Dog or cat from Serbia to Japan: official requirements

Dogs

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationEntering Japan

      ISO microchip

      Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 microchip (15 digits). From non-designated regions it must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination (same day is fine).

      Details and the official words

      Microchip numbers starting with "900 202" are currently not accepted.

      Some microchip numbers have been found on more than one animal (Japan's examples start with 900). Once you know when your pet will arrive, notify the Animal Quarantine Service at your arrival airport promptly: a duplicate chip can mean re-chipping and redoing the steps.

      “Dogs and cats must be identified by a microchip before the first rabies vaccination.”

   2. VaccinationEntering Japan

      Rabies vaccination #1

      First rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant) after microchipping, when your pet is at least 91 days old — Japan does not accept vaccinations given before 91 days.

      Details and the official words

      “At least 91 days old at the time of vaccination”

   3. VaccinationEntering Japan

      Rabies vaccination #2

      Second rabies vaccination at least 30 days after the first, and before the first one's immunity runs out.

      Details and the official words

      “30 days or more apart from the first vaccination (the date of the first one is counted as day 0)”

   4. Blood testSerbia and Japan

      Rabies antibody test at a designated lab

      Blood sample after the second vaccination (same day allowed), tested at a Japan-designated laboratory: at least 0.5 IU/ml. The result is valid for 2 years.

      Details and the official words

      Antibody test at the Pasteur Institute, Novi Sad: If your destination asks for a rabies antibody test, Serbia's export form asks for the FAVN test report from the Pasteur Institute in Novi Sad.

      “A blood sample for the test must be drawn after the second rabies vaccination.”

      “Извештај о испитивању на антитела на беснило ФАВН тестом”

      “За псе и мачке када то земља увозница захтев”

      “Пастеров институт, Нови Сад”

   5. Waiting periodEntering Japan

      180-day waiting period

      Your pet must arrive at least 180 days after the blood sample date, and while both the rabies vaccination and the antibody test (2 years) are still valid.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: Pets arriving before 180 days are held in detention quarantine for the days still missing.

      “Dogs and cats are required to arrive in Japan after 180 days have passed from the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody test.”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examEntering Japan

      Pre-export clinical inspection

      A vet examines your pet within 10 days before boarding (no signs of rabies; for dogs also leptospirosis) and checks the microchip.

      Details and the official words

      “Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before boarding), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical inspection by a veterinarian.”

   2. Vet examLeaving Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   3. PaperworkSerbia and Japan

      Government certificate from the exporting country

      Get the certificate (Japan's recommended Form AC, or Form AB from designated regions) completed and endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority, after the clinical inspection.

      Details and the official words

      Bring the original certificates. Electronic certificates are accepted from the USA, Brazil and Spain, and from Hawaii and Guam, when they carry the required information and are confirmed as issued by the government authority.

      Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      If this is missed: Deficient certificates mean detention quarantine for up to 180 days or being shipped back.

      “Applicants must obtain certificates issued by the government authorities of the exporting country (corresponding to Animal Quarantine Service in Japan).”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

   4. NoticeEntering Japan

      Advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service

      Notify the Animal Quarantine Service at your port of arrival at least 40 days before you arrive (online via NACCS or by email). They issue an 'Approval of Import Inspection'.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: In principle, a notification submitted less than 40 days before arrival is not accepted.

      “Applicants must notify Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry not less than 40 days before arrival in Japan.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

Cats

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationEntering Japan

      ISO microchip

      Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 microchip (15 digits). From non-designated regions it must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination (same day is fine).

      Details and the official words

      Microchip numbers starting with "900 202" are currently not accepted.

      Some microchip numbers have been found on more than one animal (Japan's examples start with 900). Once you know when your pet will arrive, notify the Animal Quarantine Service at your arrival airport promptly: a duplicate chip can mean re-chipping and redoing the steps.

      “Dogs and cats must be identified by a microchip before the first rabies vaccination.”

   2. VaccinationEntering Japan

      Rabies vaccination #1

      First rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant) after microchipping, when your pet is at least 91 days old — Japan does not accept vaccinations given before 91 days.

      Details and the official words

      “At least 91 days old at the time of vaccination”

   3. VaccinationEntering Japan

      Rabies vaccination #2

      Second rabies vaccination at least 30 days after the first, and before the first one's immunity runs out.

      Details and the official words

      “30 days or more apart from the first vaccination (the date of the first one is counted as day 0)”

   4. Blood testSerbia and Japan

      Rabies antibody test at a designated lab

      Blood sample after the second vaccination (same day allowed), tested at a Japan-designated laboratory: at least 0.5 IU/ml. The result is valid for 2 years.

      Details and the official words

      Antibody test at the Pasteur Institute, Novi Sad: If your destination asks for a rabies antibody test, Serbia's export form asks for the FAVN test report from the Pasteur Institute in Novi Sad.

      “A blood sample for the test must be drawn after the second rabies vaccination.”

      “Извештај о испитивању на антитела на беснило ФАВН тестом”

      “За псе и мачке када то земља увозница захтев”

      “Пастеров институт, Нови Сад”

   5. Waiting periodEntering Japan

      180-day waiting period

      Your pet must arrive at least 180 days after the blood sample date, and while both the rabies vaccination and the antibody test (2 years) are still valid.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: Pets arriving before 180 days are held in detention quarantine for the days still missing.

      “Dogs and cats are required to arrive in Japan after 180 days have passed from the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody test.”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examEntering Japan

      Pre-export clinical inspection

      A vet examines your pet within 10 days before boarding (no signs of rabies; for dogs also leptospirosis) and checks the microchip.

      Details and the official words

      “Before leaving the exporting country (within 10 days before boarding), dogs and cats must undergo a clinical inspection by a veterinarian.”

   2. Vet examLeaving Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   3. PaperworkSerbia and Japan

      Government certificate from the exporting country

      Get the certificate (Japan's recommended Form AC, or Form AB from designated regions) completed and endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority, after the clinical inspection.

      Details and the official words

      Bring the original certificates. Electronic certificates are accepted from the USA, Brazil and Spain, and from Hawaii and Guam, when they carry the required information and are confirmed as issued by the government authority.

      Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      If this is missed: Deficient certificates mean detention quarantine for up to 180 days or being shipped back.

      “Applicants must obtain certificates issued by the government authorities of the exporting country (corresponding to Animal Quarantine Service in Japan).”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

   4. NoticeEntering Japan

      Advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service

      Notify the Animal Quarantine Service at your port of arrival at least 40 days before you arrive (online via NACCS or by email). They issue an 'Approval of Import Inspection'.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: In principle, a notification submitted less than 40 days before arrival is not accepted.

      “Applicants must notify Animal Quarantine Service at the expected port of entry not less than 40 days before arrival in Japan.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Serbia.

The trip back asks for 4 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry, serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days and apply for export inspection (NACCS).