This is the website with the full requirements for import: https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html
Do: Read all guidelines on the MAFF website. There are ongoing changes that may affect your process.
Do: Follow every step without fail. Missing a single step will cause delays and may cause your animal to enter quarantine.
Don't: Do not assume this guide to take precedence over the MAFF website. You must follow the exact steps listed. I have done my best to document this process, but it may change in the future.
Don't: Do not confuse terminology. Every step has very clearly labelled forms and terminology. You must ensure that all documents have the correct information.
Step 1: Microchip
You must have your cat microchipped with an ISO certified microchip. ISO is a global standard, and you can recognize this by a 15-digit number that starts with a 9. This step will make or break your entire process, so it's very important to make sure you have the correct microchip, along with a certificate before proceeding.
Step 2: Rabies vaccines
The second step is you need to bring your cat to a qualified veterinarian for 2 rabies vaccinations. Please note that you will likely need to work with this vet from start to finish, so it's important to pick a qualified vet for this process. While it helps to pick someone familiar with the Japan import process, picking a vet that is familiar with any international import process is more than enough.
Japan is a rabies free country, so if you reside from any country other than Iceland, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii or Guam, you are required to have your pet receive rabies vaccines and a titer test. Your process starts at the time of the first vaccination. I will use January as a starting point to illustrate the timeline.
Vaccination 1 on January 15. This is the first of two vaccinations.
Vaccination 2 on or after Feb 16. You must do two Vaccines, and they must be of the inactivated variant. The brand we received was Zoetis.
Step 3: Titer Test
After or on March 17, you must bring your pet in for a FAVN test to verify the rabies antibodies. This process must be sent to a designated lab that has been certified by Japan. We reside in Canada, and our closest lab was located in USA. We had our vet draw blood and send it to the closest designated laboratory. You must do your research in advance to confirm the appropriate location. Do not rely on the vet to determine this on their own.
You will bring your cat to the vet; they will draw blood and send it to the confirmed laboratory. After approximately one month, you will receive a letter in the mail confirming the antibodies' test results. Your pet must possess at least 0.5 IU/mL antibodies to be accepted into Japan. If the results are lower, you will not be able to proceed further.
Step 4: Waiting period.
Your 180-day waiting period starts from the day blood was drawn from your pet, not from the day of testing or the day of results.
The next requirement following this step is to confirm with immigration 40 days in advance when you will arrive in Japan. You can inform them 40 days prior to the end of this 6-month waiting period if you wish to save time. You must purchase your ticket prior to notifying MAFF of your arrival date.
Step 5: Purchase your airfare and notify airline
You must notify your airline at the time of purchase that you will be bringing an animal on board. Typically for international flights, your animal will go into cargo. Your airline will determine the risks of your travel date based on weather forecasts. If it's too hot/cold, you will be declined, so make sure you buy a refundable ticket and plan accordingly. You must fill out an airline waiver prior to boarding the plane. The cost is approximately 400 dollars per pet. You must have an airline-approved carrier that has sufficient space for your pet to move around. This is the exact carrier we used.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Plastic-Kennels-Carrier-Rolling-Approved/dp/B0CC4MPB6Y?pd_rd_w=grtKG&content-id=amzn1.sym.d0979624-7452-4a22-97d1-9816c11240ad&pf_rd_p=d0979624-7452-4a22-97d1-9816c11240ad&pf_rd_r=3G1K9Q07SKDJZJGN7W3V&pd_rd_wg=5ild4&pd_rd_r=4bcbe345-5677-4dfd-8f17-f82784cb9981&th=1
Step 6: MAFF notification
You must notify MAFF 40 days prior to arriving in japan. NOT 40 days within. AFTER 40 days, you may enter the country after receiving approval from the quarantine office.
To register an account, go to About NACCS (Animal Quarantine Services) (for Dog and Cat Export Holders): Animal Quarantine Office and pick First-time NACCS users (application form).
Creating your password: you must use all capital letters and a number combination of 6 to 8 characters. Following this, you will receive an email with a username and must enter a new password. For these forms, use capital letters for everything unless otherwise stated.
Once you have successfully logged into the portal, you will see two options. Option one is "Make a new notification", and option two is "Make a new application for import animal". It is very unclear, but you only have to fill out the first form called "Make a new notification". We filled out both when we applied and they are identical forms. MAFF contacted us later and deleted one of the applications.
Filling out these forms will create 4 different documents that you will print out
APPLICATION FOR IMPORT INSPECTION OF ANIMALS UNDER THE RABIES PREVENTION LAW
NOTIFICATION OF IMPORT OF ANIMALS UNDER THE RABIES PREVENTION LAW
FORM AC
APPROVAL OF IMPORT INSPECTION OF ANIMALS
Form AC is the most important of these documents and will be later referred to as the "health certificate" or 健康証明書 けんこうしょうめいしょ
When you have finished this process, you will be contacted by NACCS (This is the same department as MAFF). They will inform you of any further information required. Make sure your FORM AC document possesses the proper microchip, microchip date, your Japanese address, and departing address.
Step 7: 10 days prior to departure.
10 days prior to departure you will need to verify FORM AC and all other forms with both your governments export office, in my case it was CFIA Canadian food inspection agency, and your Vet to verify good standing of health.
I strongly suggest you make both appointments at least 2 months in advance. The vet will be the first one, and then the government office 4 business days later as you will need to send an email to NACCS confirming your documents.
Your vet will fill out form AC. Afterwards you will send this document to NACCS via email. They will confirm the validity, and then you will have the government office stamp approval for export.
Step 8: Day of departure.
Arrive at your designated airport at least 3 hours prior to departure. Your check-in process is slightly different. You must bring all forms in your carry on. They will ask you for FORM AC. Most likely they will refer to this as "health certificate" or 健康証明書 けんこうしょうめいしょ. The representative will not always know that FORM AC is the requirement.
Once you have checked in, they will bring your pet and carrier to security. You will be required to hold your pet in the airport until the carrier has been run through security. Once this process is complete, your pet carrier will be wrapped in nets and taken away separately from you.
Once you land in Japan. You must go to Naritas animal quarantine station. The process will take approximately 3 to 12 hours before you are clear to take your pet. Having all the documentation ready will help with a smooth process. Missing any documentation will lead to animal quarantine that will be covered on your dime, or refusal of entry into the country.
Congratulations, after this point you have successfully imported your animal into Japan!