The necessary procedures for preparing your pet for international travel vary depending on the destination country. Therefore, please check the websites of the relevant embassy or other official sources. Some countries may require several months for the process or multiple visits to a veterinary hospital, so early preparation is recommended.

Here are some points to confirm:

• ・Whether a permit (pre-arrival authorization) is required
• ・Type of vaccines and timing of administration (how many days before departure, etc.)
• ・Whether rabies antibody titer test is needed
• ・Availability of deworming medication (internal and external parasites, specific product types, administration schedule, etc.)
• ・Microchip (ISO or AVID type, insertion timing)
• ・Necessary documents (issuance timing)

Please be sure to check airline requirements as well.

Once your departure date has been confirmed, make an appointment for export inspection at the Animal Quarantine Service office at least 7 days prior to your departure date. We recommend you book as soon as you have a flight booking. To apply, download the export inspection application from the link below and send (email or fax) it to the airport you are departing from.

Link:https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/export.html

At PetLife, we issue all certificates in English. If you have additional documents that require a veterinarian’s signature (CDC form etc), please present them in advance so there is no delay in preparation of the document.

It will take time to prepare the certificates, so please upload any information (vaccine certificates, pet passports etc.) using the button below, prior to your appointment. If you have an import certificate that was issued by the quarantine office when you entered Japan, please submit that as well.

Consider your pet’s comfort

Your pet will spend the entire flight in a crate specified by the airline. In order to make the trip as comfortable as possible, make sure you crate train your pet in advance so the crate becomes their safe place on board the flight and in quarantine. Sedatives are not recommended and are prohibited on some airlines for safety reasons, so if your pet seems uncomfortable, mild anti-anxiety and/or anti-nausea medications are options you could consider. If necessary, you could have your pet try a couple of doses to see how they respond before actually giving it to them for the long journey. Walk your dog before you leave home and again before check in. Preparing diapers and spare pee pads, and practicing drinking from a water bottle are also good ideas. To prevent vomiting in the plane, feed your pet at least 3 hours before boarding time.