Getting a pet from Greece to Japan is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Plan for approximately 36-42 weeks. This is a rigorous route with little room to …
Rabies titre testRequired. Blood draw at an AQS-approved …
QuarantineMandatory quarantine on arrival in …
Import permitNo separate import permit. AQS advance …
Health certificateMINAGRIC-endorsed official health …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Greece to Japan
typically takes around 36-42 weeks.
Expect 7 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
This must happen FIRST. Before any vaccination. Document the microchip number carefully.
Implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
After microchip implantation. The start of the clock.
Primary rabies vaccination (after microchip)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
Mandatory waiting period before the booster.
Wait 30 days
Responsible: Waiting period
4
At day 30 or later after the primary vaccination.
Second rabies vaccination (booster)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
5
Mandatory waiting period before titre test blood draw.
Wait 30 days
Responsible: Waiting period
6
At day 30 or later after the booster. The 180-day countdown begins from this date.
Titre test blood draw at AQS-approved laboratory
Responsible: Your veterinarian + AQS-approved laboratory (SCELAB France, Sciensano Belgium, or other approved EU lab)
7
The full 180 days must pass from the blood draw date. This is the long wait.
Await titre test result (minimum 0.5 IU/ml) and 180-day period
Responsible: Waiting period
8
At least 40 days before planned arrival in Japan.
Submit AQS advance notification to arrival airport quarantine station
Responsible: You or your pet transport agent via AQS portal
9
Within 10 days of travel. Book official vet at least 2 weeks before departure.
Obtain MINAGRIC-endorsed health certificate
Responsible: Official veterinarian + MINAGRIC
10
Have all original documents. AQS inspection and quarantine period (minimum 12 hours, typically 2-7 days).
Travel and present at AQS quarantine station on arrival
Responsible: AQS quarantine officers
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted and verified BEFORE any vaccinations are administered. This sequencing is mandatory. A microchip implanted after vaccination voids the protocol.
Rabies vaccination
Two vaccinations required. Primary vaccination after microchip. Wait a minimum of 30 days. Second (booster) vaccination. Wait a minimum of 30 days. Then titre test blood draw. This sequencing is strictly mandatory.
Rabies titre test
Required. Blood draw at an AQS-approved laboratory only. Minimum result: 0.5 IU/ml. The 180-day quarantine waiting period begins from the date of the blood draw, not the date of the result. Approved labs in Europe include SCELAB (France), Sciensano (Belgium).
Quarantine
Mandatory quarantine on arrival in Japan. For non-designated countries (including Greece), quarantine is a minimum of 12 hours. In practice, expect 2-7 days depending on documentation completeness and AQS officer assessment.
Import permit
No separate import permit. AQS advance notification is required: submit to the AQS quarantine station at the arrival airport (NRT, HND, or KIX) at least 40 days before arrival.
Health certificate
MINAGRIC-endorsed official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Must include microchip number, full vaccination history, titre test result, flight details, and arrival airport AQS station.
Export permit
No general export permit required for personal pets. Official health certificate required.
Health certificate
Official veterinary health certificate issued by an authorised vet and endorsed by Greece's Ministry of Rural Development and Food (MINAGRIC). Must be in English. Issued within 10 days of travel.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Greece to Japan move gets missed.
Pet Transport Global
Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Lufthansa
Cargo: via Frankfurt FRA to NRT/HND/KIX. Lufthansa Cargo handles live animals reliably and Frankfurt is a well-organised live animal hub. Recommended option for Greece-Japan. Brachycephalic breed restrictions apply year-round.
Cargo Only
Emirates
Cargo: via Dubai DXB to NRT. Temperature-controlled hold. Dubai summer heat embargoes (May-September) may restrict acceptance. Confirm embargo schedule before booking.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Cargo: via Doha DOH to NRT/HND. Good live animal handling record. Seasonal brachycephalic and heat restrictions apply.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: via Singapore SIN to NRT/HND/KIX. Singapore handles live animal cargo well. Slightly longer routing from ATH but reliable.
Cargo Only
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Cargo only from Japan end. ANA Cargo handles live animal imports to Japan well and is knowledgeable on AQS requirements. Confirm ATH-routing via connecting carrier.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
Titre test fees (AQS-approved laboratory: SCELAB France, Sciensano Belgium, or other approved EU lab)
Airline cargo fees (Athens to Japan via European or Gulf hub)
IATA-compliant hard-sided crate (required for cargo)
Official veterinarian fees for health certificate and MINAGRIC endorsement
AQS quarantine fees in Japan (per day of quarantine)
Pet transport agent fee (strongly recommended for this complex route)
Critical points
SEQUENCE IS CRITICAL. Microchip must precede all vaccinations. Any vaccination given before microchip implantation voids the protocol and you must start again.
The 180-day wait begins from the date of the blood draw for the titre test, not from when you receive the result.
AQS advance notification must be submitted at least 40 days before arrival. Missing this deadline means your pet cannot enter Japan.
The titre test must be performed at an AQS-approved laboratory. Results from non-approved labs are not accepted.
Health certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel and endorsed by MINAGRIC. Allow time for endorsement.
Quarantine is mandatory, even for compliant pets. Budget for quarantine station fees.
Japan import rules, explained
Japan runs a strict import regime, so every document is checked closely on arrival. Build your plan around the fixed waiting periods, because they set the pace for everything else.
Practical tips for this move
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
FAQ
Common questions
Japan is considered rabies-free and maintains this status through strict import controls. Any compromise on the protocol could reintroduce rabies, which would be catastrophic for both animal and human populations. The AQS protocol exists to guarantee that any animal entering Japan has documented, laboratory-proven rabies immunity.
You will need to revaccinate your pet and submit another blood sample for a new titre test. The 180-day waiting period restarts from the date of the new blood draw. This is why getting a strong rabies vaccination programme right the first time matters.
Only if that laboratory is on Japan’s AQS-approved list. Most European pet owners use SCELAB in France or Sciensano in Belgium. Check the current approved laboratory list at aqs.maff.go.jp before booking any test.
The advance notification is a formal submission to the AQS quarantine station at your arrival airport (NRT, HND, or KIX), submitted at least 40 days before your pet arrives. It includes microchip number, vaccination history, titre test results, and travel details. It can be submitted online via the AQS portal. Missing this deadline means your pet cannot land.
For non-designated countries like Greece, the minimum quarantine is 12 hours if all documents are in perfect order. In practice, expect 2-7 days. Longer quarantine can result from missing documents, data discrepancies, or AQS officer assessment. Quarantine station fees apply per day.
Not legally required, but strongly recommended. The AQS protocol has zero tolerance for sequencing errors, and the consequences of mistakes are severe. A specialist agent familiar with Japan’s requirements will manage the advance notification, laboratory referrals, document coordination, and cargo booking.
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