In Daisy Pet’s 2026 quotes, moving a cat from Vietnam to Japan with its owner cost USD 1,500 to 1,600 for the Vietnam-side work. The airline’s pet fee comes on top: USD 200 to 400 on Vietnam Airlines, or JPY 25,000 on ANA and JAL. Dogs and pets flying as cargo are quoted case by case, because the crate size sets the freight.
Short Answer: What Does Moving a Pet to Japan Cost?
- Vietnam-side package: USD 1,500 to 1,600 per pet for export documents, the antibody test, the AQS notification and the service fee.
- Airline: USD 200 to 400 on Vietnam Airlines; JPY 25,000 (USD 250) per crate on ANA or JAL.
- Crate: about USD 120 for a cat, more for dogs.
- In Japan: the inspection is free. Dogs pay a city registration fee of about JPY 3,000.
- Biggest risk: detention if a document is wrong, at your own cost.
The steps that create these costs are in our Japan pet import requirements and timeline.
What Do You Pay in Vietnam Before the Flight?
These costs come first, months before the flight. The prices are from Daisy Pet’s 2026 quotes for Japan.
| Item | Price (USD) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | 40, if not already implanted | Goes in before or on the same day as the first rabies shot. Chips starting with “900 202” are not accepted. |
| Two rabies shots | Paid at your vet clinic | The pet must be at least 91 days old at the first shot. Live and RNA vaccines do not count. |
| Rabies antibody test | 550 to 650 | A laboratory on MAFF’s list tests the blood. The result must reach 0.5 IU/ml and stays valid for 2 years. |
| Parasite treatment certificate | 40 to 50 | Daisy Pet’s standard for every pet leaving Vietnam. Japan recommends it but does not require it. |
| Export health certificate and Form AC | 200 to 250 | Final vet exam within 10 days before the flight, then the government endorsement in Vietnam. |
| Advance notification and import paperwork | 300 | The notification to Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service (AQS), at least 40 days before arrival. |
| Documentation and service fee | 350 | File review, scheduling, contact with the quarantine office and checks before departure. |
Your own vet bills the rabies shots, other vaccines and any visits before the blood test. How to file the AQS notification is in our NACCS notification guide.
How Much Is the Travel Crate?
A pet flying as checked baggage or cargo needs a hard crate that meets airline standards. A pet in the Vietnam Airlines cabin travels in a small carrier instead.
| Crate size | Typical pet | Price in 2026 quotes (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (L60) | Cats, toy breeds | about 120 |
| Medium | Small and medium dogs | about 150 |
| Large (about 90 × 60 × 69 cm) | Labrador, Golden Retriever | about 250 |
| Extra large (L130) | Giant breeds | about 300 |
If you reuse an old crate, Daisy Pet checks it first. An airline can refuse a crate with plastic fasteners or poor ventilation at check-in. Sizing rules are in our IATA pet crate guide.
What Does the Airline Charge to Fly a Pet to Japan?
The fee depends on how your pet flies. Japan’s quarantine rules are the same for all three methods.
- Cabin (Vietnam Airlines only): USD 400 (Vietnam Airlines cabin fee).
- Checked baggage on Vietnam Airlines: USD 200 up to 9 kg, USD 250 up to 16 kg and USD 300 up to 32 kg, before VAT (Vietnam Airlines checked fee).
- Checked baggage on ANA or JAL: JPY 25,000 (USD 250) per crate.
- Cargo: priced by weight, as below.
Which airline takes which pet is in our airline comparison for Japan.
How Is Cargo Freight Calculated?
The airline charges the freight rate times the chargeable weight. The chargeable weight is the higher of two numbers. One is the real weight of the pet and crate. The other is the crate’s length × width × height in cm, divided by 6,000. A large crate often weighs less than its size suggests, so the size sets the price.
Daisy Pet has no 2026 cargo quote for Japan yet. The closest reference is South Korea, a route of similar length from Vietnam:
| Crate or pet | Freight in 2026 South Korea quotes (USD) |
|---|---|
| 68 × 47 × 47 cm crate, direct flight | about 800 |
| Dogs of 13–23 kg | 2,800 to 3,700 |
Each cargo shipment also carries about USD 520 for the air waybill, the export customs declaration and handling.
What Can You Pay After Landing in Japan?
| Item | Price | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| AQS import inspection | No fee | Every pet. MAFF does not charge for the inspection itself. |
| Detention care | From JPY 4,400 a night at Haneda | Only if a document is wrong or the 180-day wait is not complete. |
| Other detention costs | Not fixed | Food, utilities, transport to the facility and a cleaning fee at the end. |
| Dog registration | Usually JPY 3,000, once | Dogs only, within 30 days of arrival, with the AQS import quarantine certificate. |
At Haneda, the caretaker lists JPY 4,950 a night for a small or medium dog, JPY 5,500 for a large dog and JPY 4,400 for a cat (caretaker price list). Transport to the facility and the final cleaning fee are extra, both from JPY 4,400 at Haneda. Caretakers work only at Narita, Haneda and Kansai, and Narita and Kansai do not publish their rates. A detained pet can stay up to 180 days (MAFF import rules).
Each city sets its own registration fee, for example JPY 3,000 in Yokohama and Nagoya. Keep the import quarantine certificate, because it cannot be reissued. If you bring the pet back to Vietnam later, see our guide to relocating a pet from Japan to Vietnam.
Two Examples from 2026 Quotes
Example 1: A Cat Flying to Tokyo with Its Owner
| Item | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Export documents, antibody test, AQS notification and service fee (Daisy Pet’s 2026 quotes) | 1,500 to 1,600 |
| Microchip and two rabies shots, if not done yet | Billed separately |
| Airline pet fee (cabin or checked baggage) | Paid to the airline at check-in |
| Taxes and fees at the Japanese airport | Paid on arrival |
Example 2: A 28 kg Golden Retriever Flying to Osaka as Cargo
Daisy Pet has no 2026 cargo quote for Japan yet, so this move is quoted case by case. For reference, Daisy Pet’s 2026 cargo quotes for dogs to South Korea came to USD 3,600 to 5,300 per dog. That included the antibody test and Korean import fees. A larger crate on a longer route costs more. What Daisy Pet arranges on this route is on our pet relocation page for Japan.
FAQ: Cost of Moving a Pet from Vietnam to Japan
How much does it cost to move a cat from Vietnam to Japan?
In Daisy Pet’s 2026 quotes, the Vietnam-side work for a cat flying with its owner cost USD 1,500 to 1,600. The airline’s pet fee is paid on top, at check-in.
Does Japan charge for the import inspection?
No. MAFF does not charge for the quarantine inspection. Costs in Japan arise only if your pet is detained, plus the city registration fee for dogs.
What does it cost if my pet is detained in Japan?
You pay every cost. At Haneda, the caretaker charges from JPY 4,400 a night for a cat, before food, utilities and transport.
Is moving a dog to Japan more expensive than a cat?
Usually yes. A dog needs a larger crate, and on cargo the crate size sets the freight. Daisy Pet quotes dogs case by case.
Can I handle the paperwork myself to save money?
Yes. Japan’s rules let owners file everything themselves. You would still pay the vet, the antibody test, the export certificate and the airline.
Which costs are not in Daisy Pet’s package?
The airline pet fee, the crate, the microchip and rabies shots if not done yet, taxes at the Japanese airport and any detention costs.
Last updated 17 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
Official sources cited in this guide
- Vietnam Airlines cabin feevietnamairlines.com
- haneda-pet.jphaneda-pet.jp
- MAFF import rulesmaff.go.jp
- Yokohamacity.yokohama.lg.jp
- Nagoyacity.nagoya.jp
