A dog or cat moving from Canada to Japan pays no Japanese import fee at all. What the route demands is time: a rabies titre test with a 180 day wait after a passing draw before arrival. The Canadian wrinkle is that no lab in Canada runs the test, so the sample travels by courier to an approved US lab, usually Kansas State, with the USD $79 to $90 lab fee on top of the draw and shipping. Compliant pets clear without quarantine. Freight is quoted per booking. Figures checked August 2026.
| Cost | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| CFIA export certification | Set by the CFIA at the endorsement appointment | CFIA |
| Airline freight | Quoted per booking on your crate size and dates | Airline |
| Japanese import fee | None. The 40 day advance notification is also free | Not applicable |
| Rabies titre test, US lab fee | USD $79 to $90 lab fee. No Canadian lab runs this test, so the sample travels by courier to an approved US lab, usually Kansas State | US laboratory |
| IATA crate | CAD $80 to $340 at retail depending on size. We size the crate at your pet’s fitting and confirm the cost before anything is booked | Retailer |
| Vet exam, health certificate, blood draw | Set by your clinic | Your vet |
| Quarantine | None if fully compliant on arrival | Animal Quarantine Service |
Arriving before the 180 day wait is complete means quarantine for the balance, which is why the titre draw date anchors the whole plan.
Live animal freight from Canada is priced per booking, not from a rate card. Air Canada Cargo, WestJet, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Emirates and Qatar all quote each shipment individually, based on crate size, route, and dates.
No US carrier publishes a pet freight rate out of Canada. American Airlines Cargo, which does publish a transborder cargo tariff, states that it does not transport any animals outbound from Canada at all, so it is not an option on this lane unless the pet is driven to a US gateway and flown from there. The exact figure for this route is set once the crate size and dates are known, which is why we price it per booking instead of printing a number that will not match your itinerary.
What we can tell you is what drives it. Airlines charge on chargeable weight, which is whichever is greater: actual weight, or a volume figure from the crate dimensions. For pets the volume figure almost always wins. Air Canada publishes the divisor at 166 cubic inches per pound. A size 400 crate works out to roughly 66 kg of chargeable weight no matter what is inside it, which is why crate size moves the price more than the dog does.
Your vet sets their own fees. The examination, the certificate paperwork and any blood draw are priced by your clinic and vary between practices. Ask for a quote when you book the visit; we handle the timing so every piece lands inside its validity window. The lab fee covers the test itself, and the draw is always the clinic’s charge.
Ground transport at either end is quoted per route. Our coordination fee is included in the total we quote you and itemised on your invoice.
Crate size is the single biggest lever, because it drives chargeable weight. Direct routings cost more per kilogram than they look but remove transfer handling. Season matters too: winter cold embargoes and summer heat rules both narrow booking windows from Canada. Two pets on one certificate share the CFIA endorsement, while each extra pet adds its own crate and freight.
Export certification from the CFIA pet export requirements. Import rules from Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service. Checked August 2026.
Send us the route, the breed and roughly when you want to travel. Request a quote and we will reply with an itemised plan, a timeline and clear next steps.
For entry rules and the full paperwork timeline, see our guide to pet shipping requirements for Japan.
Last updated 7 September 2026
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