Moving to Japan

Below is a list of the documents you will need when planning to move your vehicle to Japan:

• Original Passport (Of the individual moving/importing the goods)
• Vehicle registration
• Application of duty exemption on automobiles
• Proof of ownership for more than 1 year
• Original bill of lading
• Original Customs declaration form C-5360
• KANGI form
• Insurance certificate
• Sales receipt / purchase receipt

• Automobiles, boats, and other vehicles, may be included in household goods shipments, provided that the owner of the goods has owned the vehicle for more than 1 year prior to import from the origin country.
• Automobiles and other vehicles may be imported temporarily free of duty and tax provided that they will be re-exported.
• Automobiles must comply with Japanese exhaust emission control and safety regulations.
• A test of emission control and safety regulations will be given (SHAKEN).
• Modifications can be quite expensive for an imported car to be examined and registered.
• KANGI forms can be obtained by the Foreign Ministry in Japan.

These documents will be required when planning to relocate your pet to Japan:

• Veterinary health certificate
• Vaccination record
• Certificate from the Animal Quarantine Service
• Microchip

• Dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons and skunks imported into Japan must undergo import quarantine requirements in accordance with the Rabies Prevention Law.
• Animals are subject to a quarantine period up to 12 hours.
• Pets not meeting the required criteria must remain at an Animal Quarantine Service for the necessary quarantine period up to 180 days.
• Depending on the results of the import inspection, pets/animals may be denied entry into Japan.
• The owner of the goods shall obtain a certificate issued by the responsible government agency of the exporting country; it is recommended that the forms be obtained from the Animal Quarantine Service in Japan.
• Animals and pets must be implanted with a microchip.
• Microchip implanting must adhere to ISO standards 11784 / 11785.
  • If not, please bring a microchip reader with you.
• The following preparations are recommended prior to import:
  • Advance notification (notify agent at least 40 days prior to the arrival date).
  • Approval of import inspection of animals
  • Clinical inspection before departure (rabies and leptospirosis).
  • Certification from the responsible government agency of origin (veterinary health certificate).
  • Transport (pet transport cage must sealed)
• The following criteria must be met for importation:
  • Microchip number (standard, number, date of inspection, inspection point).
  • Kept for the past 180 days (or since birth) in the exporting country, or kept only in designated regions since exported from Japan.
  • Not infected nor suspected of being infected with rabies (for dogs, rabies and leptospirosis).
  • No occurrence of rabies in the exporting country in the past 2 years.
  • Immunizations for diseases other than rabies and parasite treatment (date of treatments, address and name of the veterinarian who administered the treatments, vaccine effectiveness period, and product name).
  • The transport cage seal number.
• For pets/animals that have been kept for less than 180 days in the exporting country before arrival in Japan, the date of entry into the exporting country and names of the countries (regions) where pets/animals had been before shall be clearly indicated on the certificate issued by the responsible government agency in the country of export.
• If the pet/animal is in countries (regions) other than the designated regions, it will be detained in an Animal Quarantine Service to make up for the incomplete part of the 180 day residency period after arrival in Japan.
• The rabies free designated regions (countries) as of June 7, 2005, are Taiwan, Iceland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam; further certification is required for pets/animals from regions other than these designated regions.
• The quarantine period of pets/animals entering Japan will be within 12 hours if the following requirements are satisfied:
  • Pets/animals have a microchip implanted and were vaccinated twice against rabies with an inactivated vaccine.
    • The second vaccination was given not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year (or within the validity) after the first vaccination.
  • After the two vaccinations, a neutralizing antibody titration test was carried out at a laboratory approved by the Japanese government and showed a serum antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml.
  • At arrival not less than 180 days and not more than 2 years having passed since the above serum had been sampled.
  • If 180 days have not passed at time of arrival, pets/animals will be detained in a quarantine facility to make up for the days of shortage.
    • Pets/animals that do not fulfill the above requirements shall be kept in quarantine for 180 days.
  • After vaccination the animal must receive subsequent rabies booster vaccinations.
  • The animal must show no clinical sign of rabies, and leptospirosis for dogs, immediately before departure.
• Quarantine examinations performed at private residences are not accepted.