Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Japan to the US: CDC requirements, Japan’s AQS export process, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Low to Moderate
8–10 weeks minimum
$1,000–$2,800 USD (DIY)
None required (mainland US); required (Hawaii and Guam)
Because Japan is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form for US entry — no rabies vaccination certificate and no quarantine. Japan’s own AQS export inspection is a separate requirement on the origin side and applies regardless of CDC status.
Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Japan to the US: CDC requirements, Japan’s AQS export process, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
Japan's AQS issues an export quarantine certificate in English after your pet passes its export inspection, and this certificate serves as the official health certificate for US entry.
Japan's Animal Quarantine Service (AQS)
The certificate is issued directly by AQS at your departure airport — Narita, Haneda, or Kansai — once your pet passes inspection.
Not Required
Japan’s CDC low-risk classification means the standard low-risk pathway applies for dogs, which does not involve a USDA-endorsed health certificate.
Within 10 Days Before Departure
The AQS export inspection — which produces your health certificate — must occur within 10 days before departure. A separate secondary source suggests a 5-day window may apply to part of the process, but this hasn’t been conclusively confirmed; confirm the exact timing directly with AQS well before your inspection date.
Required
Bring all original veterinary certificates to your AQS export inspection appointment — copies alone are not accepted for the application or the inspection.
→ Implant the ISO microchip before the rabies vaccination
→ Japan requires an AQS export inspection for every pet leaving the country, applied for at least 14 days in advance via NACCS
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form for US entry
→ Rabies vaccination isn’t required by the CDC but is recommended and often required for state dog licensing
→ Hawaii and Guam have entirely separate, stricter quarantine requirements
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
If your pet was previously imported to Japan, you need the original AQS certificate from that import to export your pet — and it cannot be replaced.
The AQS inspection application requires at least 14 days' notice, and the inspection itself must happen within 10 days of departure.
The AQS export inspection — which produces your health certificate — must occur within 10 days before departure.
Cargo space for pets is limited and sells out quickly, and some breeds are refused by most airlines year-round.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Roughly $1,000–$2,800 USD for the DIY route (microchip, optional vaccination, AQS certificate, crate, airline cargo fee, US customs clearance); $3,000–$10,000+ USD for a full professional relocation service.
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ ISO microchip documentation (from your veterinarian)
→ Rabies vaccination record (if vaccinated)
→ AQS export inspection application (submitted via NACCS)
→ All original veterinary certificates (required for AQS application)
→ Original AQS Import Quarantine Certificate (only if your pet was previously imported to Japan)
→ Power of Attorney (if someone other than you brings the pet to AQS inspection)
→ AQS export quarantine certificate (issued at inspection — in English)
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt (dogs only — one per dog, submitted before travel)
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No — Japan is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies, so a vaccination certificate isn’t required for US entry.
→ Vaccination is still strongly recommended by the CDC.
→ Many US states and localities require it for local dog licensing within 30 days of arrival — check your specific destination state.
→ If your dog visited a CDC high-risk country within the 6 months before entry, additional requirements apply.
→ A free online form completed by the importer before travel.
→ You receive a receipt by email — present it to your airline and to US Customs and Border Protection on arrival.
→ Valid for 6 months from completion. Each dog needs its own form.
→ Yes, but airline options are very limited.
→ JAL never accepts French or English Bulldogs, on any flight.
→ ANA doesn’t accept brachycephalic breeds between May and October.
→ American Airlines doesn’t accept brachycephalic breeds in cargo at all.
→ Contact airlines directly to confirm current breed policies.
→ For most Japan–US routes, no — ANA and JAL transport pets as cargo only on international flights.
→ Confirm cabin availability directly with any airline you’re considering before booking, since policies vary by carrier.
→ Not required — many owners complete this move independently.
→ The AQS process, especially NACCS and inspection timing, can be complex if you’re unfamiliar with it.
→ Worth considering if your pet was previously imported to Japan, or you have a large or restricted breed.
→ Go through the red customs channel.
→ A CBP officer reviews your CDC Dog Import Form receipt and may visually inspect your pet.
→ If your pet appears healthy and documents are in order, the process is typically brief.
→ No quarantine for mainland US destinations — your pet just needs to appear healthy on arrival.
→ Hawaii and Guam run completely separate, stricter quarantine programs — research these separately if that’s your destination.
→ Typically 30–60 minutes.
→ AQS inspection offices at Narita, Haneda, and Kansai operate 8:30–16:30 daily.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Moving a pet from Japan to the United States is one of the more straightforward international pet relocations, because Japan is classified as a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies. The US side of this move is genuinely simple. Almost all of the real planning work happens on the Japan side, through the Animal Quarantine Service (AQS).
Moving a pet from the US to Japan is considerably more involved than moving one from Japan to the US. If you’ve researched the US→Japan direction, expect this move to be simpler: no rabies antibody titer test, no waiting period, and no quarantine at the US end.
Japan’s AQS export applications are submitted through NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System), an online system that can be unfamiliar to non-Japanese residents. You’ll need to register as a user before you can submit an application. The application itself, along with all original veterinary certificates, is submitted as an attachment — AQS does not accept email attachments over 14 MB or links to external file storage, so plan your document format accordingly.
AQS export inspections are conducted at Narita International Airport, Haneda Airport, and Kansai International Airport, each open 8:30–16:30 daily. Choose whichever of these matches your departure airport and airline.
If your dog or cat originally entered Japan from abroad, AQS requires the original Import Quarantine Certificate issued at that time before it will process an export. This certificate cannot be reissued — if you no longer have it, contact AQS directly and immediately, since there may be no way to recover it.
Many owners manage this route on their own — the US side has few requirements, and AQS’s process, while unfamiliar, is well documented in English. Professional help is worth considering if you’re unfamiliar with NACCS, have a previously-imported pet whose paperwork needs sorting out, have a large or brachycephalic breed facing airline restrictions, or simply don’t have time to manage the AQS timeline yourself.
Military families relocating under SOFA status have a separate documentation pathway at AQS inspection, using ID cards and PCS orders alongside the standard forms. If this applies to you, mention your status when contacting AQS so you’re routed correctly.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
