Taking a pet out of Thailand · By destination
Taking a pet from Thailand to Japan
Japan has one of the strictest pet-import systems anywhere. From Thailand, plan on months of lead time and confirm every step with MAFF before you book.
Last updated 30 May 2026
This guide was last reviewed in May 2026. Export rules — Thai DLD procedures, destination-country requirements and airline policies — change without notice. Use this as orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD and the destination country's authority before booking.
Entering Japan from Thailand
Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) treats Thailand as a designated region requiring advance preparation. The core steps include an ISO microchip, rabies vaccinations on the approved schedule, a rabies titer test from an MAFF-approved laboratory, advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service, and a 180-day wait from the blood sample date before the pet may enter. An import approval document from MAFF completes the paperwork.
The Thai side
All of this sits on top of the Thai export process — the DLD health certificate and export permit — which your pet must clear on the way out. The two sets of paperwork have to agree.
Because the Japan timeline is long, start the titer test and MAFF notification as early as you can. A specialist pet relocation agent experienced in the Japan route is worth considering.
If you came the other way, see our guide to From Japan (import).
Official sources
Official sources to verify against: DLD export of live animals; Suvarnabhumi AQS export: [email protected]; UK pet travel; CDC animal import (USA); EU pet movement; Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine; Singapore AVS; UAE MOCCAE pet import; Australia DAFF; New Zealand MPI; Canada CFIA; Switzerland FSVO.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to bring a pet from Thailand to Japan?
Often six months or more from starting the rabies titer test, because of the 180-day wait from the sample date plus the Thai export steps. Confirm the current MAFF timeline before you commit.
Does Japan require a rabies titer test from Thailand?
Yes. Japan requires a rabies titer test from an approved laboratory and a waiting period from the sample date. This is not a route to start late.