Shipping Pets

Please contact your local Military Veterinary Clinic or the Camp Zama Veterinary Treatment Facility as soon as you find out you will (or may) PCS to Japan. The process of preparing pets for entry to Japan is a multi-step process that can require up to 8 months to complete. Dogs and cats are required to have an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-Compliant microchip, two rabies vaccinations, and a rabies filter (FAVN) test prior to entry into Japan. The rabies certificates must indicate all vaccine information, pet’s microchip number, and be hand-signed by the administering veterinarian. A health certificate issued within ten days prior to arrival must accompany each pet. It is recommended that you acquire the health certificate (DD form 2209) through a military veterinarian. Either a copy of your travel orders or U.S. Forces, Japan (USFJ) form 380EJ for customs entry into Japan is required. Pets entering Japan must be brought to the Veterinary Clinic to be examined within 72 hours of arrival into Japan. When scheduling your flight into Japan try to arrive Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in order to avoid overtime expenses from the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service.

Shipment of dogs weighing more than 150 pounds (this includes the kennel weight) is not authorized on Air Mobility Command (AMC) flights.  All travel arrangements are the responsibility of the pet owner. If the Japanese Quarantine Service so decides, the pet may be held over at the airport to be picked up the following day. (This does not happen often.)

Note: Please contact your nearest AMC terminal for the most up-to-date information regarding pet travel.

When picking up your pet, you must have a copy of your original travel orders to prove ownership.  All incoming animals must enter Japan only through officially designated ports.

For Military AMC flights, the ports of entry are Kadena and Yokota Air Base. All In-processing is done by members of the Japanese Quarantine Service, or by U.S. military (if entering from a AMC terminal) and all Japanese requirements are adhered to strictly.

Customs

Japanese Animal Quarantine Offices are typically open from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., Monday - Friday. Any arrivals which vary from these scheduled office hours will be considered overtime, and the pet owner will be charged accordingly. No estimate can be made on this charge because it depends on the yen rate and how much time is involved. To avoid any complications, try to schedule your pet's arrival between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Before the animal can be processed by Animal Quarantine Services personnel, the owner or his authorized representative (Power of Attorney required) must obtain United States Forces, Japan (USFJ) Form 380EJ, "Customs Free Import or Export of Cargo or Customs Declaration of Personal Property". This form is available at the Customs check point at the point of entry. It is required that three originals of USFJ Form 380EJ be ready if needed. More than one animal may be listed on this form, one below the other.

Japanese Animal Quarantine Service Regulations require that all animals entering Japan be examined to determine if they are free from communicable diseases. Animals found to be free from communicable diseases may be released to the owner's custody, subject to the restrictions listed below:

• Three copies (the original plus two copies) of each of the two most recent rabies vaccination certificates must accompany the animal during transit. The rabies vaccination must have been administered more than 30 days prior to the animal's entry into Japan and must still be. Bringing puppies or kittens, not old enough for the rabies shot is highly discouraged.
• Three copies (the original, plus two copies) of the health certificate must also accompany the animal during transit. This is issued by the veterinarian which examines your pet. The health certificate must be dated within ten days preceding the animal's arrival into Japan.(To clarify - the certificate is only good for ten days, so plan accordingly.) Placing the above certificates in a zip lock plastic bag and taping it securely on top of the pet's cage seems to work best. 
• If the rabies and or health certificate is obtained through a civilian veterinarian they must be endorsed by a USDA field office, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA officer must stamp and sign each form issued by a civilian veterinarian. The signature without the stamp is invalid. Military Veterinarians are USDA qualified. Therefore additional stamps and signatures from a USDA Office are not necessary. 

Most states have only one Federal USDA office, so obtain the rabies vaccination and health certificate through a Military Veterinarian, if possible. It is suggested that you carry in your possession one copy of each certificate in case of loss.

Countries Requiring Special Attention

Rome, Santo Domingo, (APO) Miami and Manila do not have the required stamp therefore all pets coming from these areas can expect a lengthy quarantine if the certificates were issued by civilian veterinarian. If the rabies shot and health certificate were issued by a U.S. Military Veterinarian, there will be a 12-hour quarantine providing providing that all other requirements are met.

Government bus transportation from Narita Airport is on a space available basis. If you have a sponsor be certain to let him/her know you are bringing a pet, what kind of pet, how many pets, and cage dimensions as well as when and where you will arrive. There are size limitations for pet kennels on the Narita bus. If you are traveling with a larger pet, a different mode of transportation will need to be arranged. Camp Zama Lodging has very limited pet-friendly rooms, so it is recommended that a reservation be made well in advance. If your pet will need to be kenneled, contact the Camp Zama Morale, Welfare and Recreation Pet Care Center and make a reservation as soon as possible.

Reservations must be made in advance. Fees for services vary and are subject to change. All fees are the responsibility of the owner.