Pets Leaving and Returning to Japan
Service members may chose
to take their pet out of Japan for vacation or for other reasons with the
intention of returning. While this is possible, pet owners must ensure they
satisfy Japan’s pet importation requirements.
There
are two categories:
1.
Returning pets exported to a Rabies Designated Country
2.
Returning pets exported to a Rabies Free Designated Country
Bringing Dogs and
Cats Back To Japan after Direct Export to a Rabies Endemic Country
When
leaving Japan to visit a country that is a rabies endemic country, all quarantine
rules apply for bring the pet back into Japan when they return. To reduce the
quarantine time assessed the following items need to be followed:
1.
Upon leaving Japan, an Export Quarantine Application must be submitted to the
Animal Quarantine Officer located at the Port of Departure. (Form is located
on the JDVC website: http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/index.aspx) The Export Application will verify the following
items:
a.
Microchipping: Before
completing any other requirements, PLEASE MICROCHIP YOUR PET FIRST. Any
vaccinations or FAVN testing prior to microchipping will be considered
invalid. All animals must obtain a microchip leaving and returning to Japan. ISO or ISO-compatible chips that meet the ISO 11784 and 11785 Standard are
recommended. HomeAgain® and AVID® microchips are
acceptable. The identification number of the microchip must be annotated on
the Rabies Certificate, the Health Certificate, the rabies serology (FAVN) test
result sheet, and the Export Quarantine application.
b.
Vaccinations: SOFA status
personnel must present documentary evidence that their pet has had at least two
inactivated rabies vaccinations since being microchipped. The most
recent inactivated rabies vaccination must have been given not less than 30
days and not later than 12 months prior to departure. The most recent rabies
vaccination form (DD 2208, Rabies Vaccination Certificate) will be required and
requires annotation of the microchip number. Complete information for the past
two inactivated rabies vaccinations will be annotated on the health certificate
(MDJ OP 2209, Veterinary Health
Certificate for Import/Export for Japan). If the rabies immunization
validity period will expire while the dog is in the other country, the
immunization will need to be updated prior to returning and accompany the pet
upon return. Consider updating the vaccination prior to leaving.
c. Fluorescent Antibody Viral Neutralization
(FAVN) Test: A FAVN test result must be received prior to leaving which
indicates an antibody level greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/ml and is valid up
to 2 years. The microchip number needs to be annotated on the FAVN test result
form.
d.
Advance Notification: Any animal returning
by commercial air requires an advance notification of pet movement as
soon as transportation is scheduled (preferable 40 days from the return date).
A notification of approval will be returned and is used when checking the
animal in with the airline. Depending on your schedule, the advance
notification may need to be submitted even before leaving Japan…plan ahead. Please annotate in the “Remarks” box on the Advance Notification Form
the following statement:
“This pet belongs to a US SOFA sponsored family and will be assigned to (list installation).”
The
advance notification form is found on the JDVC website:
(http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/rfc.aspx)
The advance notification
form is required to be sent by mail or FAX to the port of entry. Addresses and
FAX numbers for the respective ports of entry may be found at this website:
(http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/index.html)
e. Health
Certificate: An individual health certificate is required for each animal
that is moved into or out of Japan. This must be done within 10 days of
traveling. The military health certificate is valid for 10 days and must be
completed within 10 days before arrival. Please note that the traveler
will lose one day during travel to Japan from the US. The MDJ OP Form 2209
(Veterinary Health Certificate for Import/Export for Japan) may be used by
military veterinarians. The MDJ OP Form 2209 may be found on the Japan District
Veterinary Command homepage: (http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/rfc.aspx).
f. USDA
Certification: If a health certificate is issued by a licensed US civilian veterinarian, the health certificate and rabies certificate must be certified
by a USDA Federal Veterinarian and bear the USDA raised embossed seal. These
USDA certified health certificates are valid up to 30 days before arrival. The
airlines require a health certificate that is within 10 days of arrival.
Therefore if the USDA certified health certificate isn’t dated within 10 days
of arrival, an additional certificate will be required within 10 days of
arrival for the airline. The certified certificate will be used upon arrival
for processing the pet at Customs. Health certificates issued by a military
veterinary treatment facility using the MDJ OP Form 2209 do not require the
USDA certification.
g. MDJ Form 270 (Pet Quarantine and Examination Certificate; 2 copies): All
SOFA status personnel entering Japan with a pet are required to complete a MDJ
270. The MDJ 270 allows your pet to be released to you for transportation to
your US Military Quarantine Facility. The form may be downloaded from the JDVC
website and should be completed prior to arrival in Japan. You are required to
submit the form to the Animal Quarantine Officer at arrival, then to your US
Military Veterinary Treatment Facility within 72 hours after entry into Japan to continue and complete the quarantine process.
2.
If an Export Quarantine Application/Certificate is issued by the Animal
Quarantine Service verifying that a microchip has been implanted and that
rabies vaccinations (2 or more times) were given, and results of serological
test for rabies antibody meet the necessary level, dogs or cats returning to
Japan within 2 years from the date of the FAVN test, the quarantine at time of
arrival may be completed within 12 hours. If these conditions are not met, the
animal will be subject to a quarantine period up to 180 days.
Bringing Dogs and
Cats Back To Japan after Direct Export to a Rabies Free Country
When
leaving Japan to visit a country that is designated a rabies free country,
quarantine rules that apply for pet arriving from rabies free countries apply when
they return. See JDVC Webpage “Pets from Rabies Free Countries.” Designated
regions: Taiwan, Iceland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Guam. Assessed quarantine time will be reduced by the following:
1.
Upon leaving Japan, an Export Quarantine Application must be submitted to the
Animal Quarantine Officer located at the Port of Departure. (Form is located
on the JDVC website: http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/index.aspx) The Export Application will verify the following items:
a.
Microchipping: Before
completing any of the following requirements, PLEASE MICROCHIP YOUR PET FIRST.
All animals must obtain a microchip before arriving in Japan. If the pet already has a microchip, please make sure that it is an ISO or
ISO-compatible chip that meets the ISO 11784 and 11785 Standard. AVID®
and HomeAgain® microchips are acceptable. The identification number
of the microchip must be annotated on the Rabies Certificate, the Health
Certificate, and advance notification forms.
b.
Vaccinations: Rabies vaccination
information or forms are not required.
c. Fluorescent Antibody Viral Neutralization
(FAVN) Test: FAVN information is not required.
d.
Advance Notification: Any animal
returning by commercial air requires an advance notification of pet
movement as soon as transportation is scheduled (preferable 40 days from the
return date). A notification of approval will be returned and is used when
checking the animal in with the airline. Depending on your schedule, the
advance notification may need to be submitted even before leaving Japan…plan ahead. Please annotate in the “Remarks” box on the Advance Notification Form
the following statement:
“This
pet belongs to a US SOFA sponsored family and will be assigned to (list
installation).”
The
advance notification form is found on the JDVC website:
(http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/rfc.aspx)
The advance notification
form is required to be sent by mail or FAX to the port of entry. Addresses and
FAX numbers for the respective ports of entry may be found at this website:
(http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/index.html)
e. Health Certificate
(Forms A & B; 3 copies): An individual health certificate is required for
each animal that is moved into or out of Japan. When returning from a rabies
free country, using the Japanese Health Certificate for import of animals from
rabies free areas will be the easiest method for completing the requirements.
The Japan Health Certificate (for pets from rabies free areas) Form A and Form
B are located on the JDVC homepage: (http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/rfc.aspx).
These forms can be filled out by the Military Veterinarian, signed, dated, and
stamped in the Official Government Stamp Block with their military VTF Stamp
showing rank and location.
f. USDA/Government
Certification: If the Japan health certificate forms are issued by a
licensed civilian veterinarian from Hawaii or Guam, the health certificate and
rabies certificate must be endorsed by a USDA Federal Veterinarian and bear the
USDA raised embossed seal. These USDA endorsed health certificates are valid
up to 30 days before arrival. The airlines require a health certificate that
is within 10 days of arrival. Therefore if the USDA certified health
certificate isn’t dated within 10 days of arrival, an additional certificate
will be required within 10 days of arrival for the airline. Any certificate
issued by a civilian veterinarian in any of the other designated countries will
need to be endorsed by the countries government veterinarian. The endorsed
certificate will be used upon arrival for processing the pet at Customs.
Health certificates issued by US Military veterinary treatment facilities do
not require the USDA certification.
g. MDJ Form 270 (Pet Quarantine and Examination Certificate; 2 copies): All
SOFA status personnel entering Japan with a pet are required to complete a MDJ
270. The MDJ 270 allows your pet to be released to you for transportation to
your US Military Quarantine Facility in Japan. The form may be downloaded from
the JDVC website and should be completed prior to arrival in Japan. You are required to submit the form to the Animal Quarantine Officer at arrival,
then to your US Military Veterinary Treatment Facility within 72 hours after
entry into Japan to continue and complete the quarantine process.
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