Transhipment of dogs, cats and rabbits through Japan

Transhipment is when the animal is moved from an aircraft and spends time at the airport in Japan before being loaded onto the same or a different aircraft at the same airport and departing Japan. During the period of transhipment, the animal cannot leave the restricted area of the airport and will remain under control of the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS).

Conditions to be met are :
1. Arrival of dogs and rabbits in Japan is restricted to New Chitose Airport; Narita International Airport; Tokyo International Airport; Chubu International Airport; Kansai International Airport; Fukuoka Airport; Kagoshima Airport or Naha Airport.

2. A health certificate is obtained from the government authority of the exporting country, that certifies the animal is in good health.
(For dogs and rabbits, this certificate is a must, even if it is not required from the destination country.)

3. Provide the health certificate to the airline staff, who submits a copy to the AQS in the airport of arrival.

4. Before arrival, notify the following information to the AQS via the airline staff.

1) Name of the owner and address where the animal was kept
2) Name of transhipping destination country
3) Kind, heads and origin (country) of the animal
4) Scheduled flight number to Japan and the place and date of embarkation and that of arrival
5) Connected flight number and the date of departure from Japan


NOTE)
If there is any change in the carrier airline or airport of the connecting flight (e.g. from Haneda to Narita) or the means of transport (e.g. from hand luggage to air cargo), transhipment may not be applied and entry conditions into Japan will be imposed. If entry conditions are not met, your pet may be returned to the exporting country.
Please contact the airline company in advance to take necessary procedures.