Home/Routes/Japan to Croatia
JP
Japan
✈️
HR
Croatia

Pet Transport from Japan to Croatia

20-26 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified

Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →

Overview

Shipping your dog or cat from Japan to Croatia is a process that rewards early planning.

This route is moderately involved, with a clear checklist to follow. Start preparations at least 20 weeks before your travel date – some steps have fixed waiting periods that cannot be shortened. A rabies titre test is required, which adds a mandatory waiting period after your pet’s vaccination. You cannot speed this up.

Start early and follow the steps in sequence. Missing a deadline pushes the whole timeline back.

Step by step

The Japan to Croatia process

1
First step - must be done before any vaccinations.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785 standard)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

2
After microchip. 21-day wait before next steps.
Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Your veterinarian

3
Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 90-day wait after successful result.
Rabies titre test (blood test at accredited laboratory)

Responsible: Your veterinarian + approved laboratory

4
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space with airline directly.
Book IATA-compliant flight and cargo/cabin space

Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)

5
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirement)
Obtain official veterinary health certificate

Responsible: Official veterinarian

6
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets; 2 hours for cabin
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation at cargo desk

Responsible: You + airline check-in/cargo desk

Checklist

Croatia: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired (ISO 11784/11785)
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel
Rabies titre testRequired for: Pets from non-listed third countries. Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml. 90-day wait from test date before entry
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant pets
Import permitEU pet passport or AHC
Health certificateRequired. EU Pet Passport or AHC. Issued by: Official veterinarian. Valid for 10 days from issue
Leaving Japan

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required. Destination import documentation serves as travel authority.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size)
2IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
3Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate
4Rabies titre test laboratory fee
5Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes)
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Always verify current regulations with the destination country's official veterinary authority before travel.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Japan Airlines (JAL)
Cargo: Pets transported as checked baggage in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds: French Bulldogs BANNED from cargo (May-October). English Bulldogs banned year-round. Summer restrictions: May-October temperature embargoes on some routes
Cargo Only
Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Small pets (up to 8kg with carrier) allowed in cabin. Cargo: larger pets via Lufthansa Cargo in pressurised, temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round
Cabin and Cargo
British Airways
Cargo: Pets transported via British Airways World Cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Book through approved cargo agent. No cabin pets on any route.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: Pets travel in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons
Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific
Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met
Cargo Only
Air France
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo transport available for larger pets. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes
Cabin and Cargo
KLM
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo: pets transported via KLM Cargo. Temperature restrictions apply. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo
Cabin and Cargo
Korean Air
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Larger pets in hold as checked baggage or Korean Air Cargo. Seasonal temperature restrictions apply
Cabin and Cargo

Key requirements for moving your pet to Croatia

Compared to some international pet transport routes, Japan to Croatia is manageable. That said, every country’s rules are different and the timing requirements are strict.

EU member since 2013. EU Regulation 576/2013 applies. Authority: Ministry of Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate.

Step-by-step: what to do first

Microchip first, then vaccinate. The microchip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination for the vaccination to count. It’s the most common and costly mistake people make.

Book the titre test laboratory well in advance. Approved labs have limited appointment slots and the blood sample processing takes time. Don’t leave this to the last few weeks.

Get the health certificate from an official (government-approved) veterinarian, not just your regular vet. Some countries have strict requirements about who can sign the certificate. Check the destination authority’s approved list.

If this is your first international pet move, consider using a registered pet transport agent. They handle the documentation, airline booking, crate sizing, and can troubleshoot issues. IPATA-registered agents are the recognised standard.

FAQ

Common questions

Allow at least 20 weeks from starting preparations to travel day. Some steps involve mandatory waiting periods that cannot be shortened, so starting early is the only way to keep to your schedule.
No routine quarantine is required in Croatia for pets arriving with correct documentation. However, if your pet arrives without the right paperwork, penalty quarantine can apply. Get everything right before you travel.
Yes, a rabies titre test is required. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after your pet’s rabies vaccination, and there is a 90-day waiting period after a successful result before your pet can enter Croatia. Start this process as early as possible.
Your pet needs a government-issued veterinary health certificate from an official vet in Japan. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. Present the original (not a copy) at check-in. Check Croatia’s authority for the exact format required.
Airline guides
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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