Shipping Pets

Moving

Pet Travel and Quarantine: Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni strongly discourages moving to Japan with pets. Read more on their website here.

Japanese Animal Quarantine Service Regulations require that all animals imported into Japan undergo import quarantine, in accordance with the Rabies Prevention Law (and in the case of dogs and cats, also the Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law) as well as an import exam to determine the animal is free of communicable disease. The quarantine period is 180 days (6 months). It is recommended to begin the process 9 months out from arrival. The 6 months quarantine period may be served in part or fully outside of Japan before import if the criteria below have been fulfilled. Failure to complete all requirements or provide original supporting documents will result in automatic 6 months quarantine starting from the date of import and the animal will be kept at an approved Animal Quarantine Station on the installation. Pets are not allowed off base until released from quarantine by teh Iwakuni Veterinary Treatment Facility. 

Import Requirements

1. Microchip implantation: The microchip must be International Organization for Standardization compliant and must be implanted BEFORE the FIRST rabies vaccination is administered. Proof of the date of microchip implantation is required.
2. Rabies vaccination: The owner must provide original rabies certificates signed by the administering veterinarian for at least TWO vaccinations prior to import and after microchip implantation. Vaccinations must be at least 30 days apart and within the accepted life span of the vaccine. Most recent vaccine must be given no more than 365 days from the date of arrival.
3. Serological testing for rabies antibody (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization test): The owner must provide the original proof of FAVN testing performed after vaccination against rabies. The blood draw for the FAVN must happen on the same day, or after teh second rabies vaccine is administered. 
4. The 180 day quarantine period begins the day the animal's blood was drawn for the FAVN test.
5. Advance notification of arrival to Japanese Animal Quarantine Service: Advanced notification allows the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service to prepare for the animal's arrival. Advance notification can be sent as soon as travel arrangements are made. This is not required if flying Air Mobility Command, Patriot Express.
6. Health Certification: An original health certificate issued by a veterinarian is required. Health certificates issued by military veterinarians are valid for 10 days and do not require additional endorsement. Health certificates issued by civilian veterinarians must be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and endorsed with a raised seal.

If all requirements are met, the quarantine release date will be set as 180 days after the FAVN blood draw. Completing all import requirements can take up to seven months so preparation and contacting local veterinarians are imperative.

Following import into Japan, all animals, regardless of the quarantine release date or port of debarkation, must report to and register at the Iwakuni Veterinary Treatment Facility within 72 hours of arrival with their owners.

Owners are responsible for the transport of pets arriving to, departing from and traveling within Japan. Owners are responsible for all matters associated with travel arrangements and shipping requirements for their pets.

Kadena Air Base, Yokota Air Base, and MCAS Iwakuni currently have capabilities for handling AMC arrivals of dogs and cats. If the animal is traveling by commercial air, the Government of Japan requires advance notification of pet movement as soon as transportation is scheduled. A notification approval will be returned and is used when checking in with the airline. Therefore, in order to avoid problems at check-in with the airline, this prior notification approval form is very important.  Please note that an AMC pet slot is not guaranteed, and it will be the owner’s responsibility to get the pet to and from MCAS Iwakuni regardless of use of AMC or a commercial liner.  Additionally, many commercial airlines restrict pet travel during summer months due to hot weather.

All incoming animals must enter Japan through officially designated ports:

All forms and information may be found at the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service web page.

If you are bringing a pet, you should have your sponsor make reservations as soon as possible, as pet friendly rooms are limited in the Base Lodging Facilities.  If there is not a pet-friendly room available, the pet must have a reservation at the MCCS Barking Lot until the owners get on-base housing.

Birds are authorized providing they are not on the endangered species listing, and a certificate of ownership and place of purchase is available. Due to the current avian disease status in Japan the export of birds to the United States is a long and costly process that may result in prohibition of the bird entering or re-entering the United States.

Keep in mind animal quarantine and transportation are your responsibility. The Japanese will not waiver requirements.

If an animal is travel-ready (10 pounds or less and in a kennel/cage) it may travel with you on the Shinkansen (bullet train) or travel on a freight train. The weight of animal and carrier must be less than 10kg, the carrier must be less than 70 cm long, and the combined length width and height must be less than 90 cm. When buying tickets, you must go to the ticket window (not the ticket machine) and ask for a "Temawari-hin ticket" for each animal. If the animals make noise or disturb other passengers, conductors will ask you to get off the train or move to a less crowded car. If you have to get off the train, you may catch a later train once you have resolved the noise issue.

Veterinary Services: Iwakuni has a permanent Veterinary Treatment Facility.

Please note that the primary purpose of the VTF is to make sure the base Military Working Dogs are mission ready.

The following services are provided for privately owned pets in support of SOFA status personnel once the MWD mission has been met: 

• Wellness Examinations
• Immunizations
• Health Certificates
• Prescription Re-fills
• Government of Japan Pet Quarantine Management
• Pet NEO Packet Guidance and Preparedness
• Routine Sick call
• Routine Surgeries(Spays/Neuters, Dental Cleanings, Mass removals)
• Over the Counter Product Sales (coat care, dental hygiene, flea/tick and heartworm prevention medications)
• Limited Emergency services during hours of operation – there is no after hours/weekend care offered on base
• Other Routine Services as Needed/ Requested

Hours of Operation

•    Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., appointments are required
•    Tuesday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., appointments are required 
•    Thursday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., appointments are required
•    Closed daily noon to 1 p.m. and noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays for staff meetings
•    Closed at noon on the last business day of the month for inventory purposes

After hours emergency services are not provided, however, contacts for local veterinarians are available. It is highly encouraged that owners establish relationships with a veterinary clinic out in town in the case of an emergency. Pet owners and sponsors are encouraged to call with any questions or concerns regarding import requirements and quarantine at COMM. 0827-79-6471; DSN 315-253-6471; From USA:011-81-827-79-6471. Iwakuni Veterinary Treatment Facility also has a Facebook page.

Marine Corps Official Pet Policy: The United States Marine Corps has a set official policy on types of dogs allowed in installation housing and other rules surrounding pets on base.

Marine Corps Order prohibits the following full or mixed dog breeds aboard Marine Corps installations: Pit Bull, Rottweiler, candid/wolf hybrid. For more information about this policy, contact your local housing office.

Pets and Apartments

Before bringing your pet to Iwakuni, review the policy on pets in family housing. Pets are authorized in townhouses. Dogs and cats (or small domestic animals such as hamsters) are allowed in the mid-rise apartments. Some quarters have limited yard space available for pets, but caution should be used in the event that such housing is unavailable. Japanese houses are very small, rarely have yards to accommodate pets, and most prohibit pets. Off base housing permitting cats is especially difficult to obtain.

Even though members are authorized to bring their pets to MCAS Iwakuni, bringing pets to MCAS Iwakuni Japan is highly discouraged. Housing here is very limited both on and off-base. Check also with local airlines regarding their policies if you decide to bring pets. Travel with pets to and from Iwakuni may require special arrangements and expensive fees.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni has a permanent veterinary treatment facility.

The following services are provided for privately owned pets in support of Status of Forces Agreement status personnel once the military working dogs mission has been met:

• Wellness examinations
• Immunizations
• Health certificates
• Sick Call appointments 
• Prescription refills
• Government of Japan pet quarantine management
• Pet emergency evacuation program packet guidance and preparedness
• Routine surgeries including spays, neuters, dental cleanings and mass removals
• Over-the-counter product sales including coat care, dental hygiene, flea, tick and heartworm prevention medications
• Other routine services as needed or requested

Hours of Operation

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., appointments are required
• Tuesday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., appointments are required 
• Thursday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., appointments are required
• Closed daily noon to 1 p.m. and noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays for staff meetings
• Closed on the last business day of the month for inventory purposes

It's highly encouraged that owners establish relationships with a veterinary clinic out in town in the case of an emergency. Pet owners and sponsors are encouraged to call with any questions or concerns regarding import requirements and quarantine at COMM 0827-79-6471, DSN 315-253-6471 or from the United States 011-81-827-79-6471. Iwakuni Veterinary Treatment Facility also has a Facebook page and responds to Facebook messages during busines hours. 

The United States Marine Corps has a set official policy on types of dogs allowed in installation housing and other rules surrounding pets on base.

Marine Corps Order prohibits the following full or mixed dog breeds aboard Marine Corps installations:

• Pit Bull
• Rottweiler
• Candid/wolf hybrid

For more information about this policy, contact your local housing office.

Pets and Apartments

Before bringing your pet to Iwakuni, review the policy on pets in family housing. Pets are authorized in townhouses. Only cats or dogs and small domestic animals such as hamsters are allowed in the mid-rise apartments. Some quarters have limited yard space available for pets, but caution should be used in the event that such housing is unavailable. Off base housings are very small, rarely have yards to accommodate pets and most prohibit pets. 

Even though members are authorized to bring their pets to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, bringing pets to Japan is discouraged. Housing is very limited both on and off base. Check also with local airlines regarding their policies if you decide to bring pets. Travel with pets to and from may require special arrangements and expensive fees.