● Field guide · Specimen / JP · difficulty very hard

Moving a pet to
Japan.

One missed rabies date = 180-day reset. Japan only accepts FAVN from KSU or the DOD lab — Auburn and other US labs are rejected at port.

VERIFIED · JP
★ PAWVISA ★
MAY · 2026
Plan-ahead window
~7 months minimum (180-day FAVN wait + 40-day notice)
From microchip to travel day, minimum.
02Field notes
What ruins Japan trips
  1. 1.
    Microchip must be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccine
    Any rabies vaccination given before the microchip is INVALID — destination will reject it. If your pet was vaccinated first, you'll need to re-vaccinate AFTER microchipping. This is the #3 most common reason trips get reset.
    Source →
  2. 2.
    Don't let the rabies vaccine lapse — it invalidates the FAVN
    For destinations that require continuous rabies coverage, even a 1-day lapse can invalidate the prior titer path. The replacement timeline is destination-specific: Japan counts 180 days from a new blood draw, Taiwan requires a sample 90–365 days before shipment, and Hawaii uses its own program clock.
    Source →
  3. 3.
    EU layovers need a transit-zone check, not an automatic certificate
    If the route uses an EU or associated airport, confirm whether the pet remains in that airport’s international transit zone. Qualifying non-commercial pets that stay in-zone do not need an EU health certificate; commercial/unaccompanied movement or handling outside the zone may still require EU entry paperwork.
    Source →
Sources cited
03Go deeper
Japan, broken down
03Related questions
What people ask about Japan
04Background reading
Go deeper on the mechanics
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04Other destinations
Eleven specimens