Hawaii and Guam, USA when the required information is stated on the health certificate records or of its copy, and when it is confirmed that it has been issued by the government authorities of the exporting country.

（Precautions）

Do not use pencils or erasable ink to fill in the certificates.
Use of correcting fluid or correction tape is not acceptable.
If there are any deficiencies in the certificates, the dog or cat will be subject to detention quarantine for up to 180 days or will be shipped back. In order to prevent any errors in the certificates, we recommend you to send a copy of the certificates to us in advance so that we could check them.

F.A.Q. about obtaining certificates is here

Step 6 Regulations on transportation

Dogs and cats should be transported by direct flight/ship from the exporting country (designated region) to Japan.

If transported through non-designated regions (transit), either an official ‘seal to the transport crate’ or an ‘additional certificate on transportation (ANNEX)’ is necessary.

1．Get the crate sealed before shipment in the exporting country.

A veterinary officer of the government authorities of the exporting country must apply an official seal to the crate.

The seal number must be stated on the certificate issued by the government authorities of the exporting country.［→Step 5］

2．Obtain an additional certificate on transportation （ANNEX）.

Ensure that dogs and cats do not come into contact with other animals (dogs and cats are contained in the transport crate) during transportation. As proof, obtain an additional certificate on transportation (ANNEX) from the animal quarantine authorities or from the customs at the transit ports, airlines/shipping lines or captains.

ANNEX：PDF(PDF : 118KB) , Microsoft Word(WORD : 49KB)

（Precautions）

If there are any deficiencies on the seal or additional certificate（ANNEX）, the dog or cat will be detained for quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Service for 180 days.

Step 7 Import inspection

Dogs and cats must be inspected by Animal Quarantine Service upon arrival in Japan.

Importer must bring the animal in the crate to Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) upon arrival in Japan and apply for import inspection.

The AQS issues an import quarantine certificate once inspection of the animal is completed.

In case that the dog or cat doesn’t meet import requirements, it will be detained for quarantine up to 180 days or will be shipped back.

（Necessary documents）

Original certificates issued by the government authorities of the exporting country 【→Step 5】
An additional certificate on transportation (ANNEX) 【→if you choose obtaining ANNEX on Step 6】
An application for import inspection (online through ‘NACCS’ or the following form)
An application form for dogs（PDF：124KB） (EXCEL : 46KB)
An application form for cats（PDF：103KB） (EXCEL : 53KB)

(For cargo transportation) : A copy of Air Waybill or Bill of Lading
Power of attorney(Click Here for Details)
An example of power of attorney
Other documents that Animal Quarantine Service requires

Detention for quarantine

Dogs and cats which don’t meet import requirements including certification deficiency are detained at the facility of Animal Quarantine Service for the necessary period, up to 180 days.

breeding_dog

The importer is responsible for caretaking, feeding, and all the costs during quarantine.

The importer can entrust the caretaking and feeding duties to a caretaker company at your expense.

Detention facilities where a caretaking company is stationed are that of AQS in Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports.

（Precautions）

During quarantine, dogs and cats cannot be brought out from the detention facility under any circumstances, except when the dog or cat is shipped back to the exporting country.
If necessary, a veterinarian can visit the detention facility for medical treatments.
Visiting your dog or cat during quarantine is allowed, but the visiting hours and visitors are restricted.
If symptoms of rabies or, for dogs, leptospirosis is observed, the quarantine period may be extended and some additional examinations may be conducted.
Dogs and cats scheduled to be detained for quarantine need advance vaccinations (combination vaccine) and deworming.

F.A.Q. about detention for quarantine is here

Designated airports and seaports where import of dogs are allowed

Dogs can be imported only through the following 19 ports.

Airports (11):

New Chitose, Narita intl., Tokyo intl. (Haneda), Chubu Intl., Kansai Intl., Osaka Intl. (Itami), Kobe, Kitakyusyu, Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Naha

Seaports (8):

Tomakomai, Keihin (Tokyo, Kawasaki,Yokohama), Nagoya, Hanshin (Osaka, Kobe), Kanmon, Hakata, Kagoshima and Naha

If you import cats or come with your assistance dog (guide dogs, service dogs, and hearing dogs registered under the Japanese law) through a port other than listed above, please contact the Animal Quarantine Service in advance.

(Reference) Necessary procedures after import into Japan

Keep the import quarantine certificate of your dogs and cats, since it cannot be reissued. It becomes necessary when you export them. If you have a plan, please apply for inspection at least 14 days before export to the Animal Quarantine Service at the port of departure.
Dogs must be registered in Japan. For registration, bring the import quarantine certificate to the municipality, where the imported dog is kept, within 30 days of import.
Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies once a year under the Rabies Prevention Act in Japan. For further information, contact the municipality office.
The microchip number (currently only those in accordance with ISO standards) can be registered domestically with the import quarantine certificate. For further information, contact AIPO (Animal ID Promotion Organization).

（AIPO office）TEL：03-3475-1695, FAX：03-3475-1697

F.A.Q: Frequently-asked questions and answers
Contacts of Animal Quarantine Service at airports and seaports