If you are planning on moving to Japan with a dog or cat, you need to plan ahead. The entire process takes approximately 7 months and has several steps:
Step 1: Microchipping your pet. Microchipping is the only acceptable means of identifying your pet to the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service. The microchip should one that is readable and acceptable in Japan. The microchip will be checked every time your pet is vaccinated, has a blood test done, or is examined.
Step 2: Vaccinate your pet for rabies. This must be done at least twice. And the second vaccine must be at least 30 days after the first vaccine, and still within the first vaccine's valid period. The first vaccination may be done on the same day as the microchip. If at anytime your pet's vaccination for rabies expires before it is boostered, the entire process must start over from the beginning, so make sure you keep your pet up to date on their rabies shot!
Step 3: Rabies antibody test. This a blood test to determine whether or not the vaccinations for rabies have adequately protected your pet against rabies. The test may be done the same day as the second rabies vaccination.
Step 4: 180 day waiting period. You have to wait 180 days from the day of the rabies antibody test before you can enter Japan. If for some reason you must travel before that, your pet will have to remain in quarantine with the Animal Quarantine Service, and will not be able to go home until the 180 days is up. Note, the 180 day period begins the day the blood is drawn, not the day the test results come back. Test results generally take 3-4 weeks to get back. Also, the rabies antibody test is valid for 2 years. If it has been more than 2 years since the rabies antibody test was drawn, another blood test must be done.
Step 5: Advance notification. At least 40 days before you travel back to Japan, you need to give notice to the Animal Quarantine Service that you will be bringing a pet into Japan.
Here is the notification form for dogs:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notification-dog.pdf
Here is the notification form for cats:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notification-cat.pdf
Here are a set of instructions for filling out these forms:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notifi-dogcat-en.pdf
And here is a list of contacts where you can send the form, depending on where your port of entry will be:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/aqs_contact_list_en.pdf
Step 6: Pre-export examination. Before you leave for Japan your pet must be examined by a veterinarian and determined to be healthy. The Japanese government prefers that this be done within 48 hours of departure, but they will accept an exam done up to about a week prior. The exam must conducted by a federally accredited veterinarian. The Japanese government also wants the pets to be treated for both internal and external parasites during this exam.
Step 7: Obtaining export certificates. Japanese AQS Form A and Form C, and USDA APHIS form 7001 must be filled out and signed by an accredited veterinarian at the time of the pre-export examination. These forms must then be taken to the USDA APHIS office in Des Plaines, Illinois (or another USDA APHIS office) to be signed and stamped by the officer there. You do not need to bring you pet to the office, only the paperwork. In addition to Forms A, C, and 7001, you should bring rabies certificates and the original copy of the rabies test results to the USDA APHIS office. It is a good idea to send a draft copy of Forms A and C to the Animal Quarantine Service to make sure that there are no errors prior to having them signed at Step 6/7.
Here is Form A:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/animal/dog/pdf/CertificateA041126.pdf
Here is Form C:
www.maff.go.jp/aqs/animal/dog/pdf/certificatec100415.pdf
Step 8: Import inspection upon arrival in Japan. Once you have landed in Japan, your pet will need to be examined. The will check to see if it is healthy, and they will verify that the microchip is present and that all of your paperwork is in order.
Bringing a pet to Japan is complicated, but North Hoffman Veterinary Clinic can help you. We have over 10 years of experience inspecting pets and filling out all the necessary paperwork. We will actually do all the paperwork for you if you like. We have the preferred microchips, rabies vaccines and can take care of the rabies testing, examinations and any necessary treatments.
For an overview from the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service:
www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/guide_nonfree-en.pdf
In Japanese:
www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/guide_nonfree.pdf
Step 1: Microchipping your pet. Microchipping is the only acceptable means of identifying your pet to the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service. The microchip should one that is readable and acceptable in Japan. The microchip will be checked every time your pet is vaccinated, has a blood test done, or is examined.
Step 2: Vaccinate your pet for rabies. This must be done at least twice. And the second vaccine must be at least 30 days after the first vaccine, and still within the first vaccine's valid period. The first vaccination may be done on the same day as the microchip. If at anytime your pet's vaccination for rabies expires before it is boostered, the entire process must start over from the beginning, so make sure you keep your pet up to date on their rabies shot!
Step 3: Rabies antibody test. This a blood test to determine whether or not the vaccinations for rabies have adequately protected your pet against rabies. The test may be done the same day as the second rabies vaccination.
Step 4: 180 day waiting period. You have to wait 180 days from the day of the rabies antibody test before you can enter Japan. If for some reason you must travel before that, your pet will have to remain in quarantine with the Animal Quarantine Service, and will not be able to go home until the 180 days is up. Note, the 180 day period begins the day the blood is drawn, not the day the test results come back. Test results generally take 3-4 weeks to get back. Also, the rabies antibody test is valid for 2 years. If it has been more than 2 years since the rabies antibody test was drawn, another blood test must be done.
Step 5: Advance notification. At least 40 days before you travel back to Japan, you need to give notice to the Animal Quarantine Service that you will be bringing a pet into Japan.
Here is the notification form for dogs:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notification-dog.pdf
Here is the notification form for cats:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notification-cat.pdf
Here are a set of instructions for filling out these forms:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/notifi-dogcat-en.pdf
And here is a list of contacts where you can send the form, depending on where your port of entry will be:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/aqs_contact_list_en.pdf
Step 6: Pre-export examination. Before you leave for Japan your pet must be examined by a veterinarian and determined to be healthy. The Japanese government prefers that this be done within 48 hours of departure, but they will accept an exam done up to about a week prior. The exam must conducted by a federally accredited veterinarian. The Japanese government also wants the pets to be treated for both internal and external parasites during this exam.
Step 7: Obtaining export certificates. Japanese AQS Form A and Form C, and USDA APHIS form 7001 must be filled out and signed by an accredited veterinarian at the time of the pre-export examination. These forms must then be taken to the USDA APHIS office in Des Plaines, Illinois (or another USDA APHIS office) to be signed and stamped by the officer there. You do not need to bring you pet to the office, only the paperwork. In addition to Forms A, C, and 7001, you should bring rabies certificates and the original copy of the rabies test results to the USDA APHIS office. It is a good idea to send a draft copy of Forms A and C to the Animal Quarantine Service to make sure that there are no errors prior to having them signed at Step 6/7.
Here is Form A:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/animal/dog/pdf/CertificateA041126.pdf
Here is Form C:
www.maff.go.jp/aqs/animal/dog/pdf/certificatec100415.pdf
Step 8: Import inspection upon arrival in Japan. Once you have landed in Japan, your pet will need to be examined. The will check to see if it is healthy, and they will verify that the microchip is present and that all of your paperwork is in order.
Bringing a pet to Japan is complicated, but North Hoffman Veterinary Clinic can help you. We have over 10 years of experience inspecting pets and filling out all the necessary paperwork. We will actually do all the paperwork for you if you like. We have the preferred microchips, rabies vaccines and can take care of the rabies testing, examinations and any necessary treatments.
For an overview from the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service:
www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/guide_nonfree-en.pdf
In Japanese:
www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/pdf/guide_nonfree.pdf