To bring a dog or cat into Japan, you must send the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) an advance notification at least 40 days before arrival. You send it online through NACCS or by email. Japan issues no import permit, so the AQS approval takes its place.
Short Answer: How Does the Japan NACCS Notification Work?
- What is it? A form that tells AQS which pet arrives, when and at which airport.
- When? At least 40 days before arrival. You can send it during the 180-day wait.
- How? Online through NACCS, or by email to the AQS office at your arrival airport.
- Who sends it? You, or an agent on your behalf. Daisy Pet files it for the pets we move, as on our pet relocation page for Japan.
- What do you get? An Approval of Import Inspection. Keep it for the flight and the arrival check.
Where this step sits in the whole move is in our Japan pet import requirements and timeline.
What Is NACCS and Why Does AQS Need the Notification?
NACCS is the Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System. It is Japan’s online system for customs and port procedures. AQS, part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), uses it to receive animal import notifications.
AQS checks your notification and the attached blood test report before the pet travels. If something is missing or unclear, AQS asks you to fix it first. You still have time to correct it before the flight.
Dogs fall under the Rabies Prevention Act and the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control. Cats fall under the Rabies Prevention Act.
When Must You Submit the Notification?
AQS must receive the notification at least 40 days before your pet arrives in Japan. For an arrival on 1 September, the last day is 23 July. MAFF does not accept a later notification in principle.
If an unavoidable change makes you late, send the notification and the blood test report to AQS at once and ask for advice. Do not book a flight that depends on this exception.
You do not need to wait for the 180 days to finish. Send the notification as soon as you know the month of travel. If the flight is not booked, enter the planned flight and correct it later.
NACCS or Email: Which Should You Use?
MAFF prefers NACCS. NACCS needs a user account, and the system is mainly in Japanese. Agents who file often usually use NACCS.
If NACCS is difficult for you, MAFF accepts the same form by email. Email the completed form to the AQS office at your arrival airport. Attach a copy of the rabies antibody test report.
Keep using the channel you started with. A notification sent through NACCS must also be changed through NACCS.
Which Notification Form Do You Need?
AQS uses one form for dogs and another for cats. Download the right one from MAFF:
- Dogs: notification form for dogs (PDF).
- Cats: notification form for cats (PDF).
- Sample: MAFF guide to filling in the form, for pets from non-designated regions such as Vietnam.
Use the form for your pet’s species. AQS may reject a form with unclear or missing fields.
What Goes on the Notification Form?
Every date and number must match your pet’s records and the blood test report. AQS compares them again at the airport.
| Field | What to enter | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Owner (consignor) | Your name and address. If an agent files, write both names, for example “owner c/o agent”. | For cargo, the sender’s name and local address. |
| Address in Japan | Where you will stay in Japan, with a phone number and email. | A hotel or other temporary address is accepted. |
| Pet details | Species, breed, sex, colour, name and date of birth. | If the birth date is unknown, the age on arrival is accepted. |
| Microchip | The full number, the date it was implanted and where on the body. | If the implant date is unknown, enter the oldest date the chip was read. |
| Rabies vaccinations | Date, vaccine name, lot number and the date protection ends. | Enter the end of protection, not the vial’s expiry date. Leave out clinic names. |
| Antibody test | The blood sample date, the result in IU/ml and the laboratory name. | Use the sample date, not the report date. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml, as our rabies antibody test guide explains. |
| How the pet travels | “Cargo”, “Checked baggage” or “Hand luggage”. | Hand luggage means the cabin. Choose what the airline confirmed, using our airline comparison for Japan. |
| Flight | Flight numbers, departure country, arrival airport and arrival date. | List every connecting flight to Japan. |
| Travel history | Countries the pet has stayed in, or “None”. | Add any planned trip after Japan. |
The microchip must be read correctly on arrival. If your chip starts with “900”, tell AQS when you send the notification. More on chip rules is in our microchip guide.
Where Do You Email the Notification?
Send it to the AQS office of your arrival airport. These are the addresses on the MAFF contact list:
| Arrival airport | AQS email |
|---|---|
| Narita, Terminal 1 | aqs.nrtr1@maff.go.jp |
| Narita, Terminal 2 | aqs.nrtr2@maff.go.jp |
| Narita, cargo | aqs.nrtcargo@maff.go.jp |
| Haneda | aqs.hnd@maff.go.jp |
| Kansai | aqs.kixk1@maff.go.jp |
| Chubu | aqs.nga@maff.go.jp |
| Fukuoka | aqs.fuk@maff.go.jp |
Dogs can land at only 11 Japanese airports. Cats can use other airports, but ask AQS first. The list is on the MAFF import page.
What Happens After You Submit?
AQS reviews the form and issues an Approval of Import Inspection of Animals. Print it or save it on your phone. The airline or the export office may ask to see it.
It covers the date and airport you entered. To change them, send a modification notice to the same office. AQS does not accept these changes:
- an earlier arrival date;
- more animals, or a different animal;
- any change after the planned arrival date.
If the quarantine facility is full on your date, AQS may ask you to change the date or the airport.
Why Send a Draft of Form AC to AQS?
Form AC is the health certificate format MAFF recommends. Your vet fills it in within 10 days before the flight. A government vet in Vietnam then endorses it.
Email the draft to the same AQS office, before the endorsement. After the endorsement, only the government office in Vietnam can correct it. A draft check lets AQS spot a wrong date or chip number while it is still easy to fix.
On arrival, you also file an application for import inspection, online through NACCS or on paper. Bring the original antibody test report and the endorsed Form AC.
FAQ: NACCS Notification for Japan
Does Japan issue an import permit for pets?
No. Japan uses an advance notification instead. AQS reviews it and sends an Approval of Import Inspection, which you show at the airport.
How many days before arrival must I notify AQS?
At least 40 days before your pet arrives in Japan. AQS does not accept a later notification in principle.
Can I send the notification before the 180-day wait ends?
Yes. You can send it during the wait. If your flight is not booked yet, enter the planned flight and update it later.
Can a pet owner use NACCS without an agent?
Yes, but NACCS needs a user account and is mainly in Japanese. If that is difficult, MAFF accepts the same form by email.
Is a hotel address acceptable on the notification?
Yes. MAFF accepts temporary accommodation, such as a hotel, as the owner’s address in Japan.
Can I change the arrival date after AQS approves the notification?
Yes, to a later date, by sending a modification notice. AQS does not accept an earlier arrival date, a different animal or more animals.
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
- NACCSmaff.go.jp
