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Pet Transport India to Japan: 2026 AQS Protocol Guide

If you are relocating a pet from India to Japan, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. This route takes some organising, and roughly 32-40 weeks of preparation is …

32-40 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
32-40 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must …
Rabies titre testFAVN titre test at a MAFF-approved …
Health certificateOfficial health certificate in AQS …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from India to Japan typically takes around 32-40 weeks.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
At least 7 months before Japan travel.
ISO microchip confirmed. First rabies vaccination. Dog must be at least 91 days old.

Responsible: DAHD-registered vet

2
30+ days after first vaccination.
Second rabies vaccination. Minimum 30-day gap after first vaccination.

Responsible: DAHD-registered vet

3
30+ days after second vaccination.
Blood draw for FAVN titre test at MAFF-approved laboratory. At least 30 days after second vaccination. 180-day AQS wait starts from this date.

Responsible: Vet and MAFF-approved laboratory

4
After titre result. Notification 40+ days before travel.
Receive FAVN result (0.5 IU/ml or above). Book cargo: DEL or BOM to NRT. File AQS advance notification at least 40 days before arrival.

Responsible: Owner

5
Shortly before departure (within AQS-specified window).
DAHD-endorsed health certificate in AQS format issued before travel.

Responsible: DAHD-endorsed vet

6
After 180 days from blood draw date.
Travel DEL or BOM to NRT. AQS inspection on arrival (approximately 12 hours if compliant).

Responsible: Airline and AQS

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
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies titre test
FAVN titre test at a MAFF-approved laboratory. Minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after second vaccination. The 180-day AQS wait begins from this blood draw date. Source: Japan AQS, maff.go.jp/aqs.
Health certificate
Official health certificate in AQS format, DAHD-endorsed, presented on arrival.
Export permit
No formal export permit for personal pets. DAHD-endorsed health certificate covers the export documentation.
Health certificate
Health certificate issued by a registered veterinarian and endorsed by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) or by a state Animal Husbandry officer. Must comply with Japan AQS format.
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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.

Air India
Air India operates Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) to Tokyo Narita (NRT). Air India Cargo handles live animals on selected routes. The DEL-NRT sector is the standard routing for India to Japan cargo pets.
Cargo Only
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
ANA operates Delhi and Mumbai to Narita. ANA Cargo has experience with live animal movements. A reliable option with strong cargo infrastructure at Narita.
Cargo Only
Japan Airlines (JAL)
JAL operates Delhi to Narita with cargo services. Japan Airlines Cargo accepts live animals on this route. Confirm availability for your crate size and travel date.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

Indian vet fees and DAHD health certificate endorsement: INR 5,000-15,000
FAVN titre test at MAFF-approved laboratory: USD 100-200
Air cargo DEL or BOM to NRT: USD 1,000-3,000 depending on crate size
AQS inspection fee on arrival: JPY 4,900 per animal (approximately INR 2,700)
Total typical range: USD 1,500-4,500

Critical points

The 180-day wait from blood draw is fixed. AQS does not grant waivers.

File the AQS 40-day advance notification before confirming your flight. Without it, clearance on arrival is uncertain.

India is a non-designated region. The two-vaccination plus FAVN sequence applies to all pets from India, regardless of their prior vaccination record.

DAHD endorsement of the health certificate is required. A health certificate signed only by a private vet, without government endorsement, will not be accepted.

The rules for bringing a pet into Japan

Japan asks for several pieces of paperwork, and they all need to line up. A checklist and a clear timeline are your best tools here.

How to keep this move on track

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

FAQ

Common questions

The blood draw is done by your vet in India, but the actual FAVN test analysis must happen at a MAFF-approved laboratory outside India. Your vet draws the blood and ships it. Finding a vet with experience of the AQS protocol helps with the timing, documentation, and courier arrangements, so experience matters even though the lab is overseas.
The advance notification is a formal submission to the AQS office at the Japan arrival port, at least 40 days before your pet’s flight. It notifies AQS that a pet is being imported, gives the animal’s details, and confirms the documentation chain. Without it, AQS will not have the import registered and clearance on arrival is at risk. Your agent or you submit this directly to AQS.
Allow 7 to 9 months from the first vaccination. The mandatory minimum sequence is: first vaccination, 30 days, second vaccination, 30 days, blood draw, 180 days. Add time for DAHD endorsement, titre test processing, AQS notification, and flight booking.
A result below 0.5 IU/ml means insufficient antibody response. Your vet administers a booster vaccination, waits an appropriate interval, and draws blood again. The 180-day AQS wait restarts from the new draw date. This typically adds 6 to 7 months to the total timeline.
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Airline guides
  • Air India
  • ANA (All Nippon Airways)
  • Japan Airlines (JAL)
Breed guides

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