The journey from Italy to Japan for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. This is one of the more demanding routes, so allow around 36-42 weeks and …
Rabies titre testRequired. Blood draw at an AQS-approved …
QuarantineMandatory quarantine on arrival in …
Import permitNo separate import permit. AQS advance …
Health certificateUVAC-endorsed official health …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Italy 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
Must happen before any rabies vaccination. Document the microchip number carefully.
Implant ISO microchip -- this step is first
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
After microchip. This starts the protocol clock.
Primary rabies vaccination (after microchip)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
Mandatory wait before booster.
Wait 30 days minimum
Responsible: Waiting period
4
Day 30 or later from primary vaccination.
Second rabies vaccination (booster)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
5
Mandatory wait before titre test blood draw.
Wait 30 days minimum
Responsible: Waiting period
6
Day 30 or later from booster. 180-day countdown begins from this blood draw date.
Titre test blood draw at AQS-approved laboratory
Responsible: Your veterinarian + AQS-approved laboratory (SCELAB France or Sciensano Belgium)
7
Full 180 days must pass. This is the longest phase. You cannot compress it.
Wait 180 days from blood draw date
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 appointment well in advance. UVAC endorsement adds time.
Obtain UVAC-endorsed health certificate
Responsible: Official veterinarian + UVAC regional office
10
Present all original documents. Quarantine period begins (minimum 12 hours, typically 2-7 days).
Travel to Japan and present to 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 and cannot be corrected after the fact.
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. The sequence is fixed and strictly enforced.
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. EU-approved AQS labs include SCELAB (France) and Sciensano (Belgium). Check the current AQS approved laboratory list at aqs.maff.go.jp.
Quarantine
Mandatory quarantine on arrival in Japan. For non-designated countries (including Italy), minimum quarantine is 12 hours. In practice, expect 2-7 days depending on documentation completeness and AQS 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
UVAC-endorsed official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Must include microchip number, full vaccination history, titre test result (laboratory report), flight details, and arrival airport AQS station.
Export permit
No general export permit required for personal pets.
Health certificate
Official veterinary health certificate issued by an authorised vet and endorsed by UVAC (Uffici Veterinari per gli Adempimenti degli obblighi Comunitari), Italy. Must be in English. Issued within 10 days of travel. UVAC is the Italian competent authority for international veterinary certifications.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Italy to Japan move gets missed.
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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.
Lufthansa
Cargo: via Frankfurt FRA to NRT/HND/KIX. Lufthansa Cargo is well-established for live animal shipments from Italy via Frankfurt. FRA-NRT and FRA-KIX are reliable routes. Brachycephalic breed restrictions apply year-round.
Cargo Only
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Cargo: ANA Cargo operates Japan routes and has strong familiarity with AQS protocols. Connecting from Italian airports via European hub. Confirm ATH-routing with ANA Cargo.
Cargo Only
JAL (Japan Airlines)
Cargo: JAL Cargo handles live animals. Routing from Italy via European hub. JAL staff familiar with AQS documentation requirements.
Cargo Only
Emirates
Cargo: via Dubai DXB to NRT. Temperature-controlled. Summer heat embargoes (May-September) from DXB may restrict acceptance. Confirm before booking.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Cargo: via Doha DOH to NRT/HND. Good live animal handling. Seasonal restrictions apply.
Cargo Only
ITA Airways
Cargo: ITA Airways (Italian national carrier) connecting to hub for onward Japan routing. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance and routing with ITA Cargo.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
Titre test fees (AQS-approved laboratory: SCELAB France, Sciensano Belgium, or another approved EU lab)
Airline cargo fees (Italy to Japan via European hub, varies by carrier and crate size)
IATA-compliant hard-sided travel crate
Official veterinarian fees for health certificate and UVAC endorsement
UVAC regional office endorsement fee
AQS quarantine station fees in Japan (charged per day)
Pet transport agent fee (strongly recommended for this route)
Critical points
SEQUENCE IS MANDATORY. Microchip before vaccination. If a vaccination was given before the microchip, the protocol is void and you must start again.
The 180-day waiting period starts from the blood draw date for the titre test, not from the result date or the vaccination date.
AQS advance notification must be submitted at least 40 days before arrival. This is a hard deadline.
Titre test must be at an AQS-approved laboratory. Only approved laboratory results are accepted.
UVAC endorsement of the health certificate is required. UVAC is not the same as your regular vet.
Quarantine in Japan is mandatory and charged. Budget for quarantine fees in addition to all other costs.
The rules for bringing a pet into Japan
Japan takes biosecurity seriously, and the requirements reflect that. The paperwork is exacting, so accuracy matters as much as timing.
How to keep this move on track
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
For a non-designated country like Italy, the minimum preparation period is approximately 36-42 weeks from the date you start the protocol. This accounts for two vaccinations, the mandatory 30-day waits between them, the titre test, and the 180-day waiting period from the blood draw date.
In Europe, SCELAB (France) and Sciensano (Belgium) are both on Japan’s AQS-approved laboratory list. Check the current list at aqs.maff.go.jp before booking any titre test, as the approved list may change.
UVAC (Uffici Veterinari per gli Adempimenti degli obblighi Comunitari) is the Italian competent authority for international veterinary certifications. Japan’s AQS requires the health certificate to be endorsed by the official national authority, which in Italy is UVAC. Your regular vet issues the certificate; UVAC endorses it.
You will need to revaccinate and re-test. The 180-day waiting period restarts from the new blood draw date. This adds significant time to the process. Getting the vaccination sequence right the first time is important.
The mandatory minimum for a non-designated country is 12 hours. In practice, expect 2-7 days. The length depends on how complete and accurate your documents are. Quarantine station fees apply for each day.
Not legally required, but strongly recommended. The Italy-to-Japan AQS protocol has zero tolerance for sequencing errors. A specialist agent will manage the advance notification, laboratory coordination, UVAC endorsement timing, and cargo booking on a route where mistakes are costly.
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