Documents required for customs clearance

Procedures upon entry into Japan

Upon entry into Japan, you will be required to fill out an unaccompanied baggage declaration form.

This document is a form to apply to the customs office to have luggage sent from overseas other than your own sent to Japan. (Application cannot be made after entry into Japan.)

The declaration form can be obtained from the flight attendant on board.

Please obtain an approval stamp from the customs office on the Declaration of Unaccompanied Baggage and submit the original at customs clearance.
In principle, import permission is granted only after payment of taxes (customs duties, consumption tax, etc.) and confirmation of proof of payment.

How to handle documents

Where to send the documents* After returning to Japan, please contact the person in charge below.

Kokusai Express Corporation, 279-1 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
TEL 045-307-7660　FAX 045-227-6863

Copy of passport

Facial photo spread page

Departure stamp page when you are posted overseas

The page with the stamp of entry when you return from abroad

A copy of your residence permit is also a very important page. Don’t forget them

Import Customs Clearance and Inspection of Moving Shipments to Japan

Books and other articles which are harmful to public safety or morals

*In particular, obscene materials (magazines, videos, CDs) are subject to strict inspection.

Import duty free quota in Japan

*Up to ¥200,000 per adult is exempted.
*The excess is taxable in principle, but it is generally exempt from taxation. The final decision rests with the customs officer.

Importing alcohol into Japan

*《Duty Free Limit》 Up to 3 bottles per adult are duty free. The excess will be taxed.
* There is no strict limit on the number of bottles of alcohol allowed.
If the Japanese customs officer determines that the amount of wine is significantly out of the personal consumption amount, the importation process will be subject to the Food Sanitation Law, including component testing of the wine, which is a complicated procedure, time-consuming, and incurs additional costs.These additional costs are to be settled with the customer in Japan. It can be be quite expensive. Please be aware of this

Prohibited items/items requiring special procedures

*Prohibited items (items prohibited or restricted by other laws such as the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law) cannot be handled.
*If you have any questions about an item, please contact us in advance so that we can confirm each item with the Japanese side.
*Any item sent without prior confirmation that cannot be imported and is voluntarily abandoned, or if additional fees are incurred for filing a separate claim, etc., the customer will be billed for the additional fees.
*We will not reimburse for items that are not cleared for import customs.
*If you have any medicines or similar items, please do not hesitate to contact us for prior confirmation.

Inspection

*The goods to be moved are classified according to the goods to be brought in and the level of sincerity of the import declaration, as full inspection, extract inspection or omitted inspection, and are subject to customs clearance.
*If there are any differences between the declaration and the extracts examined, or if the name, model, quantity, acquisition price and age of the goods brought in are not clearly stated on the declaration of residence transfer and main goods, or if there is a weight difference of more than 30% between the description and the weight, a full inspection will be carried out.
*Therefore, if you prepare and declare the relevant documents, such as the declaration of residence transfer and transportation, and the packing list is in good faith, the inspection period will be shortened and the customs clearance will be completed quickly.

Documents and information required for customs clearance in Japan

Moving from overseas to Japan	Moving from Japan to overseas
*Copy of passport • Back page of the front cover: photo, signature and passport number page. • If you have already obtained a visa, please also provide a copy of your visa. • Please make a clear (thin) photocopy of your face photo so that it can be distinguishable	* Copy of passport • Back page of the front cover: Photo, signature, and passport number page. • If you have already obtained a visa, please prepare a copy of the visa as well. • Please make a clear (thin) photocopy so that the photo can be distinguishable.
*A copy of the visa page for your destination country	* Proof of boarding (reservation) for the passenger issued by the airline
*Portable and unaccompanied goods declaration form	* Packing list (Packing List） * Insurance Value List * Shipper’s Information * Invoice * Warrants
*Packing list(Packing List)	*Applying for import customs clearance in each country Required documents differ depending on each country. Please contact us for details.

Unaccompanied goods declaration form Portable and unaccompanied goods declaration form

Before your flight arrives in Japan, you will be given a “Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles” form. Please receive two copies and fill out the same information on both.*Even if you were not able to obtain one on board the plane, please obtain one at the customs checkpoint at the airport you arrive at and complete it before going through the baggage check.

Sample entries and notes

In the occupation field, please also provide the name of the company you work for.

Please enter the total number of items to be sent by air, sea or post in “3”.

If you are sending a separate shipment several times, please enter the total amount.

On side B, for “Alcoholic beverages”, “Cigarettes”, “Perfumes” and “Other articles”, please indicate the quantity and name of the item(s) if it is to be used as hand luggage.

For more information on completing the Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles at the point of entry, please refer to the customs website.

https://www.customs.go.jp/kaigairyoko/

* Click on the image of the declaration below to download the original file.