Yes it’s a long process when starting from scratch but as long as you follow the flow chart from the MAFF correctly it’s very easy to do yourself. Just make sure you leave enough days between rabies vaccines, I know of people who’ve been turned away at the last step as the second was done a day too early. Always best to check with them first
Hopefully it helps make the complicated process a bit smoother! There’s a slightly different form for cats than dogs but you can still find it on the links I’ve included 😊
So from what i am understanding, if you are moving to/ visiting japan and want to bring your pup you can avoid a 6 month quarantine as long as you follow the steps? Thats a major change from what i learned years ago.
Yes as long as you tick all the boxes there is no quarantine. But even if you are one day out on the dates you either need to start again or do quarantine. I started looking into this about 5 years ago when we first were going to move and it’s been the same at least since then 🙏
I’m taking my baby in June and your video has been super helpful! Just wondering though, was it difficult finding restaurants that are dog friendly? Thanks a bunch!
Good luck with the trip 🤞🏼it’s not the easiest to find places that are dog friendly tbh. During summer time it’s a lot easier as more places let you sit outside with them on the terraces etc. I have found a few that allow you indoors - wylietraveldog.com/japan/ but it really depends where you are.
Hi, thank you for providing insightful step-by-step information for our easy understanding. We are planning to bring our Westie to Japan too. May I know what are the names of the 2 rabies vaccinations Wylie took and the type of rabies test? Previously, we did 1 Rabisin and the rabies RFFIT test.
We have Rabisin (from Asia) and Rabigen (from Europe) rabies vaccines. If you only had 1 rabies before the titer test then I think you will need to do at least one more rabies vaccine (which should be within the time the first is still valid) and will then need to redo the titer test. Because Japan needs at least 2 rabies before the titer. That would be my understanding anyway, but the best thing to do would be to email the quarantine section and send them your vaccine history and titer test and they will be able to give you the exact details as to what you need to do. Please let me know how you get on!
I have a question, hope you can help. I plan to travel from USA to Vietnam with 2 dogs/malteses transit through Narita Airport, Japan. Do I need to go through ALL the steps for import pet into Japan? Please help, Thank@@WylieWestie
@thodoan2088 if you are just transiting ie not leaving the airport then I don’t think you need to satisfy Japan requirements. But it is better that you write to the quarantine section at Narita airport to be 100% sure
Yes! We brought a full bag of kibbles unopened plus a plastic container with kibbles inside plus some snacks/treats and Rosehip powder. I did show to the quarantine on arrival and they didn’t look twice just kind of laughed I was even asking!
Thanks for the informative video. Would like to ask if it’s needed to make appointment in advance for the import inspection (at the Animal Quarantine Service) upon arrival? Or do I just go there with the pet and required docs without the need to book in advance?
I strongly recommend you read my full blog post as its necessity to do advance notification at least 40 days before arrival in order to get import permit and do import inspection. Without advance notification, you won’t be allowed to enter - wylietraveldog.com/importing-a-dog-to-japan/
I understand I have to get the Import Permit by filling out the Advance Notification to apply. Once I got the Approval, I can enter. The part I want to clarify is about the import inspection at the AQS upon arrival. Do I need to book even I have the approval? I did watch your whole video but I didn’t get this part… 😅
@@swenwong2945 when you apply for the import permit through the advance notification you have to give them your flight details so they know when you are arriving. So you don't officially have to book an appointment but they know your arrival details. There is a separate form for application of import inspection which you need to bring with you (they will also ask to check this as part of the process in advance usually) If your flight changes you have to fill in a modification form to let them know. If you arrive into Haneda airport, the quarantine section actually greet you at the arrivals after security.
In this video it looked like you had your dog in business class. May I ask which airlines allowed this? I’m having a difficult time finding an airline that would allow my chihuahua to be with me in business class. I appreciate the response!!
This was Singapore airlines but he was only allowed because he was an ESA and they’ve now stopped this. Airlines like Lufthansa, Swiss Air, ITA, Iberia allow in business but it depends where you are flying from and to.
Do you have any information/procedures about export from Japan (as to return to home country) eg. vet consultation in Japan (for the health check) and the health certificates issued or endorsed by the govt agency so we get the required docs with us to leave? Thanks
Yes you can check all the info on my blog - wylietraveldog.com/exporting-a-dog-from-japan/ a lot depends on what country you are going to so what their requirements are. Some you don’t need anything from a vet, and the export certificate suffices, others you need a vet to do a form first. If you email quarantine at the airport of departure they will usually help you.
Definitely! We are glad we had plenty of time to do it as well and prepared well in advance. And once you have done all the tests as long as you keep up to date with them then you can come and go a lot easier 😊
They can take the blood there but don’t trust the labs. I guess it’s cos there’s a high chance of under the table money for the right result. The only place in Asia that’s approved is Taiwan (outside of Japan) 🤯
Hi! I'm hoping to take my Shih Tzu with me to Japan in November and I don't want him to go in as cargo but i'm struggling to find airlines that allow pets in cabin from the uk to Japan, who did you fly with? Thanks !
We flew with Singapore airline but they don’t allow it any more. KLM would be your only option I think from the UK but you will have to fly in economy. Because of the ban flying pets into the UK in cabin most airlines don’t allow to fly out either. If you plan to fly back to the UK forget thinking about flying cabin. The only way to do this is if your dog is a registered task trained service dog. Otherwise you have to fly into Paris/Amsterdam and drive across or take the ferry.
Also, have you started the process for the paperwork yet? If you are starting from scratch (don’t have any rabies vaccine yet) it will take you at least 8 months to get the paperwork in place to go to Japan also. Read my blog on the process wylietraveldog.com/importing-a-dog-to-japan/
@@WylieWestie Thank you for the advice !! Thankfully we don't plan on coming back to the UK together, if I need to come back then he will stay with my partner in Japan. He has both vaccines and is getting his antibody test on 22 of April but I haven't got any paperwork done yet, I will deffo check out your blog now...thank you so much !!
@@Bee-dx1bl good news! As long as you do the paperwork at least 40 days in advance you will be fine (if the dates for the jabs are correct). I do recommend to send the vaccines and blood test results to quarantine in Japan before then though just for them to check the dates as even if they are one day out they won’t approve and you’ll have to do all the waiting again. I know more than one person this has happened to as some vets class the day of the vaccine as day 1 when it should be day 0 😳
It really depends on where you are doing the paperwork as costs vary drastically. We always have done everything ourselves without using an agent so that keeps costs down. The biggest cost is usually the titer test and then the fee for the dog itself on the plane. The costs I can think of; Rabies jabs Titer test ( we paid £275 when we did it in Thailand but only €45 when we did in Croatia) Vet health certificate Endorsement by government body (sometimes this is free sometimes they charge) Cost of travel on plane (we have mainly travelled as ESA so not had a charge but it can be quite expensive especially if taking in the hold)
@@WylieWestie We have 2 dogs at 40lbs each, coming from South Carolina to Aomori, Japan. Trying to determine how bad the cost is. We just had our first child so we are now single income and I am trying to budget a little. Trying to decode if we should fly them out here or allow them to be adopted.
@BL33D1NG1NS1D31 for 2 dogs of that size both would have to go in the hold so that’s going to increase your costs. Plus you will have the cost of the crates. From US I believe the vets there are quite expensive for the health certificates but it varies from vet to vet. One other thing to consider is having big dogs in Japan. It’s not easy to transport them (only dogs under 10kg are allowed on trains and even then must be enclosed in a carrier) and it makes it a lot more difficult to find a place to live. It can be difficult to find places as a foreigner to start with but when you have 2 dogs as well you will be really restricted. So best to look for accommodation etc first to see if you can even find anything before bringing them over. The process itself with the paperwork can take up to 8 months if you are starting from scratch.
Yes that’s right. Only the labs on the list are allowed so you must make sure your vet sends to one of those. The vet on Croatia almost sent to one in Croatia which wasn’t accredited to needed to specify to send it to one on the list in Austria. From both Singapore and Thailand ours were sent to the UK.
Thank you for your response!@@WylieWestie Do you know any other airlines that lets your pup be out the carrier? For us a 12 hour flight may be hard on our pup.
@nozomimiyaji7564 unless you do a private jet there’s no airline that allows dogs out of the carrier. Some people get lucky with crew who do let them out but it’s very rare and I wouldn’t risk it. If you are concerned about your dog being able to handle it I wouldn’t put the dog, yourself or other passengers through it as it’s not fair.
Question. I am European/EU pet passport, and had my first travel out of EU to Macedonia. To enter EU again a titertest had to be taken, but my dog had only one rabies vaccination at the time. I understand we will need one more rabies vaccination, but would then a new titertest need to be taken? If no, is it 180 days from the titertest was taken or the second rabies vaccination?
Yes as far as I understand you need a minimum of 2 rabies vaccines before the titer test for it to be acceptable here. Plus the titer test only last for 2 years. The 180 day wait is from the date the blood sampling was done for the titer test. To be 100% certain write to the quarantine section at the airport you will enter and send them what vaccines & titer you have and they will confirm exactly what else you need to do.
My vet will not do it. They want a company called air animal to do it and they charge about $5500. Anyone else having issues finding a vet that will help send off the blood sample for the rabies antibody?
That is completely outrageous. $5,500 just for the titer test?! We paid about US$350 in Thailand and Singapore thought that was expensive as we paid €45 in Croatia. $5,500 is a total rip off, you need to try to find another vet for sure. Where are you based? Try the Facebook Group Animal Travelers (it has 10,500 members around the world) someone on there should be able to recommend near your area.
@@WylieWestie Yeah it's crazy, I feel like these US companies are praying on citizens fear of just going through the steps to import themselves based on Japans strict guidelines which are appropriate for a rabies free country. Great way to be greedy and charge insane prices that I'm sure Americans will be more than happy to pay. I live in Indiana in the US. I will try that group! The company is called Air Animal and has a website, each of the Pet Wellness Clinic vets in my area just refer me to them whenever I even bring up exporting my dog.
And the vet wont just do the titer test themselves? As you don’t need to export a dog to have a titer test done since it’s just to test the amount of antibodies in the blood
@@WylieWestie Yeah my normal vet won't. I did find another place however, Banfield Pet Hospital that is going to do it. It will be about $500. Thanks for your response!
