Importing Animals to 日本

Importing animals to Japan seems complicated but it really isn’t if you stay on top of it. First whether you are moving overseas or not there are a few things you should ALWAYS do no matter what. You should always use a base vet. I found out the hard way that civilian vets are insanely more expensive then base vets. I have been using a civilian vet for 4 years now and each time I pay about $150-$250 USD for each visit. However, base vets tend to be 3x cheaper.

I went to Mirmar’s vet clinic and only paid $27 for Zero’s FAVN-ONE test, then a $70 fee is charged by the lab, whereas my civilian vet wanted over $200 for the same exact thing.

Japans Requirements

• Japan requires all animals to have a 15-digit microchip
• Japan requires two rabies shots. Administered after the microchip has been inserted, AND the certificates have to be the legal copy (meaning an actual hard signature much be present in blue or black ink).
• 2nd Rabies shot has to be given minimum of 30 days after the 1st Rabies shot, and be on time. Meaning if the 1st Rabies shot (say it was a 1-year shot) was given on March 31 2017 and expires March 31st 2018. The second shot has to be given somewhere between April 31 2017 to March 30th 2018.
• Animal must test FAVN-ONE Antibody test. It is a pass/fail test. If they fail a new rabies has to be given and then tested again.
• Health Certificate from vet within 10 days of traveling (they are only valid for 10 days)
• Send an Advance Notification form 40 days (minimum) prior to your arrival date. (email AQS.NAP@MAFF.GO.JP) form can be found here.

What you should always do

• Microchip you animals with a 15-digit chip (no letters)
• Always have you vet give you the legal (hard signed) copy of rabies certificates
• Have your animal’s vaccinations done on time

If I had personally followed these simple steps, I would have saved a lot of time and confusion. Luckily, I already had a microchip inserted into Zero when he was a puppy that was 15 digits. However, Zero had gotten a 1 Year Rabies shot in 2017 and a 3 Year Rabies shot in 2018. He would have been good if it was not for the fact I waited 2 days too late for the second shot. His 1-year shot expire January 4th 2017 and he had received a 3 Year shot on January 6th 2018.

As for quarantine it officially starts the day the lab receives the blood work. The good news is if you are traveling to Japan and quarantine is not finished you have basically two options:

1. you can finish quarantine at a boarding facility in Japan.
2. if you are traveling with the military you are allowed to finish quarantine on base (whether at the hotel, or your house on base).

If you get all of this done then you are set to go to Japan. There are a few vaccinations that are recommended for animals traveling to Japan but not necessarily required.

Recommended Vaccines for Travel

Canines:

• Distemper
• Hepatitis/Adenosvirus
• Parvovirus
• Parainfluenza
• Bordetella
• Leptospirosis

Felines:

• Panleukopenia
• Viral Phinotracheitis
• Calcivirus
• Leukemia