Destination Sheet: Japan

Last verified: 23 February 2026
Competent health authority: Animal Quarantine Service (AQS), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Official URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/index.html

Overall destination classification

Regulatory model

Model A: mandatory routine quarantine. Japan applies the strictest animal health control system in the world for pet importation. Any animal that does not meet the exact waiting periods or documentary requirements must remain for up to 180 days in official quarantine facilities at the owner's expense. There is no margin for interpretation or exception procedure.

Rabies status of the destination country

Rabies-free.
Source: WOAH — https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/

Country-of-origin classification system

Yes. Japan classifies countries of origin into two categories: Designated Regions (designated rabies-free regions) and Non-designated Regions (the rest of the world). This classification entirely determines the applicable protocol.

Peru is classified as a Non-designated Region. All countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and most of Eastern Europe share this category. The only regions currently designated are Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam.
Verification URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html

Requirements for dogs

Microchip

— Required standard: ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 (AQS, https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html).
— Must it be implanted before vaccination? Yes. Any vaccine administered before microchip implantation is not recognised as valid by the AQS.
— If the chip was implanted later: the vaccination process must start from scratch, from the implantation date.

Rabies vaccination

— Mandatory: Yes. A minimum of two documented doses in the history are required to enable the full process.
— Minimum age for vaccination: 91 days of life (AQS, https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html).
— Minimum period between doses: the second dose must be administered at least 30 days after the first, within the validity period of the first.
— Recognised validity: 1 or 3 years according to the manufacturer's data sheet. The vaccine must be current at the time of arrival in Japan.
— Accepted vaccine types: inactivated (killed) or recombinant. Attenuated live virus vaccines are not accepted.
— If expired before travel: the entire process is invalidated. There is no remediation mechanism without restarting from vaccination.

Rabies antibody titre (RNATT)

— Mandatory: Yes, without exception for animals from non-designated regions, including Peru and all of Latin America.
— Minimum threshold: 0.5 IU/mL (AQS, https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html).
— Minimum post-vaccination period for sample collection: the sample may be taken on the same day as the second vaccination or after.
— Mandatory post-result waiting period: 180 days from the sample collection date, in the country of origin. This period is unalterable regardless of the titre obtained.
— Accredited laboratory list: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/lab.html
— If the result is below threshold: the test is considered failed. Revaccination and repeat collection are required. The 180-day counter restarts from the new sample collection with a positive result.

Other vaccines required by primary regulation

Not identified in primary regulation consulted. The AQS requires only rabies vaccination by law.

The same logic applies to all Latin American countries of origin. Each national zoosanitary authority requires its own complete vaccination scheme to certify export, regardless of what the destination country requires. Without that scheme, the country-of-origin authority does not issue the certificate and the process cannot proceed.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in primary regulation consulted as a legal entry requirement. Unlike Australia or New Zealand, Japan does not require specific antiparasitic treatment in its import regulation.

Health certificate

— Official name: Form AC (AQS official Annex) or official veterinary certificate containing the complete information of the Annex.
— Who may issue it: accredited private veterinarian, with mandatory endorsement by the official health authority of the country of origin.
— Time window: recommended within 10 days prior to shipment (AQS).
— Does it require endorsement? Yes, mandatory. In Peru: SENASA. In each Latin American country: the equivalent national animal health authority.

Official entry document

— Exact name: Notification of Import / Approval of Import Inspection.
— Who issues it: the owner submits the notification to the AQS; the AQS issues the approval.
— Time window: must be submitted at least 40 days before arrival. Submission 45-50 days in advance is recommended to absorb administrative delays.
— URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html

Mandatory digital forms

NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System): electronic notification system for animal arrival. Mandatory for all entries.
URL: https://www.naccs.jp/en/

Quarantine

— Mandatory: Yes, conditional. If all requirements and the 180-day wait are fully met, quarantine at destination is reduced to less than 12 hours (documentary and physical inspection at the airport). If not met, quarantine is up to 180 days at official facility.
— Maximum duration: 180 days (AQS, https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html).
— Facilities: official quarantine stations integrated into authorised airports. Not private facilities.
— Cost: borne by the owner, including maintenance and veterinary fees throughout the stay.
— What may prolong it? Documentary errors, microchip discrepancies, expired vaccine, serological result below threshold, or clinical signs of disease on arrival.

Breed restrictions

None. Japan does not establish breed restrictions in its federal import regulation.

Minimum age for entry

Approximately 10 months: 91 days for first vaccine + minimum 30 days for second vaccine + 180 days post-RNATT wait. This calculation applies to all animals from non-designated regions, including Peru and all of Latin America (AQS, https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html).

Requirements for cats

Microchip

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Rabies vaccination

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Serological titre (RNATT)

Same as dogs — see previous section. The 0.5 IU/mL threshold and 180-day wait apply without exception to cats from non-designated regions as well.

Other vaccines required

Not identified in primary regulation consulted.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in primary regulation consulted.

Health certificate

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Official entry document

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Mandatory digital forms

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Quarantine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Breed restrictions

Not applicable.

Minimum age for entry

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Variations by country of origin

Differentiated requirements by origin?

Yes, to an extreme degree. The difference between a Designated Region and a Non-designated Region is the difference between a 48-hour procedure and a 7-month process.

Risk classification system

MAFF/AQS own list. It does not use the WOAH classification directly as the sole criterion. Verification URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html

Situation of Peru and Latin America

Peru is a Non-designated Region. All Latin American countries share this classification without exception: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, and all Central American and Caribbean countries. It also applies to most of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The requirements detailed in this sheet apply fully to any case originating in these territories.

Transit through third countries

Transit does not modify requirements if the animal does not leave the controlled international airport area. If the animal disembarks and has contact with the external environment in a transit country of equal or higher risk, the process may be compromised at the AQS's discretion. For cases from Peru and Latin America: minimise stops and avoid transit with disembarkation in countries of equivalent or higher risk.

Common errors

ERROR 1: Vaccination prior to microchip

What happens: the certificate shows a vaccine with a date prior to chip implantation. Common in clinics in Peru, Colombia, Brazil and other Latin American countries that are unfamiliar with the AQS mandatory sequence.
Regulatory consequence: the vaccine is rejected; the immunisation count starts from zero with the chip already implanted.
How to prevent it: physically verify the chip with an ISO reader before any vaccination act.

ERROR 2: Arrival on day 179 of the waiting period

What happens: error in calculating the 180-day post-sample collection period. The day of collection is day 0, not day 1.
Regulatory consequence: mandatory quarantine at official facility until day 180 is completed, at owner's expense.
How to prevent it: schedule the flight for day 182 or later to absorb time zone differences and calculation errors.

ERROR 3: Use of laboratory not accredited by MAFF

What happens: the sample is sent to a local international reference laboratory not expressly included in the Japan AQS list.
Regulatory consequence: the test is null; the animal must complete up to 180 days of quarantine on arrival, regardless of the result obtained.
How to prevent it: consult the official MAFF list before collection: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/lab.html

ERROR 4: Omission of the 40-day prior notification

What happens: the owner travels without having received the AQS Approval of Import Inspection.
Regulatory consequence: the animal cannot be processed at destination; risk of landing denial or forced long quarantine.
How to prevent it: submit the notification via NACCS 45-50 days in advance to absorb AQS administrative delays.

ERROR 5: Vaccine expired during the 180-day wait

What happens: the vaccine current at the time of the serological test expires before the travel date and the booster is administered after expiry.
Regulatory consequence: documentary continuity of immunity is lost and the serological test loses validity before the AQS.
How to prevent it: calculate the expiry date of the active vaccine and always administer the booster before that date, within the validity window.

Minimum timeline from scratch

Scenario A — Animal with microchip and two current vaccines

— Day 0: sample collection for RNATT and dispatch to MAFF accredited laboratory.
— Day 15 (approx.): receipt of positive result (≥ 0.5 IU/mL).
— Day 140: submission of Notification of Import to AQS (40 days before intended travel).
— Day 181: end of mandatory 180-day waiting period.
— Day 182: minimum suitable date for travel.
— Minimum total time Scenario A: approximately 6 months from sample collection.

Scenario B — Animal with no prior history, from scratch

— Day 0: ISO microchip implantation + first rabies vaccination (minimum age 91 days completed).
— Day 31: second rabies vaccination.
— Day 31 (same day): sample collection for RNATT and dispatch to MAFF accredited laboratory.
— Day 46 (approx.): receipt of positive result.
— Day 171: submission of Notification of Import to AQS.
— Day 211: end of 180-day waiting period from sample collection.
— Day 212: minimum suitable date for travel.
— Minimum total time Scenario B: approximately 7 months from scratch.

Authorised points of entry

Yes, there is a point-of-entry restriction. Animals may only enter through airports with an official AQS Animal Quarantine Station.

Official URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/index.html

Authority directory

Cited applicable regulation

1. Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control (Japan) — Articles relating to the importation of dogs and cats from non-designated regions. URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html — Verified: 23 February 2026.
2. Rabies Prevention Law (Japan) — Establishes rabies vaccination requirements, serological threshold and quarantine for animals from abroad. URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/ — Verified: 23 February 2026.
3. MAFF Notification No. 1590 — Defines Designated Regions, accepted laboratory standards for RNATT and the 180-day waiting period. URL: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html — Verified: 23 February 2026.

Japan is, possibly, the destination that least forgives human error. It is not a matter of the officer's discretion: it is pure arithmetic. An animal arriving on day 179 post-test stays at the airport, without exception and without immediate recourse. What genuinely surprises colleagues accustomed to other demanding destinations is that even an animal with antibody titres well above the threshold must complete the full 180 days. The titre does not shorten the wait. Japan's logic is not immunological, it is epidemiological: the waiting period exists to rule out post-vaccinal exposure in the country of origin, not to confirm the immune response. The other critical point is the laboratory: I have seen technically impeccable cases invalidated by a stamp from an international reference laboratory that simply was not on the MAFF specific list. Before collecting the sample, verify the list. After collecting, it is too late.

This profile was verified against primary official sources on February 23, 2026. Requirements may change without prior notice. Always verify directly with the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) before initiating any export process.