Pet Transport from South Korea to Japan

This table illustrates why Japan AQS rules are discussed in a category of their own. South Korea to Japan requires 28 to 36 weeks of preparation. Japan to South Korea requires only 4 to 8 weeks. The asymmetry exists because Japan is rabies-free and protects that status with one of the most stringent import regimes anywhere, while South Korea’s QIAS, though strict by many standards, recognises Japan’s low-risk status with a correspondingly lighter touch.

India to Japan is even more demanding than South Korea to Japan in terms of timeline (32-40 weeks) because India has a more complex vaccination and titre history to establish from scratch for many owners.

For owners facing the South Korea to Japan journey, the key message is: start early, use an agent, and do not miss a single step. The consequences of a missed step are measured in months of quarantine, not days.

Japan’s AQS protocol for South Korean-origin pets is sequential and each step feeds the next. Missing or shortcutting any step invalidates the ones that follow.

Step one is microchip implantation. The chip must be in place and scanning correctly before any vaccination. If a dog already has a chip from a Korean vet, confirm it reads correctly before proceeding.

Step two is the first rabies vaccination. This must be given after the microchip is confirmed. Record the exact date.

Step three is the second rabies vaccination. It must be given at least 30 days after the first vaccination. Record the exact date.

Step four is the FAVN titre test blood draw, which must happen at least 30 days after the second vaccination. The blood must be sent to an AQS-designated laboratory. The lab must appear on AQS’s own approved list, not the EU Commission’s list. Confirm AQS designation before submitting.

Step five is the 180-day wait. This begins from the date of the blood draw, not from when the result arrives. If blood is drawn on 1 January, the earliest possible Japan arrival date is 1 July (or 2 July if you count 181 days to be safe). Do not calculate this from the result date, which may come two to four weeks after the draw.

Step six is the AQS advance notification, submitted online at least 40 days before planned arrival in Japan. Late submission means the arrival date must move.

Step seven is the health certificate from an IPPC-registered vet in South Korea, issued within 10 days of departure for Japan.

Korean Air, Asiana, JAL and ANA all operate multiple daily flights between Incheon (ICN) and the main Japanese airports: Tokyo Narita (NRT), Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Osaka Kansai (KIX). This is one of the most served aviation corridors in Asia, so booking flexibility is good once the paperwork is complete.

Small pets may travel in the cabin on these short-haul routes with Korean Air, Asiana, JAL and ANA. Larger dogs travel as cargo. Confirm the specific airline’s cabin weight limit and carrier dimensions before booking. For budget carriers such as Air Busan or Jeju Air, pets are cargo only.

On arrival in Japan, your pet will be directed to the AQS inspection facility at the designated airport. At NRT and HND, AQS facilities are designed to process arriving live animals systematically. For compliant pets from South Korea that have completed the full protocol (two vaccinations, passing titre test, 180-day wait, advance notification), the AQS inspection typically results in a minimum hold of around 12 hours.

If any documentation deficiency is found, the pet is held at the AQS facility at the owner’s cost. AQS inspection fees and quarantine costs at the facility are charged per day. This is where the advice to start preparation early and use a professional agent pays for itself: a well-prepared file is the best investment you can make on this route.