🔄 Updated : June 30, 2026📊 Difficulty : Very demanding

Entry requirements

Requirement Details
💉 ISO microchip Implanted BEFORE the first rabies vaccination.
🦠 Two rabies vaccinations At least two inactivated/recombinant vaccines after the microchip.
🧪 Rabies titer test (serology) ≥ 0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn on the day of the second vaccination (or later).
⏳ 180-day waiting period Between the blood draw and arrival (otherwise quarantine on arrival).
📨 Advance notification Declaration to the authorities (AQS) + inspection at the airport.
🟠
Double-check. This is one of the longest procedures anywhere: start it 7 to 8 months before departure.

👉 Check your own situation and compare with other destinations using our dog entry requirements checker by country.

How to get there with your dog

You can travel by plane (compare airlines that accept dogs). Plan the trip with our dog flight checker and, if your dog flies in the hold, size the crate with the IATA crate calculator.

Practical tips

Plan ahead: most refusals come from a missing document or a missed deadline (a vaccination that is too recent, the rabies titer test, a tapeworm treatment outside its time window). Put together a file with all the supporting documents, and keep a copy. Also prepare your dog for the journey — see our advice on travel anxiety and the dog first aid kit.

🧰 Our tools to plan your trip

Dog flight checker Can my dog fly? 62 airlines compared, by departure airport, destination and your dog's weight. Open the checker → IATA crate calculator IATA crate calculator The airline-approved crate size for your dog, using the official IATA formula. Calculate the size → Entry requirements by country Entry requirements checker Country-by-country entry rules: paperwork, vaccines, lead times and official sources. Check the rules →

➡️ Next step : your journey

  1. Put together your dog’s health file
  2. Choose how you’ll travel
  3. Prepare your dog for the journey

✈️ Which airlines fly to Japan? ANA (All Nippon Airways), Japan Airlines (JAL), Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, Air India, Air Tahiti Nui, American Airlines — compare them in our dog flight checker.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I prepare my dog's trip to Japan?
About 7 months (180-day wait). Start the process as early as possible.
Is a rabies titer test required?
Yes, it is part of the entry requirements (see the table).

Sources

MAFF (Japan) — Import dogs and cats. Accessed June 2026; double-check before departure, as rules change.