Pet Transport from Germany to Japan
Germany to Japan is one of the most demanding pet relocations in the world. Japan's AQS non-designated country protocol applies: two vaccinations, a titre test, a 180-day wait, 40 days advance notification, and quarantine on arrival. Allow 36-42 weeks. …
The Germany to Japan import process
Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.
Responsible: German vet
Responsible: German vet
Responsible: German vet + AQS-approved lab
Responsible: You
Responsible: You or agent
Responsible: You or agent
Responsible: DENV-authorised vet + German authority
Responsible: AQS
What your pet needs to enter Japan
Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
Germany is non-designated for AQS. The full 180-day protocol applies without exception.
Microchip before vaccination is an absolute requirement. Any vaccination given before the chip does not count.
AQS advance notification must be submitted at least 40 days before arrival. Missing this causes significant problems.
The 180-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the result date or the vaccination date.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
The five questions that decide where you are in the process
If you’re reading this because you have a move to Japan approaching, walk through these five questions in order.
First: is your pet’s ISO microchip implanted and confirmed before any rabies vaccination in the records? If the chip came after any vaccination, those vaccinations don’t count for AQS purposes.
Second: are there two rabies vaccinations on record, both post-chip, at least 30 days apart? If only one, you need a second.
Third: was the titre test blood drawn at an AQS-approved laboratory? Not every EU-approved lab is AQS-approved. The approved list is at aqs.maff.go.jp.
Fourth: was the result 0.5 IU/ml or above? If below, you revaccinate and restart the titre test, and the 180-day clock restarts too.
Fifth: has the 180-day wait from the blood draw date passed? Count from the blood draw, not the results, not the vaccination.
If all five answers are yes and the 40-day advance notification is submitted, you can book and travel.
Lufthansa from Frankfurt: the practical route
Direct Lufthansa Cargo from Frankfurt (FRA) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) is the standard choice for German-origin Japan moves. Lufthansa’s Frankfurt live animal team is well-versed in AQS documentation requirements and the FRA-Tokyo route runs regularly.
ANA Cargo and JAL Cargo are both worth contacting if Lufthansa’s schedule doesn’t fit your window. They operate the Japan end of the route with strong AQS familiarity.
For flat-nosed breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs), Lufthansa restricts brachycephalic dogs from cargo year-round. Consider ANA or JAL cargo instead, and confirm their current brachycephalic breed policies before booking.
The MAFF health certificate and German authority endorsement
The health certificate must be in MAFF-specified format. Your regular German vet prepares it; the German competent veterinary authority (Veterinäramt at the Landratsamt or equivalent) endorses it. This endorsement is not the same as your vet’s signature. It’s an official government endorsement.
Allow at least one week for the endorsement process. The certificate is only valid for 10 days from issue, so the vet appointment and the Veterinäramt endorsement need to be in the week before travel.