a) The green channel is for passengers who have no goods subject to duty and/or tax and goods not prohibited or restricted for import.
b) The red channel is for all other passengers.
Please pay duties and/or taxes at the bank in the Customs inspection zone.
When the value of the dutiable goods exceeds three hundred thousand yen (¥300,000), customs procedures for commercial cargo are required.
Exempted Goods & Duty Free Items
Personal effects and unaccompanied baggage for personal use are free of duty and/or tax within the allowance specified below. (As for rice, the limit is 100kg a year) If you have both personal effects and unaccompanied baggage, please consider them together and refer to the allowance.
- Personal effects & professional equipment
Clothes, toiletries, and other personal effects for your personal use, as well as portable professional equipment that will be used during your stay in Japan, are all free of duty and/or tax, if they are considered quantitatively appropriate and are not for sale.
- Household Effects (including Automobiles)
If you are to move to Japan and to stay for more than one year, your or your family's household effects being used by the members of your family may be imported free of duty and/or tax within the limit deemed reasonable.
Such household effects may include automobiles, boats, and other vehicles, provided that a registration certificates or sales receipts are presented to prove that the automobiles are used and that the boats have been in use for more than one year prior to its arrival in Japan.
Automobiles and other vehicles may be imported temporarily free of duty and/or tax provided they are subsequently exported.
- Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco Products, Perfume, etc
Moreover, allowances will be made for certain other articles within the limits specified below.
Duty-free Guide |
Item |
Quantity |
Notes |
Alcoholic beverages |
3 bottles |
Approximately 760 ml per bottle |
| Cigarettes |
400 |
If a visitor brings in more than one kind of tobacco product then the total allowance is 500 g. (e.g. loose tobacco) |
| Cigars |
100 |
Others |
500g |
Perfumes |
2oz |
1 oz is equivalent to approx. 28 cc. (excluding eau de cologne and eau de toilette) |
Other items |
200,000yen |
The total overseas market value of all articles other than the above items must be under 200,000 yen. Any item whose overseas market value is under 10,000 yen is free of duty and/or tax and is not included in the calculation of the total overseas market value of all articles. There is no duty-free allowance for articles having a market value of more than 200,000 yen each or each set. |
Notes:
The quantity of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, including both prescription and non-prescription drugs and some food supplements, including vitamin and mineral supplements, which a visitor can bring into Japan at one time may be limited.
There is no duty free allowance for alcohol or tobacco products for travellers aged 19 years or younger. Oral declaration is necessary on arrival at customs.
Commodities and commercial samples are subject to duty and/or tax since they are not regarded as being for personal use.
In the case of applying duty-free allowance for rice, please submit a "Report for the Import of Rice" to the Local Food Office or other competent organization, then submit one of the copies which are returned to you to the Customs Office.
Simplified Customs Duty and Tax Rates
When your belongings exceed the limit of the allowances, the following simplified Customs duty and tax rates will be applied, in most cases, to that amount which is in excess.
- Simplified Customs Duty Rate
Goods |
Rate |
Alcoholic
Beverages |
Distilled alcoholic beverages |
¥225 per bottle (750cc) |
Other liquors (e.g., Wine) |
¥150 per bottle (750cc) |
Others |
15% |
- Special Tariff Rates Applicable to Certain Alcoholic Beverages
Goods |
Rate |
Whisky, Brandy |
¥375 per bottle (750ml) |
Rum, Tafia, Gin, and Vodka, etc. |
¥300 per bottle (750ml) |
Liquor, Cordial |
¥225 per bottle (750ml) |
Beer, Low-Malt Beer |
¥150 per bottle (750ml) |
Cigarettes
¥6,500 per 1,000 cigarettes (¥6.5 per cigarette)
Unaccompanied Baggage
When you have unaccompanied baggage, two copies of written declaration forms are required to submit at the time of your entry, one of which will be returned to you with the seal of certification by a Customs officer. Such declaration is necessary to obtain duty and/or tax exemption status.
Such unaccompanied baggage must be in your custody within six months after your arrival. The sealed declaration must be presented at the time of clearance of the unaccompanied goods.
If baggage is imported by mail, you are required to list this unaccompanied baggage on your declaration, and you should identify the parcel by placing the words "unaccompanied baggage" on the parcel.
Currency
There is no limit on the total amount of means of payment that may be brought into or taken out of Japan. However, if you transport means of payment exceeding JP\1,000,000 or its equivalent or precious metal (more than 90% purity gold only) exceeding 1kg of total weight, you are required to submit a report to Customs. Means of payment include Japanese or foreign currencies, cheques (including traveler's cheques), promissory notes, and securities.
Prohibited Articles
The following articles are prohibited from entry by law:
(a) Opium, other narcotic drugs, equipment for opium smoking, and stimulants (including Vicks inhalers and Sudafed), and psychotropic substances (excluding those designated by an ordinance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare);
(b) Firearms (pistols, rifles, machine guns, etc.), ammunition (bullets) for such articles, and firearms parts;
(c) Books, drawings, carvings, and any other articles which harm public security or morals (obscene or immoral materials such as pornography);
(d) Articles which infringe upon rights in patents, utility-models, designs, trademarks, copyrights, breeders, neighboring rights, or layout designs of integrated circuits; and
(e) Counterfeit, altered, or imitation coins, paper money, bank notes, or securities.
Restricted Articles
Some other goods are restricted by other laws and regulations. When you import such goods, permits and approval under laws and regulations other than the Customs Law are required, or the goods must be examined by a government agency, as the case may be.
Major restricted items are listed below:
(a) Plants and animals must be presented to the plant or animal quarantine officer for quarantine inspection prior to Customs examination.
(b) There are quantity restrictions on the import of medicine and cosmetics.
(e.g., for pharmaceutical products: amount for use for a period of 2 months; quasi-drugs: amount for use for a period of 2 months; cosmetics: 24 applications)
(c) No person shall bring hunting guns, air guns, swords, etc. into Japan without a permit to possess.
Purchase of Tax-Free Articles
When you purchase articles at specified "tax-free" shops, consumption tax on those articles may be exempted on condition that they are taken out of Japan. When you purchase tax-free articles, you will be required to present your passport at the shop and you will receive a card entitled "Record of Purchase of Consumption-Tax-Exempt for Export," which will be attached to your passport. Articles purchased tax free will be checked with the card by a Customs officer, who will collect the card at the time of your departure from Japan.
Notes
No exemption on consumption tax will be given to articles purchased at shops other than "tax-free" shops.
When you export guns, swords, or high-quality personal computers that require an export license, you must obtain said license from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry prior to its export.
Dual Nationality: The Japanese Perspective
The following is an unofficial translation of an information pamphlet produced by the Japanese Ministry of Justice. The following translation is for informational purposes only; we make no claim as to the accuracy or validity of this text.
Prior to making any decisions regarding nationality, you must consult the original Japanese language text, available from the Ministry of Justice. In addition, any questions you may have concerning the contents of this document, or Japanese law in general, must be directed to the appropriate Japanese authorities, as listed below.
Choosing Nationality
Persons holding both foreign citizenship and Japanese citizenship (dual nationals) must, before reaching age 22 (or, if having acquired dual nationality after age 20, within two years of acquisition) choose a single nationality.
If you do not choose a nationality, you may lose your Japanese nationality. Because of this, it is important to consider this issue carefully.
For additional details, please consult the nearest city, ward or town office, the Legal Affairs Office (Homukyoku) or Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad.
This information sheet is published by the Japanese Ministry of Justice.
Who Must Choose a Nationality
According to Japanese law, for dual nationals there is a specific period of time within which one must choose one's nationality. As regards the acquisition of dual nationality, there are the following five examples:
- A child born to a Japanese citizen father or mother and a mother or father from a country that allows transmission of citizenship by a parent of either gender (for example, France).
- A child born to a Japanese citizen mother and a father from a country whose laws provide for transmission of citizenship only through the father (for example, Korea).
- A child born to a Japanese citizen mother or father, or two Japanese citizen parents, in a country whose laws provide for acquisition of citizenship by birth in that country (for example, the United States).
- A child of a Japanese citizen who is legitimated by a foreign father's declaration of paternity (for example, Canada), by a foreign parent through adoption (for example, Switzerland), or through marriage to a foreigner (for example, Switzerland).
- People who have acquired Japanese nationality through naturalization, or by filing a declaration of acquisition of Japanese nationality, but who did not forfeit their former foreign nationality, must also choose which nationality they wish to hold.
How to Choose Your Nationality
For Japanese citizens holding a foreign nationality, listed below are the methods for declaring a single nationality. When the time comes to choose one nationality, think carefully and then make your decision known by one of the following methods.
Abandoning Your Foreign Nationality
Based on the applicable foreign law, submit to the nearest city, ward or town office, or to a Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad, the form Gaikoku Kokuseki Soositu Todoke, showing your abandonment of your foreign nationality. For specifics on the procedures for renouncing a foreign nationality, please consult directly with the foreign government or its representatives.
Swearing To Japanese Nationality
At the nearest city, ward or town office, or at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad, you must state your decision to choose Japanese nationality and abandon your foreign nationality on a special form called the Kokuseki Sentaku Todoke.
Abandoning Japanese Nationality
At the Legal Affairs Bureau (Homukyoku) office with jurisdiction over your area, or at the District Legal Affairs Office (Chiho Homukyoku) with jurisdiction over your area or at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad, submit your Family Registry (Kosekitohon), proof of address, proof of foreign citizenship, and a completed notification of abandonment of Japanese citizenship (Kokuseki Ridatsu Todoke).
Declaring Your Foreign Nationality
According to the laws of the specific foreign country, declare your citizenship and then present proof of your status as a national to the nearest city, ward or town office, or to a Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad. You must then complete a notification of loss of nationality (Kokuseki Soositu Todoke).
The Period within Which You Must Choose Your Nationality
As regards the period within which you must choose a nationality, the following time periods apply:
- For Japanese citizens who became dual nationals before January 1, 1985 (i.e., before the change in Nationality Law was enacted):
- If you were less than 20 years old on January 1, 1985, choose by your 22nd birthday;
- If you were 20 years old or older on January 1, 1985, choose by December 31, 1986;
- If you did not choose your nationality within these periods, it is assumed that you chose Japanese nationality.
- For Japanese citizens who became dual nationals on or after January 1, 1985 (i.e., after the change in Nationality Law was enacted):
- If you became a dual national before age 20, choose by your 22nd birthday;
- If you became a dual national at age 20 or later, choose within two years of acquiring your foreign nationality.
If you do not choose a nationality within the time period specified above, the Minister of Justice (Homudaijin) will request you to make a final decision. This process may result in the loss of Japanese nationality.
