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Bringing a cat from Japan to the United States
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| AQS export inspection (Japan) | Apply to the Animal Quarantine Service office at your departure airport at least 14 days before your inspection date, by email or NACCS — inspections are reservation-based. AQS recommends the inspection by the day before departure and issues an export quarantine certificate. Keep this certificate: it proves your cat left Japan properly if it ever returns. | Apply ≥14 days out; inspection in the final days |
| Microchip (strongly recommended) | Not a US federal requirement for cats — but Japan requires a microchip for any future re-entry, and a chip is your only reliable proof of identity if your cat is lost or documents are questioned. Implant an ISO chip before travel. | Before travel |
| Vet health certificate for the airline | CDC and USDA APHIS impose no health certificate for pet cats, but airlines commonly require one issued within their own window (often 10 days). Check your carrier's exact wording and timing. | Final ~10 days, per airline |
| Destination state rules | A small number of US states set their own rules for cats. Check the state you are moving to; Hawaii and Guam run their own quarantine programmes even for pets from the US mainland. | Booking stage |
Your preparation timeline
- 1≥14 days out — Apply for the AQS export inspection; confirm the airline's cat policy and certificate window
- 2Final ~10 days — Vet health check and certificate if your airline requires one
- 3Final days — AQS export inspection (day before the flight is ideal); collect the export quarantine certificate
- 4Arrival — Your cat is inspected on arrival and must appear healthy
Costs you can plan for
There are no US federal fees for importing a pet cat. Your budget is the Japanese vet's paperwork, any AQS charge (not published in AQS's English guidance — confirm when you reserve) and the airline's pet or cargo fee.
Questions people ask about this route
Does my cat need the CDC Dog Import Form?
No. That form exists only for dogs. There is no equivalent federal form for cats.
Does my cat need a rabies vaccination to enter the US?
Not under federal rules — CDC requires no rabies proof for pet cats, though it recommends vaccination. Note that Japan requires the full rabies sequence if your cat will ever re-enter Japan, so most owners vaccinate anyway.
Does my cat need a health certificate?
Not for CDC or USDA APHIS. Airlines frequently require one, and a few states have their own rules — check both before you fly.
Can my cat be refused entry?
Yes, if it shows signs of a disease communicable to humans it can be refused or held for a veterinary examination at your expense. A final vet check shortly before departure is cheap insurance.
Returning to Japan
Bringing your cat back to Japan later: cats follow the same AQS re-entry programme as dogs (only the leptospirosis check is dog-specific). From the US — a non-designated region — that means an ISO microchip, two rabies vaccinations (first at 91 days old or older, second at least 30 days later), a rabies antibody test at a MAFF-designated laboratory at 0.5 IU/ml or higher, arrival at least 180 days after the blood draw, advance notification to AQS at least 40 days ahead, and a USDA-endorsed government certificate. Do the whole sequence in Japan before you leave, keep vaccinations continuous while abroad, and attach your export quarantine certificate copy to the return notification — the arrival inspection then normally clears within about 12 hours instead of risking detention for the missing days.
Related guides
- Bringing a dog from Japan to the United States
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- USDA APHIS — Bringing a cat into the United States
- CDC — Bringing an animal into the United States
- Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Service — Export dogs and cats from Japan
- Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Service — Import from non-designated regions (return rules)
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.