JP
US
Pet Transport Japan to USA: 2026 Guide
4-8 wks
Preparation needed
See key facts
Quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
Official rules on this page checked
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Start of planning. Both must be in place before the health certificate is issued.
Confirm your dog's microchip is ISO-standard and that the rabies vaccination is current.
Responsible: Vet
2
Before travel. The form can be completed on the day of travel but doing it in advance is recommended.
Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online (if travelling with a dog). This is mandatory regardless of country of origin.
Responsible: Owner
3
At least 4-8 weeks before travel. Earlier for peak dates.
Book cargo space on JAL, ANA, American Airlines or Delta. Confirm route and crate requirements.
Responsible: Owner or agent
Which United States rules depend on a pet coming from Japan?
The United States sorts countries into 2 groups, and Japan falls in “Dog rabies-free or low-risk countries”.
Dog has been only in these countries for 6 months before entry: CDC Dog Import Form receipt (valid 6 months), age 6 months, microchip, healthy; any airport, seaport or land border. Official source
These rules apply to that group, on top of the rules every pet follows:
- Import permit: For dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries, the receipt is valid 6 months unless the dog visits a high-risk country or a different low-risk country in that time. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: No document beyond the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is listed for dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Health certificate: Not required: CDC does not require a general health certificate for pets (cats, and dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries). Airlines and some states may still ask for one.
Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026 - Rabies vaccination: CDC recommends, but for dogs only from rabies-free or low-risk countries does not list as an entry requirement, rabies vaccination. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Bringing a Dog into the United States, checked 2 October 2026 - How your pet may travel: Not required: no federal restriction on mode of travel for dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries; they may arrive by air, sea or land. Cabin, checked baggage or cargo is an airline matter. (Seattle's CDC facility takes cargo-only reservations, and the LAX facilities prefer cargo, for high-risk dogs.) Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Arrival points and notice: Dogs only in rabies-free or low-risk countries may enter at any airport, seaport or land border. Applies to dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
One rule for every pet entering the United States decides whether yours can travel at all:
- Minimum age: Every dog must be at least 6 months old on entry or return to the US.
Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026 - Minimum age: Not listed: cats. CDC's cat section requires only that cats appear healthy on arrival (they may be inspected, examined at the owner's cost if ill, or refused if they show a zoonotic disease); rabies vaccination proof is not required. APHIS states it has no animal health requirements for pet cats (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats). Neither sets a minimum age; destination states may.
Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026
The rules that apply to every pet entering the United States, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our United States guide.
What does Japan require before your pet leaves?
- Export permit: No separate export permit: apply for export inspection through NACCS (or by email) at least 14 days before the desired inspection date, then book a slot. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan.
Export dogs and cats from Japan, checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Dogs and cats leaving Japan must undergo AQS export quarantine: the exporter applies to AQS in advance and the animal is inspected at the date and hour the AQS officer directs. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan.
Import and export quarantine of dogs and cats, checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Export inspection within 10 days before departure unless the destination sets otherwise; certificate usually issued in 30 to 60 minutes. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan.
Export dogs and cats from Japan, checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: Export inspection is free; the exporter pays for vaccinations, tests and vet checks the destination requires. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan.
FAQ: Taking dogs and cats abroad from Japan, checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: Japan itself does not require rabies vaccination for export (the destination may). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan.
FAQ: Taking dogs and cats abroad from Japan, checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: Pets that may return to Japan should complete microchip, two vaccinations and the antibody test before leaving so re-entry quarantine stays within 12 hours. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan and returning.
FAQ: Taking dogs and cats abroad from Japan, checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: Counterfeit supporting certificates mean no export certificate and the animal cannot be exported. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Japan.
Export dogs and cats from Japan, checked 1 October 2026
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Japan to United States 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.
Japan Airlines (JAL)
Pets travel as checked baggage in the hold on international JAL flights. No cabin pets on international routes. Direct Tokyo Narita to USA routes (LAX, JFK, ORD, SFO, SEA, IAD). Book cargo space well in advance on popular routes.
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Similar to JAL. Pets as checked baggage in the hold on international flights. Tokyo Narita hub. Direct services to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and other US cities.
American Airlines
American Airlines Cargo accepts pets on trans-Pacific routes. Code-share routes with JAL (oneworld partners) may allow coordination. Los Angeles and Dallas/Fort Worth hubs.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Cargo on trans-Pacific routes. Seattle, Los Angeles and other US hubs connect from Tokyo. Confirm cargo availability for your specific route and dates.
Costs
What this route typically costs
International pet cargo (Japan to USA): USD 700 to USD 2,200 depending on pet size and route
IATA-compliant travel crate (if needed): USD 80 to USD 350
Japanese official veterinary health certificate (vet + government endorsement): JPY 20,000 to JPY 60,000 (approx USD 140 to USD 420)
CDC Dog Import Form: no fee
Total typical range: USD 1,000 to USD 3,200
Critical points
The CDC Dog Import Form is mandatory for all dogs entering the USA from any country, including Japan. Complete it before travel. Undocumented dogs may be refused entry or placed in quarantine at the owner's expense.
Cats have no federal US entry requirements, but check airline policies as these vary by carrier and route.
Japan Airlines and ANA do not allow pets in the cabin on international flights. All pets travel in the hold as checked baggage.
United Airlines PetSafe cargo is currently suspended for general public bookings. Confirm current availability before planning around United.
Some US states impose additional requirements (Hawaii has its own strict quarantine system for all incoming pets). Confirm your final destination state's requirements separately.
FAQ
Common questions
There are no federal documentation requirements for cats entering the USA from Japan. Individual US states may impose their own rules, so check your destination state. Airlines have their own health certificate requirements, so confirm these with your carrier. Hawaii is again the exception and applies strict quarantine rules to cats as well as dogs.
Japan Airlines and ANA do not allow pets in the passenger cabin on international flights. All pets travel as checked baggage in the hold. American Airlines and Delta accept small pets in the cabin on some international routes, but policies vary by route. Confirm directly with the airline at the time of booking for your specific Japan to USA flight.
The CDC Dog Import Form is an online registration that all dog owners must complete before bringing a dog into the United States from any country. It links the dog’s microchip number to the travel record and confirms vaccination status. There is no fee. Complete it before travel; do not leave it until the day of travel. The form applies to dogs of all breeds and ages, including puppies.
The preparation time is 4-8 weeks from a standing start, assuming your pet’s vaccinations are current. The actual flight is typically 10-13 hours direct from Tokyo to the US West Coast, longer to East Coast destinations. Factor in CDC inspection time on arrival. Your pet travels in the hold, so they will spend time in the cargo area before being reunited with you after customs clearance.
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Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.
- USDA APHIS · United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- CDC · United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dog import rules
- IATA · International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations
- MAFF · Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Quarantine Service