Moving a pet from Canada to Japan takes careful planning, and every step is shaped by where in Canada you start and what Japan requires on arrival. From the CFIA export paperwork to the right airline, crate, and travel window, the details have to line up, and that is the part we take off your hands.
At Pet Travel Advisors, one coordinator manages the whole journey from your Canadian home to Japan: the routing through a major Canadian gateway such as Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, or Montréal-Trudeau, the timing around Canadian winters and Japan’s rules, and the documents that have to be exact. Tell us your city and your timing, and we will build the plan around your pet.
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Because timelines, airline rules, and Japan’s entry requirements all affect each other, we build a plan that fits your pet and your move date.
We use Japan's official Animal Quarantine Service guidance as the baseline, then turn it into a simple checklist and timeline you can follow.
We help choose practical routes, travel windows, and handoff procedures so your pet’s trip is safer and more predictable.
Pet Travel Advisors assigns a move coordinator who keeps you updated and checks details before travel so nothing important is missed.
Moving a pet to Japan is a regulated, well-documented process, and the steps depend on your pet and on the rules set by Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service. The 180 day wait and the advance notification drive the calendar, so early planning is essential. If you would like a simple overview of international moves first, start here. Bringing a pet the other way, into Canada? See our US import guide.
To keep everything clear, we break the process into steps:
We confirm what rules apply based on your pet and travel details.
We map out what happens when, so steps are completed in the right order.
We help keep appointments and timing aligned with what’s required.
We check the details that cause delays (microchip digits, dates, names, signatures).
We help align crate setup and routing with airline handling expectations.
We guide you on travel-day handoff and what to expect on arrival.
We keep your checklist aligned with the official rules. For the US export side, we follow the CFIA guidance for US to Japan travel. For the Japan entry rules, we follow the Animal Quarantine Service guidance on importing dogs and cats.
Pets travel to Japan’s approved international airports and clear import inspection with the Animal Quarantine Service on arrival. We confirm the best practical route and the arrival airport’s quarantine office before booking, since the advance notification is tied to the port of entry.
When the microchip, two vaccinations, titre test, and 180 day wait are all completed correctly, pets from Canada are not placed in long quarantine; they clear a short inspection on arrival, usually within twelve hours. If the 180 day period is not met, your pet is held in an Animal Quarantine Service facility for the remaining days, so we plan the calendar carefully to avoid that.
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether airline policies affect travel. Most moves are dogs and cats, though we handle other pets too, and the requirements can differ by species. Eligibility can come down to your pet’s type and health, airline rules for certain breeds or conditions, the documentation and timing, and which routes are available. Ready to start? Request a quote.
Your pet will need an ISO microchip fitted on or before the first rabies vaccination, two rabies vaccinations, and a rabies antibody titre test of 0.5 IU/ml or higher at a Japan-approved laboratory, valid for two years. After the blood draw there is a mandatory 180 day wait before arrival. The importer must also send advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days before arrival. We line these steps up in the right order and check that microchip numbers, dates, names, and signatures all match across the paperwork.
Japan is one of the longer moves to plan because of the 180 day wait. A typical timeline runs like this: a consultation and an eligibility check, then the microchip and the first rabies vaccination, the second vaccination, the titre blood draw, the 180 day wait, the advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days out, then the export health certificate, document review, and travel.
Most pets heading to Japan depart from one of Canada’s major international gateways, Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), or Montréal-Trudeau (YUL), with Calgary (YYC) and Halifax (YHZ) serving some routes. We choose the routing with the fewest connections from your city and the best conditions for your pet.
On the Canadian side, your pet needs an export health certificate endorsed by the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), prepared by a licensed veterinarian and submitted on Japan’s timeline. We handle the CFIA steps alongside Japan’s own import requirements so the two line up.
Japan requires a long, exact sequence: a microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a rabies titer test, then a 180-day waiting period, plus advance notice to Japanese authorities. Starting seven or more months ahead is normal, and we track every date from Canada.
Canadian winters are the main scheduling factor: airlines apply cold-weather limits, so we plan around the season and the forecast at both ends, choosing departure windows that keep your pet safe. For Japan, the bigger driver is lead time, since the required steps take months to complete.
Every move is priced individually, because the route from Canada, airline fees, your pet’s size and crate, the season, and Japan’s requirements all change the total. Tell us your city and timing and we’ll put together an estimate: request a quote.
One coordinator manages the whole move from your Canadian home: routing, airline booking, the crate, the CFIA export paperwork, Japan’s import requirements, and arrival. You get a single plan and a single point of contact from start to finish.
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