Miss one date and Japan can reset your pet's whole timeline. Here's the order that works.
Moving a pet from the US to Japan takes ~7 months minimum (180-day favn wait + 40-day notice). The steps must happen in order: microchip first, then rabies, then the FAVN titer and its waiting period, then any required final vet exam and USDA endorsement close to travel. Requirements vary by species and route.
Plan-ahead window: ~7 months minimum (180-day FAVN wait + 40-day notice). Where required, microchip must come before the first rabies vaccine, or the destination rejects the rabies record.
- 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 → - 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 → - 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 →
Primary source: Japan authority · verified 2026-05-17 · full source ledger →