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In this article, an international pet shipping professional provides a thorough explanation of the procedures, documents, schedule, and estimated costs required to travel overseas with a dog or cat.
Conclusion: Preparation is safe if you start 6 months before departure. If you follow the correct procedures, you can travel with your pet to most countries.
What this article will tell you
Overview of required procedures
Microchip, vaccine, quarantine, and document flow in chronological order
Preparation Schedule
Know at a glance what you need to do and when, from 6 months before departure to the day of departure
Major Destination Requirements
Latest rules for popular areas such as the U.S., EU, Southeast Asia, etc.
Estimated cost
Cost of self-arrangement vs. hiring a professional
Check first! Three essential requirements to take your pet with you on an overseas assignment.
How to take your dog or cat from Japan to overseas,Export quarantine on the Japanese sideandConditions of Entry on the other sideYou must meet both of the following requirements. Failure to meet either one of these requirements may result in inadmissibility of travel, denial of entry into Japan, or stranding at the airport for an extended period of time.
Here are the three prerequisites that must be pressed first.
| terms | Contents | important point |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Microchip installation | ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit) microchip installed | Must be fitted prior to vaccination. Risk that chips with proprietary standards cannot be read overseas. |
| Rabies vaccination | Rabies vaccine after microchipping (at least 91 days old) | Many countries require proof of vaccination "at least 30 days prior to departure and within 1 year". |
| Rabies antibody titer test | Blood test at a designated laboratory to prove an antibody titer of 0.5 IU/ml or higher | It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get the results. Necessary or not depends on the destination. |
Preparation Schedule for Pet Travel Abroad [6 months prior to departure - day of departure].
Preparing to take your pet with you on an overseas assignment,Safe to start 6 months prior to departure.It is. Especially when traveling to countries where antibody titer testing is required (EU, UK, Australia, etc.), you need to allow enough time to consider the waiting time for test results and the risk of retesting.
6 months before: Information gathering and microchip installation
Check the entry requirements of the destination country and if a microchip has not been installed, have it installed at a veterinary clinic, making sure it is ISO 11784/11785 standard (15 digits). If a microchip has already been installed, take note of the number.
5-6 months before: Rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination after microchipping. Two vaccinations may be required for the first time. Check the vaccination certificate on the spot to make sure the microchip number is correctly listed.
4-5 months before: Antibody titer test (only in countries where required)
Blood is drawn after rabies vaccination and sent to a designated testing laboratory (e.g., Bioscience and Safety Institute of Japan). 0.5 IU/ml or more is acceptable. It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to receive the results.
3-4 months before: Apply for import permit for destination country
Some countries require an Import Permit in advance. For countries such as Indonesia, Australia, and Singapore, it may take more than one month to obtain an Import Permit. This is also the time to book pet transportation to the airline.
1 to 2 months before: additional vaccine and parasite control
Prepare a crate that meets IATA standards and begin acclimation training.
10 days to 1 week before departure: Medical examination and export quarantine application
A Health Certificate is obtained from a veterinarian, and NACCS applies for an export inspection at the animal quarantine office.Because Haneda Airport is extremely busy with reservations, it is recommended that applications and reservations be made at least two weeks in advance.
Departure day: Export inspection and boarding
Go through an export inspection at the animal quarantine station at the departure airport. Remember to bring all documents (originals). If you pass the inspection, an export quarantine certificate will be issued and you will be allowed to travel.
Concerned about scheduling?
We will work backwards from your departure date to create your own personalized preparation schedule free of charge.
Checklist of Required Documents
Many documents are required for pets traveling abroad. If even one of them is incomplete, your pet may not be allowed to leave the country, so please check the following checklist for completeness.
Latest Rules for Major Destinations [2026 Edition].
We have organized the entry requirements for countries and regions that are popular destinations for Japanese nationals to work or settle overseas.Regulations in each country are subject to change at any time, so please be sure to check the latest information before traveling.
🇺🇸 U.S.A.
- CDC Dog Import FormPrior submission of the following information is required (from August 2024)
- All dogs must be microchipped and at least 6 months old
- Additional requirements for entry from high rabies risk countries
- Japan classified as low-risk for rabies
- August 2025 - "Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination" form
🇪🇺 EU (Europe)
- April 22, 2026 - new rules apply
- Microchip required + Rabies vaccine (21 days prior to departure)
- Official Animal Health Certificate required.
- Confirmation that there has been no rabies outbreak in the last 30 days at the point of departure
- If from Japan, rabies antibody titer test is required.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Microchip + rabies vaccine + antibody titer test
- Animal Health Certificate (obtained within 10 days of departure)
- Basically no quarantine upon arrival (when conditions are met)
- Dogs need echinococcal deworming 5 days to 24 hours prior to entry
🇦🇺 Australia
- One of the strictest quarantine regimes in the world
- Import permit must be obtained in advance
- 10 days quarantine upon arrival
- Preparation 180 days prior to departure is recommended.
- Breed restrictions apply (some breeds are not allowed to enter the country).
🇸🇬 Singapore
- Requires an import permit from AVS (Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Service)
- Rabies vaccine + antibody titer test
- Japan is classified as Category B
- Home quarantine for 30 days after arrival is common
- Note the breed and number of dogs restrictions.
🇹🇭 Thailand
- Import permit must be obtained in advance
- Proof of rabies vaccination
- Health Certificate
- Usually released on the same day after document verification at arrival airport quarantine
- One of the countries with a relatively smooth entry into the country
How to Choose Transportation Method｜Companying (Baggage) vs. Cargo
There are two main methods of pet transportation. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of each, and choose the method that best suits your pet's size and destination.
| Comparison items | Accompanying (checked baggage) | Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| summary | Transported in the cargo hold of the same flight as the owner | Arranged by a specialized contractor and transported by freight service |
| Cost Estimate | From several tens of thousands of yen (depending on airline) | From 100,000 yen (depending on distance and size) |
| procedure | Relatively simple | Additional customs clearance procedures, etc. are required |
| Suitable cases | Small to medium-sized dogs and cats, direct flights | For large dogs, multiple dogs, and when sent by separate mail from the owner |
| important point | Acceptance requirements vary by airline. | Must be picked up at the arrival airport. |
Estimated cost
The cost of international travel for pets varies greatly depending on the destination, size of the pet, and method of transportation. The following is a summary of the main cost items.
| cost item | nominal sum | remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Microchipping | 3,000-5,000 yen | Veterinary treatment fees |
| rabies vaccination | 3,000-5,000 yen per visit | Number of vaccinations depends on the situation. |
| Rabies antibody titer test | 13,000-15,000 yen | Fees at designated inspection agencies |
| combination vaccine | 5,000-8,000 yen | Depends on destination requirements |
| Health Certificate | 3,000-10,000 yen | Varies by veterinary hospital |
| Airline Pet Transportation Fees | 20,000-100,000 yen or more | Varies widely by size, airline, and route |
| IATA Standard Crate | 10,000-50,000 yen | Varies greatly depending on size |
| Import license application fee | Thousands to tens of thousands of yen | Varies by country and procedure |
The sum of these factors is,100,000 to 300,000 yen or more even if all arrangements are made on your ownIn most cases, it will take more than one year to complete the process. In addition, rearrangements due to incomplete documentation or expiration of deadlines can result in additional costs and time.
PetAirJPN offers a plan to support complex procedures in a single package.130,000 yen and upWe are ready to help you. Considering the reduced risk of incomplete documents and the time saved in making various arrangements, hiring a specialist is an option.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
When taking pets with you on overseas assignments, there are many cases of trouble due to lack of preparation and information. The following are examples of actual common mistakes.
For those who want to prevent such mistakes
PetAirJPN provides comprehensive support from checking the latest conditions of your destination to preparing your documents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Three reasons why consulting PetAirJPN is easier
Reduce risk of incomplete documentation
Check the latest conditions of the destination country and list the required documents. We will accompany you to check the integrity of the microchip number.
Significant reduction in work time
We assist in completing preparations that would take approximately 90 to 125 hours on our own, with approximately 8 to 11 hours of customer service.
Experience in more than 40 countries
Familiar with the conditions of a wide range of destinations, including the U.S., the EU, and Southeast Asia. We are also flexible to accommodate special cases (large dogs, short breeds, and multiple dogs).
| Service | Contents | Fee (tax not included) |
|---|---|---|
| Course A (Departure Only) | Japan to overseas transportation support | 130,000 yen and up |
| Course B (Round Trip) | Round-trip support from Japan to overseas to Japan | From 200,000 yen |
| Course C (Entry Only) | Overseas to Japan return support | 130,000 yen and up |
Early booking discounts (10% off if booked at least 6 months prior to departure) and multi-cow discounts (4 off for the second and subsequent cows) are also available.
Summary: For a successful overseas assignment with your pet
Bringing your pet with you on an overseas assignment or overseas migration is not difficult if you make the right preparations. The three key points are as follows
If you're not sure where to start, or what to do with your pet, please feel free to contact us. Please feel free to contact us. We will assist you with everything from confirming the conditions of your destination to creating your own personalized preparation schedule, free of charge.
Free consultation for overseas assignments with pets.
We will confirm the conditions of your destination, provide a quote, and create a schedule, all free of charge.
This article is based on information as of March 31, 2026. Regulations and airline conditions in each country are subject to change at any time. For the latest information, please contact the official website of each country's authorities or PetAirJPN.
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