Pet Transport Vietnam to Japan: 2026 AQS Guide

Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service divides origin countries into designated and non-designated regions based on rabies status. Vietnam is non-designated. This means the most rigorous preparation pathway applies, regardless of how well-vaccinated your pet already is.

For non-designated regions, the sequence is: ISO microchip implanted before the first rabies vaccination, first vaccination when the dog is at least 91 days old, minimum 30-day gap before the second vaccination, then at least 30 more days before the FAVN blood draw. From the blood draw date, the 180-day wait begins. There are no shortcuts and no partial credit for vaccinations completed before this sequence started.

The DAH (Department of Animal Health), operating under MARD, is the authority for endorsing the health certificate in Vietnam. Your Vietnamese vet handles the clinical work; the DAH endorsement confirms the documents meet Vietnam’s export standards. Japan AQS requires this government endorsement on the health certificate.

The FAVN (fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation) test is the required method for Japan AQS. Results from ELISA or other titre tests are not accepted. Blood is drawn by your Vietnamese vet and shipped to a MAFF-approved laboratory by international courier. Two commonly used labs are KSVDL (Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) in the USA and CSIRO AAHL in Australia.

The blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the second rabies vaccination. Drawing earlier invalidates the result for AQS purposes. Once the sample is at the lab, the result typically comes back within 1 to 2 weeks. A result of 0.5 IU/ml or above is passing; below that threshold requires a booster vaccination and repeat draw, resetting the 180-day clock.

One timing trap that catches people out: the 180-day wait starts from the blood draw date, not from when the result arrives. So even if you get the result in a week, you still wait the full 180 days from the draw date.

Vietnam Airlines operates regular services from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN) to Tokyo Narita (NRT). ANA and Japan Airlines also run direct routes. All three carriers handle live animal cargo. The SGN or HAN to NRT sector is a well-used route for pet relocations.

Before booking, file the AQS advance notification. This must be submitted to the receiving AQS office at least 40 days before your pet’s arrival. The notification includes your pet’s details, documentation history, and the intended flight. AQS uses it to allocate inspection capacity and confirm your paperwork is on track. File it early: if you book a flight and then forget the notification, your pet cannot be admitted.

On arrival at Narita, the AQS inspection covers the health certificate, microchip reading, vaccination record review, and the FAVN titre test documentation. If all documents are correct and the timing chain can be verified, inspection typically completes within 12 hours.