Japan Animal Quarantine Service arrival inspection
There is not necessarily one public desk where every cat is collected. The correct handover depends on whether the booking is passenger-accompanied, checked baggage where lawful, manifest cargo, transit, or quarantine.
- Cats must undergo Animal Quarantine Service inspection on arrival.
- For non-designated regions, AQS requires advance notification at least 40 days before arrival and publishes microchip, rabies vaccination, antibody-test, and waiting-period requirements.
- Non-compliance can result in detention quarantine for up to 180 days or return of the cat.
Obtain shipment-specific instructions. Confirm the accepted travel mode, exact inspection or collection location, local handler, opening time, and release status directly with the airline or pet shipper before departure.
Start here
Confirm how this airport will process your booking
Cabin, if permitted
Cabin arrival is only possible when the destination, airline, route, and aircraft all permit it. Confirm the airport procedure with the airline before booking.
Checked baggage, if permitted
Do not assume this option exists. Ask the airline whether the destination and route accept accompanied pets in the hold and where the animal is released.
Manifest cargo
Your cat is normally transferred into the government quarantine or inspection process. Do not travel to a collection point until release is confirmed.
Arrival sequence to confirm
This sequence is intentionally not given a fixed duration. Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Service and the airline control the actual process.
Documents for the handover
This is an operational handover list, not a substitute for the destination’s veterinary import checklist.
Contact ladder
Who to call, and in what order
- 1Your airline cargo desk or pet shipper
Confirm the airway bill, handler, release status, and exact pickup building. - 2Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Service
+81 3 6847 9422 - 3Border veterinary or customs authority
Use this escalation when documents, permits, or inspection release are holding the shipment.
Call before departure
Six questions that prevent bad arrivals
- Which transport mode has the airline confirmed for this route and destination?
- Who is the local handling agent and what is their direct number?
- What exact address should the collector use?
- Are inspections available at my scheduled arrival time?
- Which charges must be paid before release, and how?
- Who will contact me if the flight, inspection, or release is delayed?
Where to go
Do not use the passenger terminal, a map pin, or an airport’s main address as a cargo collection instruction. Ask the booked airline or pet shipper for the exact terminal, cargo building, gate, handler name, access requirements, and opening time for this shipment.
For passenger-accompanied arrivals, follow the airline and border authority’s arrival instructions. For manifest cargo, wait for written release confirmation before travelling to the handover point.
Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine ServiceWhen release goes wrong
Delay and missing-document playbook
- 1. Locate the handlerAsk the airline for the local handling agent and current airway-bill status.
- 2. Identify the holdFind out whether customs, veterinary inspection, payment, or paperwork is blocking release.
- 3. Send documents onceEmail one clearly named PDF bundle and keep originals available. Record the recipient and time.
- 4. Protect the catAsk who is providing water, temperature control, feeding, and veterinary escalation during the delay.
Useful map searches
Fact-check scope
What is verified for HND
- Cats must undergo Animal Quarantine Service inspection on arrival.
- For non-designated regions, AQS requires advance notification at least 40 days before arrival and publishes microchip, rabies vaccination, antibody-test, and waiting-period requirements.
- Non-compliance can result in detention quarantine for up to 180 days or return of the cat.
Final verification before the flight
- Recheck the official authority page after the ticket and travel date are known.
- Ask the airline to confirm acceptance in writing for the exact route and aircraft.
- For cargo, obtain the local handler’s name, direct number, address, opening time, and air-waybill status.
- Do not rely on an airport’s general information desk for veterinary or cargo release instructions.
Verify before flying
Official resources and connected guides
Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine Service
Primary source used for this airport audit.
Country import rules
Vaccines, certificates, permits, and quarantine requirements.
Airline cat policies
Cabin, hold, cargo, carrier, route, and booking rules.
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