Taking a dog to Japan from the UK: the seven month plan

Japan was the hardest trip I’ve ever done. Not the flight. The paperwork. But I met Hachiko and saw Kyoto, so it was worth every form.

Japan is rabies-free and protects that status very seriously. The UK is not on Japan’s list of “designated regions”, so dogs from the UK follow the full protocol. Mess it up and your dog can be detained for up to 180 days at the airport. No pressure.

My human’s note: this is based on the process as of October 2026. Always confirm with Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) before you start, because the order of steps really matters.

The timeline (start 7 months before you fly)

1. Microchip first. An ISO 11784/11785 15-digit chip, fitted before any rabies vaccine that you want to count.

2. First rabies vaccine. Given when your dog is at least 91 days old. Only inactivated or recombinant vaccines count.

3. Second rabies vaccine, at least 30 days later. Yes, even if your dog is already vaccinated. Japan wants two shots after the chip.

4. Rabies antibody blood test (FAVN). Blood is drawn after the second vaccine and sent to a lab approved by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF). The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. Check the lab is still on MAFF’s approved list on the day you send the sample, because labs do get removed.

5. Wait 180 days. The clock starts on the date the blood was drawn, not the vaccine date. This is why you need seven months.

6. Notify Japan at least 40 days before you land. Submit the advance notification to the AQS (online through NACCS or by email). They send back an approval, which you print and bring.

7. Vet check within 10 days of flying. A clinical exam confirming no signs of rabies or leptospirosis.

8. Official certificate. Your vet fills in the Japanese forms, and the UK government (APHA) endorses them. Do not leave this until the last minute.

9. Arrival. Land at an approved airport, go to the animal quarantine counter, hand over everything. If it’s all correct, the inspection takes hours, not months.

What I’d tell any dog planning Japan

• Make a spreadsheet of dates. Chip, vaccine 1, vaccine 2, blood draw, day 180, notification deadline, vet check window, flight. Then check it twice.
• Get the blood draw right. Doing it before both vaccines are done resets the whole process.
• Keep the antibody result. It’s valid for two years, so a second trip is much easier.
• Book flights that allow dogs on the route you need, and check transit rules if you change planes.
• Bring copies of everything. Paper and digital.

Was it worth it?

I stood in front of the statue of Hachiko, the most loyal dog in history, and felt deeply understood. Ten out of ten. Would do the paperwork again. Well, my human would.

Sources: Japan Animal Quarantine Service: dogs and cats · Requirements to enter Japan with your pet (ZooVet Travel)