{"topic_id":"pet_travel_jp_maff","category":"pet-travel","context":"---\ntopic_id: pet_travel_jp_maff\ncategory: pet-travel\ntitle: \"Japan — MAFF Animal Quarantine Service dog/cat import rules (microchip, dual rabies vaccine, antibody titer, 180-day wait, 40-day notice)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"MAFF Animal Quarantine Service (aqsis.maff.go.jp) — 'Import dogs and cats into Japan (from the non-designated regions)' and '(from the designated regions)', first-hand Government of Japan pages, landed 2026-08-18 via Tavily /extract\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/pet-travel/import-other.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-08-18\ntokens_estimated: 430\nverified: true\nverification: c1_substring\nsource_document: \"MAFF AQS — Import dogs and cats into Japan (non-designated / designated regions)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) — Animal Quarantine Service, Japan\"\n  title: \"Import dogs and cats into Japan (from the non-designated regions)\"\n  url: \"https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-08-18\"\n  ref: \"\"\n  doc_type: \"official web page\"\n  needs_review: false\nlicense: government_of_japan\n---\n\nJapan's dog and cat import regime is run by the MAFF Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) under the Rabies Prevention Law. Requirements depend on whether the dog or cat comes from a designated (rabies-free) region or a non-designated region.\n\n### Non-designated regions (most countries)\n\n`To import dogs and cats from non-designated regions, they must meet import requirements such as microchip implanting, rabies vaccination at least twice, rabies antibody test, and 180-day waiting.` The sequence is strict and cumulative: `Dogs and cats must be identified by a microchip before the first rabies vaccination.` then `Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies twice or more after the microchip implanting.` The serology step: `Rabies antibody test must be performed at one of the designated laboratories.` `Antibody titer against rabies must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml.` `The test result is valid for 2 years from the date of blood sampling.` The mandatory wait: `Dogs and cats are required to arrive in Japan after 180 days have passed from the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody test.`\n\nPlanning lead time: `Applicants must notify Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry not less than 40 days before arrival in Japan.` `Dogs can enter Japan only through the designated airports and seaports.` Pre-departure: `Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before boarding), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical inspection by a veterinarian.` Documentation: `Applicants must obtain certificates issued by the government agency (corresponding to Animal Quarantine service in Japan) of the exporting country.`\n\nOn arrival: `Dogs and cats must be inspected by Animal Quarantine Service upon arrival in Japan.` `In case that the dog or cat doesn’t meet import requirements, it will be subject detention quarantine for up to 180 days or will be returned .`\n\n### Designated regions (rabies-free)\n\n`To import dogs and cats from the designated regions (Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, and Guam), they must meet import requirements (e.g. microchip implanting and clinical inspection).` Residency proof is required: `Dogs and cats must fulfill at least one of the following three conditions;` — continuous residence in a designated region since birth, for at least 180 days immediately before export, or since direct import from Japan.\n\nRelated: `pet_travel_us_cdc_dog_2024` (US outbound dog rules) and `pet_travel_ca_cfia` (Canada cat/dog rules) for the return or onward trip.\n\nSource: `pdf-raw/pet-travel/import-other.txt`, `pdf-raw/pet-travel/import-free.txt` (MAFF AQS, landed 2026-08-18).\n\n## Claims (verified C1 substrings of source_file)\n- `To import dogs and cats from non-designated regions, they must meet import requirements such as microchip implanting, rabies vaccination at least twice, rabies antibody test, and 180-day waiting.`\n- `Dogs and cats must be identified by a microchip before the first rabies vaccination.`\n- `Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies twice or more after the microchip implanting.`\n- `Rabies antibody test must be performed at one of the designated laboratories.`\n- `Antibody titer against rabies must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml.`\n- `The test result is valid for 2 years from the date of blood sampling.`\n- `Dogs and cats are required to arrive in Japan after 180 days have passed from the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody test.`\n- `Applicants must notify Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry not less than 40 days before arrival in Japan.`\n- `Dogs can enter Japan only through the designated airports and seaports.`\n- `Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before boarding), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical inspection by a veterinarian.`\n- `Applicants must obtain certificates issued by the government agency (corresponding to Animal Quarantine service in Japan) of the exporting country.`\n- `Dogs and cats must be inspected by Animal Quarantine Service upon arrival in Japan.`\n- `In case that the dog or cat doesn’t meet import requirements, it will be subject detention quarantine for up to 180 days or will be returned .`\n- `To import dogs and cats from the designated regions (Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, and Guam), they must meet import requirements (e.g. microchip implanting and clinical inspection).`\n- `Dogs and cats must fulfill at least one of the following three conditions;`\n","sources":["European Commission (food.ec.europa.eu) & UK Government (gov.uk) — Import dogs and cats into Japan (from the non-designated regions) (retrieved 2026-08-18)"],"source":{"authority":"European Commission (food.ec.europa.eu) & UK Government (gov.uk)","title":"Import dogs and cats into Japan (from the non-designated regions)","url":"https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html","retrieved":"2026-08-18","ref":"","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"MAFF AQS — Import dogs and cats into Japan (non-designated / designated regions)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/pet-travel/import-other.txt"},"source_document":"MAFF AQS — Import dogs and cats into Japan (non-designated / designated regions)","source_file":"pdf-raw/pet-travel/import-other.txt","trust":{"authority_tier":"ungraded","fidelity":"verbatim","license":"government_of_japan","display_grade":"pending"},"tokens_estimated":1062,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}