JapanJapan has been rabies-free since 1957. For pets arriving from Vietnam a minimum preparation of 7–8 months is required before your pet can land in Japan.
Last updated 18 Oct 2026i
Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) enforces one of the strictest pet import protocols in the world
Japan mandates a minimum of TWO rabies vaccinations – spaced at least 30 days apart
After the RNATT blood draw, your pet must remain in Vietnam for a full 180 days
A single discrepancy between documents results in quarantine for up to 180 days
Prices are from Daisy Pet’s 2026 quotes for Japan. They cover the Vietnam-side work: export documents, the rabies antibody test, the AQS notification and the service fee.
*The airline’s pet fee is paid on top: USD 200 to 400 on Vietnam Airlines, or JPY 25,000 per crate on ANA and JAL. The 180-day biological waiting period begins the day the blood sample is drawn for the Rabies Antibody Titer Test (RNATT). Attempting to import your pet before Day 180 will trigger mandatory quarantine at an AQS facility at your own expense (care alone from ¥4,400/night at Haneda, per the caretaker price list).*
Compliance with the following standards is mandatory for all dogs and cats entering Japan from Vietnam
A 15-digit ISO-compliant microchip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination.
Dose 1: Pet must be ≥ 91 days old. Must be given after or on the same day as microchip implantation. Dose 2: At least 30 days after Dose 1, within the validity period of Dose 1
Blood must be drawn after the 2nd rabies vaccination. Samples must be tested at a MAFF-designated laboratory. The RNATT Titer Test results are valid for 2 years.
The date of the RNATT blood draw is Day 0. Your pet must wait a full 180 days in Vietnam before departure. Arriving sooner results in mandatory quarantine at an AQS detention facility until the 180-day mark is reached
You must notify the AQS office at your arrival airport at least 40 days before landing. Submissions are made via the NACCS system or email. Read our step-by-step NACCS Notification Guide. AQS will review and issue an “Approval of Import Inspection of Animals.”
A clinical inspection must be performed within 10 days of departure. Dogs only: must be certified free of Leptospirosis symptoms. Form AC must be endorsed by Vietnam’s Department of Animal Health. AQS recommends sending a copy of Form AC for pre-review before travel.
The expert protocol for importing dogs and cats into Japan from Vietnam. Follow every step precisely to qualify for rapid clearance upon arrival.
Microchip Implantation
Implant a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 microchip. Chips starting with “900 202” are not accepted. Other “900” chips may be duplicated, so tell AQS early. This must be done BEFORE any rabies vaccination.
Rabies Vaccine – Dose 1
Use an inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine (live and RNA vaccines are not accepted). The pet must be at least 91 days old. Given on the same day or after microchip implantation.
Rabies Vaccine – Dose 2
Wait at least 30 days after Dose 1. Administer Dose 2 while Dose 1 is still valid. Breaking the chain means starting over from Step 2.
RNATT Blood Test
Draw blood after (or on the same day as) Dose 2. Send the sample to a MAFF-designated lab. Required result: ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Valid for 2 years.
180-Day Waiting Period
The blood draw date is Day 0. Your pet must remain in Vietnam for a full 180 days. There is no legal shortcut. Miscounting by even one day triggers mandatory quarantine.
Advance Notification
Submit the Notification form to the AQS office at your arrival airport via NACCS or email. Must be filed at least 40 days before landing. AQS will issue an Approval of Import Inspection.
Clinical Exam & Form AC
Perform clinical inspection within 10 days of departure. Dogs must be checked for Leptospirosis. Complete Form AC and obtain DAH endorsement. Send a copy to AQS for pre-review.
Arrival & Import Inspection
Present original Form AC, RNATT results, and the AQS Approval at the airport. If all documents pass inspection, clearance is granted in under 12 hours. Welcome to Japan.
Beyond the official regulations, these are the real-world traps where most DIY pet relocation attempts fail when moving pets to Japan.
If the first rabies vaccine was given before the microchip was implanted, Japan considers the entire vaccination history invalid — unless very strict “Certain Conditions” are met. This is the most common reason for case restarts, adding months to the timeline.
MAFF does not accept correction fluid or tape on Form AC. After the government endorsement, only that office can correct the certificate and must endorse it again. AQS recommends emailing a draft before the endorsement.
Miscounting by even one day results in your pet being detained at an AQS facility until the 180-day requirement is fulfilled. The cost of quarantine — including daily caretaking, food, facility maintenance — is entirely at the owner’s expense.
Dogs can ONLY enter Japan through designated ports. If quarantine exceeding 12 hours is required, your pet must arrive at a port with a detention facility (Narita, Haneda, or Kansai are recommended)
Japan has NO breed-specific legislation at the national level. Pitbulls, Rottweilers, and all other breeds are permitted entry as long as they meet standard quarantine requirements
Japan requires a clinical Leptospirosis inspection for dogs during the pre-export health examination. This bacterial disease (spread through rodent urine) must be ruled out within 10 days of departure
Japan’s quarantine rules are the same for all three methods. The airline decides which one your pet can use.
Travels in the cabin with the owner, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat.
Flies on the same flight as the owner, in the temperature-controlled hold.
Does not fly with the owner, with fewer limits on weight and size.
Applied to every pet flying the Japan route.
Eight weeks and fully weaned is the floor for carriage, and some airlines set it higher. Cabin allowances count pet and crate together. Pregnant animals are not accepted.
IATA and IPATA both advise against sedation, and a pet known to be sedated can be refused at the counter. Crate conditioning on a six-week schedule does that work instead.
Pet owners work with a single point of contact, while we take full responsibility for the entire journey
Japan pet relocation involves complex international logistics and strict biological protocols. We provide you with an honest breakdown of every cost, with no hidden fees.
After your pet clears AQS inspection, there are mandatory steps required by Japanese law to complete your pet’s legal residency.
Dog owners must register their pet with the local Municipality within 30 days of import. Bring the Import Quarantine Certificate issued by AQS. This certificate is NOT re-issued if lost — keep the original safe, as it is also required if you later export your pet from Japan, for example when bringing your pet back to Vietnam.
Under Japan’s Rabies Prevention Law, all dogs must receive an annual rabies vaccination. This is a strict legal requirement, not a recommendation. Microchip registration with AIPO (Animal ID Promotion Organization) is also available for domestic tracking purposes.
Last updated 18 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.
Contact our case managers for a risk assessment of your pet’s current medical and biological timeline. Japan’s
180-day protocol requires early planning — the best time to start is today.
Practical resources for international pet travel, focusing on safety and MAFF/AQS protocol.
Up-to-date information from official Japanese authorities.