Pet Transport from Germany to Japan: AQS 180-Day Quarantine and Documentation
Japan has a reputation for being one of the hardest destinations in the world to import a pet into – and that reputation is partly deserved. The Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) of Japan requires a rigorous pre-arrival protocol. Get it right and your pet will spend as little as 12 hours in quarantine on arrival. Get it wrong and they could be held for up to 180 days.
Why Japan’s Requirements Are So Strict
Japan is rabies-free. The AQS’s priority is keeping it that way. Their system is designed so that every animal arriving from a non-designated country (including Germany) must demonstrate a clear record of microchipping, two or more rabies vaccinations, a successful titre test and a 180-day waiting period after that titre test. The 180 days is non-negotiable.
The Step-by-Step Protocol from Germany
Step 1: Microchip (before all vaccinations) Your pet must have an ISO 15-digit microchip implanted. This must come before any rabies vaccination that will count toward the Japanese protocol.
Step 2: Rabies vaccinations Your pet needs two rabies vaccinations administered at least 30 days apart. Germany uses high-quality approved vaccines that Japan accepts, but confirm the specific vaccine brand with your vet to ensure it is on the AQS approved list. Retain the batch numbers.
Step 3: Titre test A blood sample is taken for the FAVN rabies antibody titre test at least 30 days after the second vaccination. The test must be conducted at an AQS-approved laboratory – Germany has a small number of approved labs; confirm the current list at the AQS website. The result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above.
Step 4: 180-day wait After the titre test result is confirmed positive (0.5 IU/ml+), your pet must wait 180 days before arriving in Japan. This is the clock the AQS uses. If the titre test is passed in January, the earliest arrival in Japan is July.
Step 5: Official health certificate Within 10 days of arrival in Japan, your pet needs an official veterinary health certificate completed in English or Japanese and endorsed by the competent authority in Germany (the Veterinary Office, or Veterinaramt, in your region). The certificate format should follow the AQS template – your vet or a licensed relocation agent can obtain this from the AQS website.
Step 6: Advance notification to AQS You must notify the relevant AQS quarantine station at least 40 days before arrival. Late notification can result in extended quarantine.
Quarantine on Arrival
Pets that have completed all pre-arrival requirements correctly typically spend 12 to 24 hours at the AQS quarantine facility on arrival (at Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Osaka Kansai or other designated airports). This is the document inspection period.
Pets that arrive with incomplete records, a failed titre test, or without 40-day advance notice may be held for the full 180-day quarantine at an AQS-approved facility at the owner’s expense. These facilities are licensed and professionally run, but 180 days is a long time for any animal.
Airlines and Routing
Direct flights from Germany to Japan operate with Lufthansa (Frankfurt FRA to Tokyo Narita NRT or Haneda HND) and ANA (Frankfurt to Tokyo). Lufthansa accepts pets in cargo hold on selected transatlantic and transpacific routes – confirm cargo acceptance and weight limits for the Japan-specific route with Lufthansa Cargo.
Timeline Summary
For a pet leaving Germany with no previous titre test history, plan for approximately 9 months from start to finish:
- Microchip + first vaccination: Month 1
- Second vaccination: Month 2 (30+ days after first)
- Titre test: Month 2 or 3 (30+ days after second vaccination)
- 180-day wait: Months 3 to 9
- AQS pre-notification: 40 days before travel
- Travel: Month 9 onwards
Sources: Animal Quarantine Service (AQS), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (www.maff.go.jp/aqs); AQS approved laboratory list; Lufthansa Cargo live animals policy.