Titer + 180 days$49
UK to Japan pet move kit
Japan's full procedure from the UK: two rabies vaccines, a designated-lab titer, the 180-day wait and NACCS notice, dated from your flight.
See the kitTiter + 180 days
USA to Japan pet move kit
Japan releases a compliant pet within 12 hours, but one wrong date can mean up to 180 days of detention. This kit turns the MAFF rules into a dated plan from the US, with a brief for your vet and every letter you need.
$49
Price in USD, taxes included. Checkout may show your local currency.
What's inside
USA_Japan_User_Guide.docx
Every step in order, with the official source for each rule and a final checklist.
USA_Japan_Timeline_TRACKER.xlsx
Type your flight date: every deadline is calculated and impossible dates turn red.
USA_Japan_Vet_Brief_TEMPLATE.docx
A brief to hand to your vet so each appointment covers what the destination requires.
USA_Japan_Document_Checklist_TEMPLATE.docx
Every document, who completes and endorses it, plus the questions to ask your airline.
USA_Japan_Letters_TEMPLATE.docx
Editable letters and emails for the people and offices involved in your move.
Who it's for
- Owners moving a dog or cat from the US to Japan who want to handle the paperwork themselves.
- Anyone starting 7 months or more before the move, or checking whether a planned date is still possible.
- Families already in the process who want to check every date before the 40-day notice.
- US military families: the guide notes the APHIS endorsement exception for active-duty personnel.
How the documents work together
Type your flight and arrival dates in the timeline workbook: it works back to the latest dates for the chip, both vaccines and the blood draw, counts the 180 days from the draw, and gives the last safe day for the NACCS notice. The vet brief lists what each appointment must cover, the checklist tracks every original, and the letters cover the laboratory, the AQS office, your airline and the endorsement appointment.
Route check
| Item | What applies on this route |
|---|---|
| Classification | Japan treats the United States as a non-designated region: the full procedure applies. Exception: Japan lists Hawaii and Guam as designated regions with a different procedure and certificate (Form AB). This kit covers departures from the other states only. |
| Minimum lead time | About 7 months for an adult pet starting from zero (chip and first vaccine on day 0, earliest arrival around day 211). Puppies and kittens: about 10 months of age at the earliest. |
| Microchip | ISO 11784/11785, 15 digits, implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccine. |
| Rabies vaccines | At least 2 after the chip, inactivated or recombinant only. First dose at 91 days of age or older. Second dose at least 30 days after the first. |
| Titer test | At a MAFF-designated laboratory, result of 0.5 IU/ml or more, valid 2 years from the draw. |
| Waiting period | Arrival at least 180 days after the blood draw, the draw date counting as day 0. |
| Advance notice | At least 40 days before arrival, through NACCS (email only if NACCS is difficult). |
| Pre-flight exam | Within 10 days before boarding: no signs of rabies (and of leptospirosis for dogs). |
| Certificate | MAFF Form AC endorsed by APHIS (APHIS also lists Form A plus Form C, or APHIS Form 7001 plus Form A) |
| Official endorsement | USDA APHIS (endorsement through VEHCS) |
| Quarantine | Within 12 hours if everything complies. Up to 180 days if documents or rules are not met. |
| Entry ports | Dogs: 11 designated airports and 8 seaports. Cats at other ports: contact AQS in advance. |
What's not included
No veterinary service, no official certificate, no booking, no personal review of your file. The official certificates are issued or endorsed by your vet and the authorities; the kit links to them.
Format and delivery
Instant download after payment: a ZIP with 4 Word files (.docx) and 1 Excel workbook (.xlsx), personalised with your email and order number. Works with Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Docs and Sheets, LibreOffice and Apple Pages and Numbers. Download link valid 30 days, 5 downloads.
Questions about this kit
How early should I start?
For an adult pet starting from zero, about 7 months before arrival: chip and first vaccine on day 0, second vaccine and blood draw about 31 days later, then 180 days of waiting. Puppies and kittens cannot arrive before about 10 months of age.
What happens if my pet arrives before day 180?
Japan detains the pet at an Animal Quarantine Service facility for the days still missing. With missing or wrong documents, detention can last up to 180 days. The workbook flags an impossible arrival date in red.
Which laboratory can test my pet's blood from the US?
It must be a laboratory designated by Japan's MAFF. For US owners, Kansas State University's rabies laboratory is on the list. The guide links the official list.
Helpful guides
Bringing a Dog or Cat to Japan from the US: How the Process Works
Read the guideTiter + 180 days$49
Canada to Japan pet move kit
Japan's full procedure from Canada: two rabies vaccines, a designated-lab titer, the 180-day wait and NACCS notice, dated from your flight.
See the kit