Skip to content
Pawhopper
Plan a tripCountriesGuidesHow we verifyReport a mistake

Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Japan to Morocco: official requirements

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: microchip or tattoo before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) and rabies blood test, if your pet stays less than 12 months and 2 more.

Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 14 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: Morocco → Japan

In short

Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Morocco publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Morocco's food safety office (ONSSA) publishes no guide for pet owners, only the model health certificates your country's vet must sign (as scanned documents) and its fee list. The models set no minimum age. Every model also has the vet certify that your pet has lived in a country or area free of rabies for the last 6 months (the US model says premises); only the UK explains how its vets read this, so if your pet comes from a country where rabies is present, ask ONSSA or the official vet service in your country before you travel.

At a glance

How early to start (dogs)

4 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Health certificate for Morocco, signed after a vet check within 24 hours of departure (the vet examines your pet within the 24 hours before loading and signs the certificate that day)

2 weeks

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Apply for export inspection (NACCS) (at least 14 days before export)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (dogs)

  • Rabies blood test needed
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Tell the authority in advance

How early to start (cats)

4 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Health certificate for Morocco, signed after a vet check within 24 hours of departure (the vet examines your pet within the 24 hours before loading and signs the certificate that day)

2 weeks

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Apply for export inspection (NACCS) (at least 14 days before export)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (cats)

  • Rabies blood test needed
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Tell the authority in advance

Which rules apply to you

Morocco puts Japan in the group “Any other country”. See every group

Official name: Every other country ("Autres"): model I.CT.CN.JUIL.2025

Prefer a feed reader? Japan rule changes · Morocco rule changes

Japan → Morocco

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Japan (leaving) or Morocco (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

  1. Get ready

    1. Residence ruleEntering Morocco

      6 months in a rabies-free country or area (ask ONSSA)

      The official vet certifies that your pet has lived in a country or area free of rabies since birth or for at least the 6 months before it leaves. ONSSA doesn't say how this applies to a pet from a country where rabies is present: ask your official vet service or ONSSA before you plan the trip.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Every ONSSA model has this statement. The certificates don't define a rabies-free country or area, and ONSSA publishes no list. Neither ONSSA nor USDA APHIS's page for Morocco (November 2025) explains what US vets check for premises free of rabies.

      “Ont été entretenus dans un pays ou dans une zone indemne de rage depuis leur naissance ou depuis au moins les 6 mois ayant précédé leur chargement”

      “Ont été entretenus dans un pays ou dans une zone indemne de rage depuis leur naissance ou depuis au moins les 6 mois ayant précédé leur chargement.”

      “Ont été entretenus dans un lieu indemne de rage depuis leur naissance ou depuis au moins les 6 mois ayant précédé leur chargement.”

      “Have been maintained in rabies free premises since their birth or at least during the last six months prior to their loading.”

    2. IdentificationEntering Morocco

      Microchip or tattoo before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet must carry a permanent identification (a microchip or a tattoo) put in before its rabies vaccination.

      Details and the official words

      “Marque d’identification (tatouage ou puce)”

      “Ont été identifiés à l’aide d’une marque permanente, préalablement à leur vaccination contre la rage”

      “Ont été identifiés à l’aide d’une marque permanente, préalablement à leur vaccination contre la rage.”

      “Ont été identifiés à l’aide d’une marque permanente, préalablement à leur vaccination contre la rage.”

      “Have been identified with permanent mark, prior to their vaccination against rabies”

      “Pets must be identified by a permanent means (i.e., microchip or tattoo) prior to rabies vaccination (dogs and cats).”

    3. VaccinationEntering Morocco

      Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine)

      Your pet must be correctly vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine, after the microchip. At least 21 days must have passed since the first (primary) vaccination when the certificate is signed. The certificate lists the vaccine, its maker, the batch and the dates of the first vaccination and the last booster.

      Details and the official words

      No minimum age for the vaccination is given.

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé, et que 21 jours au moins se sont écoulés après la primovaccination antirabique”

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé”

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé”

      “Have been correctly vaccinated against rabies with inactivated vaccine”

      “Have been correctly vaccinated against rabies with inactivated vaccine, and at least 21 days have elapsed after the primary rabies vaccination”

      “Rabies vaccination is mandatory. Only licensed products are allowed. The vaccination must be given in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Any booster vaccinations must be given within the year.”

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé, et que 21 jours au moins se sont écoulés après la vaccination antirabique”

    4. Blood testEntering Morocco

      Rabies blood test, if your pet stays less than 12 months

      For a stay of less than 12 months, a vet authorised by your country's authority takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, and the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. The lab report, stamped by your country's veterinary authority, is attached to the certificate, and the vaccinations must then be kept up to date. A pet moving to Morocco for more than 12 months doesn't need it: its certificate says so instead.

      Details and the official words

      From the UK and the countries on ONSSA's general model, we leave the test out when your trip back starts at least 13 calendar months after arrival. A stay of exactly 12 months isn't covered by either line of the certificate, so we keep the test for it.

      If you haven't entered a trip back, we keep the test: skip it if your pet is moving to Morocco for more than 12 months (from the EU: for good).

      The EU model offers only two choices: exported for good, or temporarily with the blood test. From the EU, any trip back keeps the test, however long the stay.

      The US model has no blood test.

      “Seront exportés pour une période supérieure à 12 mois”

      “Seront exportés temporairement au Maroc pour une période inférieure à 12 mois, et ont été soumis à un prélèvement de sang, effectué par un vétérinaire habilité par l'autorité compétente, pour la recherche des anticorps sériques neutralisant le virus rabique, au moins 30 jours après la vaccination précédente contre la rage avec un titre supérieur ou égal à 0,5 UI/ml”

      “Les bulletins d'analyses de laboratoire du test ci-dessus mentionné, visés par l'autorité vétérinaire du pays d'origine sont joints au présent certificat sanitaire vétérinaire”

      “Seront exportés définitivement au Maroc”

      “Seront exportés temporairement au Maroc et ont été soumis à un prélèvement de sang, effectué par un vétérinaire habilité par l'autorité compétente, pour la recherche des anticorps sériques neutralisant le virus rabique, au moins 30 jours après la vaccination précédente contre la rage avec un titre supérieur ou égal à 0,5 UI/ml.”

      “Will be exported temporarily for a period less than 12 months, and have been submitted to a blood sample, taken by the competent authority, for an antibody titration test at least 30 days after the previous rabies vaccination, with a positive result, of at least 0.5 IU/ml”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PaperworkJapan and Morocco

      Health certificate for Morocco, signed after a vet check within 24 hours of departure

      An official vet in your country examines your pet within the 24 hours before it leaves and signs ONSSA's model health certificate for your country: your pet is healthy, with no signs of contagious disease on the day it is loaded.

      Details and the official words

      Export inspection and AQS export quarantine certificate: Bring your pet and all the original certificates to the AQS at the reserved time (an agent needs a power of attorney from you). The inspection and the English export quarantine certificate usually take 30 to 60 minutes. The inspection is done within 10 days before departure unless the destination sets a different period.

      If the destination's rules set a different period for the inspection, follow that; our 10-day window is Japan's general one.

      “Je soussigné, vétérinaire officiel, certifie que les animaux désignés ci-dessus et examinés ce jour”

      “Ont été examinés au cours des 24 dernières heures, ont été trouvés en bon état de santé et n’ont présenté aucun signe clinique de maladies contagieuses propres à l’espèce, le jour de leur chargement”

      “Ont été examinés au cours des 24 dernières heures, ont été trouvés en bon état de santé et n’ont présenté aucun signe clinique de maladies contagieuses propres à l’espèce, le jour de leur chargement.”

      “Je soussigné, vétérinaire agréé par l’USDA certifie que les animaux désignés ci-dessus et examinés ce jour”

      “ce certificat a une durée de validité de 3 jours avant le départ des animaux vers le Maroc”

      “this certificate is valid for 3 days prior to the departure of the animals to Morocco.”

      “The health certificate must be issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian within five (5) business days of export.”

      “The health certificate must be endorsed by APHIS within three (3) calendar days of export.”

      “Were examined in the last 24 hours and found to be in good health and show no clinical signs of contagious diseases specific to the species, the day of their loading”

      “This certificate is valid for 7 days”

      “Export inspection is conducted within 10 days before departure, unless conditioned by the destination country.”

    2. NoticeLeaving Japan

      Apply for export inspection (NACCS)

      Once your travel is confirmed, apply to the Animal Quarantine Service through NACCS (or by email to the AQS where you want the inspection), at least 14 days before you leave. Attach the certificates from your vet clinic, fill in your preferred date and time in the remarks, and wait for AQS to reply: you cannot reserve a time before you have applied.

      Details and the official words

      “Apply for export inspection by NACCS at least 14 days before export.”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Morocco

      ONSSA check at the border inspection post

      On arrival, ONSSA's vets at the border inspection post (Morocco has 16) check the certificate, your pet's identity and its health. Only pets that meet the requirements are let in. ONSSA's fee list sets 300 dirhams per animal for its health certificate for importing dogs and cats.

      Details and the official words

      The fee list (decision of 7 April 2025, code IM-SA-1) gives the price per head, tax included. It doesn't say where or when it is paid: ask at the border post.

      “Au Maroc 16 PIF sont ouverts par voie réglementaire à l’import/export des animaux et le contrôle sanitaire est effectué par des vétérinaires de l’Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires (ONSSA).”

      “Après un contrôle documentaire, d’identité et physique, seuls les animaux qui sont conformes sur le plan sanitaire sont autorisés à être admis sur le territoire national.”

      “Certificat sanitaire à l'importation de chiens et de chats”

Good to know

  • Morocco bans importing dogs classed as dangerous: pit bull types (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier), boerboel types (Mastiff) and Tosa.
  • At the border inspection post, ONSSA's vets check the documents, your pet's identity and its health. A pet that doesn't meet the requirements is sent back or destroyed.
  • Your pet must meet both the destination country's entry conditions and Japan's exit conditions. Check the destination's conditions with its animal quarantine authority or its embassy in Japan.
  • Might your pet come back to Japan? Check Japan's re-entry conditions before you leave: depending on the measures taken, the import quarantine can be under 12 hours or up to 180 days. Blood sampling and the rabies antibody test must be done at a vet clinic and a MAFF-designated laboratory.
  • Check that your pet's microchip can be read before the day of export inspection.

Cats

  1. Get ready

    1. Residence ruleEntering Morocco

      6 months in a rabies-free country or area (ask ONSSA)

      The official vet certifies that your pet has lived in a country or area free of rabies since birth or for at least the 6 months before it leaves. ONSSA doesn't say how this applies to a pet from a country where rabies is present: ask your official vet service or ONSSA before you plan the trip.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Every ONSSA model has this statement. The certificates don't define a rabies-free country or area, and ONSSA publishes no list. Neither ONSSA nor USDA APHIS's page for Morocco (November 2025) explains what US vets check for premises free of rabies.

      “Ont été entretenus dans un pays ou dans une zone indemne de rage depuis leur naissance ou depuis au moins les 6 mois ayant précédé leur chargement”

      “Ont été entretenus dans un pays ou dans une zone indemne de rage depuis leur naissance ou depuis au moins les 6 mois ayant précédé leur chargement.”

      “Ont été entretenus dans un lieu indemne de rage depuis leur naissance ou depuis au moins les 6 mois ayant précédé leur chargement.”

      “Have been maintained in rabies free premises since their birth or at least during the last six months prior to their loading.”

    2. IdentificationEntering Morocco

      Microchip or tattoo before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet must carry a permanent identification (a microchip or a tattoo) put in before its rabies vaccination.

      Details and the official words

      “Marque d’identification (tatouage ou puce)”

      “Ont été identifiés à l’aide d’une marque permanente, préalablement à leur vaccination contre la rage”

      “Ont été identifiés à l’aide d’une marque permanente, préalablement à leur vaccination contre la rage.”

      “Ont été identifiés à l’aide d’une marque permanente, préalablement à leur vaccination contre la rage.”

      “Have been identified with permanent mark, prior to their vaccination against rabies”

      “Pets must be identified by a permanent means (i.e., microchip or tattoo) prior to rabies vaccination (dogs and cats).”

    3. VaccinationEntering Morocco

      Rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine)

      Your pet must be correctly vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine, after the microchip. At least 21 days must have passed since the first (primary) vaccination when the certificate is signed. The certificate lists the vaccine, its maker, the batch and the dates of the first vaccination and the last booster.

      Details and the official words

      No minimum age for the vaccination is given.

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé, et que 21 jours au moins se sont écoulés après la primovaccination antirabique”

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé”

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé”

      “Have been correctly vaccinated against rabies with inactivated vaccine”

      “Have been correctly vaccinated against rabies with inactivated vaccine, and at least 21 days have elapsed after the primary rabies vaccination”

      “Rabies vaccination is mandatory. Only licensed products are allowed. The vaccination must be given in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Any booster vaccinations must be given within the year.”

      “Ont été correctement vaccinés contre la rage par un vaccin inactivé, et que 21 jours au moins se sont écoulés après la vaccination antirabique”

    4. Blood testEntering Morocco

      Rabies blood test, if your pet stays less than 12 months

      For a stay of less than 12 months, a vet authorised by your country's authority takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, and the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. The lab report, stamped by your country's veterinary authority, is attached to the certificate, and the vaccinations must then be kept up to date. A pet moving to Morocco for more than 12 months doesn't need it: its certificate says so instead.

      Details and the official words

      From the UK and the countries on ONSSA's general model, we leave the test out when your trip back starts at least 13 calendar months after arrival. A stay of exactly 12 months isn't covered by either line of the certificate, so we keep the test for it.

      If you haven't entered a trip back, we keep the test: skip it if your pet is moving to Morocco for more than 12 months (from the EU: for good).

      The EU model offers only two choices: exported for good, or temporarily with the blood test. From the EU, any trip back keeps the test, however long the stay.

      The US model has no blood test.

      “Seront exportés pour une période supérieure à 12 mois”

      “Seront exportés temporairement au Maroc pour une période inférieure à 12 mois, et ont été soumis à un prélèvement de sang, effectué par un vétérinaire habilité par l'autorité compétente, pour la recherche des anticorps sériques neutralisant le virus rabique, au moins 30 jours après la vaccination précédente contre la rage avec un titre supérieur ou égal à 0,5 UI/ml”

      “Les bulletins d'analyses de laboratoire du test ci-dessus mentionné, visés par l'autorité vétérinaire du pays d'origine sont joints au présent certificat sanitaire vétérinaire”

      “Seront exportés définitivement au Maroc”

      “Seront exportés temporairement au Maroc et ont été soumis à un prélèvement de sang, effectué par un vétérinaire habilité par l'autorité compétente, pour la recherche des anticorps sériques neutralisant le virus rabique, au moins 30 jours après la vaccination précédente contre la rage avec un titre supérieur ou égal à 0,5 UI/ml.”

      “Will be exported temporarily for a period less than 12 months, and have been submitted to a blood sample, taken by the competent authority, for an antibody titration test at least 30 days after the previous rabies vaccination, with a positive result, of at least 0.5 IU/ml”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PaperworkJapan and Morocco

      Health certificate for Morocco, signed after a vet check within 24 hours of departure

      An official vet in your country examines your pet within the 24 hours before it leaves and signs ONSSA's model health certificate for your country: your pet is healthy, with no signs of contagious disease on the day it is loaded.

      Details and the official words

      Export inspection and AQS export quarantine certificate: Bring your pet and all the original certificates to the AQS at the reserved time (an agent needs a power of attorney from you). The inspection and the English export quarantine certificate usually take 30 to 60 minutes. The inspection is done within 10 days before departure unless the destination sets a different period.

      If the destination's rules set a different period for the inspection, follow that; our 10-day window is Japan's general one.

      “Je soussigné, vétérinaire officiel, certifie que les animaux désignés ci-dessus et examinés ce jour”

      “Ont été examinés au cours des 24 dernières heures, ont été trouvés en bon état de santé et n’ont présenté aucun signe clinique de maladies contagieuses propres à l’espèce, le jour de leur chargement”

      “Ont été examinés au cours des 24 dernières heures, ont été trouvés en bon état de santé et n’ont présenté aucun signe clinique de maladies contagieuses propres à l’espèce, le jour de leur chargement.”

      “Je soussigné, vétérinaire agréé par l’USDA certifie que les animaux désignés ci-dessus et examinés ce jour”

      “ce certificat a une durée de validité de 3 jours avant le départ des animaux vers le Maroc”

      “this certificate is valid for 3 days prior to the departure of the animals to Morocco.”

      “The health certificate must be issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian within five (5) business days of export.”

      “The health certificate must be endorsed by APHIS within three (3) calendar days of export.”

      “Were examined in the last 24 hours and found to be in good health and show no clinical signs of contagious diseases specific to the species, the day of their loading”

      “This certificate is valid for 7 days”

      “Export inspection is conducted within 10 days before departure, unless conditioned by the destination country.”

    2. NoticeLeaving Japan

      Apply for export inspection (NACCS)

      Once your travel is confirmed, apply to the Animal Quarantine Service through NACCS (or by email to the AQS where you want the inspection), at least 14 days before you leave. Attach the certificates from your vet clinic, fill in your preferred date and time in the remarks, and wait for AQS to reply: you cannot reserve a time before you have applied.

      Details and the official words

      “Apply for export inspection by NACCS at least 14 days before export.”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Morocco

      ONSSA check at the border inspection post

      On arrival, ONSSA's vets at the border inspection post (Morocco has 16) check the certificate, your pet's identity and its health. Only pets that meet the requirements are let in. ONSSA's fee list sets 300 dirhams per animal for its health certificate for importing dogs and cats.

      Details and the official words

      The fee list (decision of 7 April 2025, code IM-SA-1) gives the price per head, tax included. It doesn't say where or when it is paid: ask at the border post.

      “Au Maroc 16 PIF sont ouverts par voie réglementaire à l’import/export des animaux et le contrôle sanitaire est effectué par des vétérinaires de l’Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires (ONSSA).”

      “Après un contrôle documentaire, d’identité et physique, seuls les animaux qui sont conformes sur le plan sanitaire sont autorisés à être admis sur le territoire national.”

      “Certificat sanitaire à l'importation de chiens et de chats”

Good to know

  • At the border inspection post, ONSSA's vets check the documents, your pet's identity and its health. A pet that doesn't meet the requirements is sent back or destroyed.
  • Your pet must meet both the destination country's entry conditions and Japan's exit conditions. Check the destination's conditions with its animal quarantine authority or its embassy in Japan.
  • Might your pet come back to Japan? Check Japan's re-entry conditions before you leave: depending on the measures taken, the import quarantine can be under 12 hours or up to 180 days. Blood sampling and the rabies antibody test must be done at a vet clinic and a MAFF-designated laboratory.
  • Check that your pet's microchip can be read before the day of export inspection.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Japan publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 300 MAD (each currency separately)

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Japan

Do before your pet leaves Japan (dogs)

  • ISO microchip
  • Rabies vaccination #1
  • Rabies vaccination #2
  • Rabies antibody test at a designated lab

Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.

The trip back asks for 8 steps: ISO microchip, advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service, pre-export clinical inspection and government certificate from the exporting country and more.

Do before your pet leaves Japan (cats)

  • ISO microchip
  • Rabies vaccination #1
  • Rabies vaccination #2
  • Rabies antibody test at a designated lab

Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.

The trip back asks for 8 steps: ISO microchip, advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service, pre-export clinical inspection and government certificate from the exporting country and more.

Every step from Morocco to Japan

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.

Entering MoroccoLeaving JapanReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Japan to Morocco?

Yes: For a stay of less than 12 months, a vet authorised by your country's authority takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, and the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Morocco?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Morocco?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Japan to Morocco?

With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: microchip or tattoo before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) and rabies blood test, if your pet stays less than 12 months and 2 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

Make a dated plan