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Special arrangements (imports and exports)
Certain procedures involving imports to or exports from Japan are not required when the following conditions are met.
Please make sure to check the following information concerning eligible persons, scope of applicability, notes and definitions.
Even if the special arrangements are applicable, your goods cannot clear customs if the other country which you leave or enter with the goods does not comply with these arrangements. Please refer to CITES Management Authorities in each country for information about their systems and procedures. Check here for the list of contacts.
Outline of eligibility, scope of applicability and notes
Eligible persons | Scope of applicability | Notes | |
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Exports (departure) | Imports (entry) | ||
Person who enters Japan after having left Japan temporarily (e.g., travelers who are Japanese nationals) |
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“Personal effects” and “occupational tools”: When leaving and entering Japan, you are required to personally carry the goods with you or separately ship them after completing a declaration at customs (*5) When you intend to import these goods, please make sure in advance whether the country from which you are importing the goods provides any exemptions corresponding to those in Japan. * Please note that goods eligible for “personal effects” at the point of import are limited to those you had previously declared when leaving Japan. |
Person who leaves Japan after having entered the country temporarily (e.g., travelers who are not Japanese nationals) |
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“Personal effects” and “occupational tools”: When entering and leaving Japan, you are required to personally carry the goods with you or separately ship them after completing a declaration at customs. When you intend to export these goods, please make sure in advance whether the destination country of your export provides any exemptions corresponding to those in Japan. If no such exemption is provided in the destination country, a certificate of export approval issued by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is not required, however, a CITES export permit is needed. [Application procedures] *Please note that goods eligible for “personal effects” at the point of export are limited to those you had previously declared when importing them. |
Person who enters Japan for the purpose of permanent residence |
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“Personal effects,” “occupational tools,” and “goods to be moved”: You are required to carry the goods with you or ship them separately after completing a declaration at customs when entering Japan. If you intend to import these goods, please make sure in advance whether the country from which you are importing the items provides any exemptions corresponding to those in Japan. |
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Person who leaves Japan for the purpose of permanent residence |
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“Personal effects,” “occupational tools,” and “goods to be moved”: When leaving Japan, you are required to personally carry the goods with you or separately ship them after completing a declaration at customs. If you intend to export these goods, please make sure in advance whether the destination country of your exports provides any exemptions corresponding to those in Japan. If no such exemption is provided in the destination country, certificate of export approval issued by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is not required, however, a CITES export permit is needed. [Application procedures] |
- [Definitions of terms]*
- The term “personal effects” shall refer to baggage, garments, documents, cosmetics, personal ornaments and other goods intended to be used and considered necessary for an individual’s private purposes.
- The term “occupational tools” shall refer to goods intended to be used and considered necessary for an individual’s occupational purposes.
- The term “goods to be moved” shall refer to goods intended to be used and considered necessary in order for an individual or his/her family to establish and maintain their residence.
- The term “person who leaves Japan for the purpose of permanent residence” shall refer to those who plan to stay in the destination country for one or more years when accompanying his/her family members or for two or more years in the case of other situations.
- The reference to goods separately shipped after completing a declaration at customs is categorized into two types: goods sent after a person leaves Japan and those sent before a person leaves Japan. The former should be those that are intended to be exported within six months, in principle, from the date of departure, while the latter should be those that belong to a person who is obviously scheduled to leave Japan based on visas affixed to their passport or other travel documents. In addition, if the person above does not declare the separately shipped items, but it can be confirmed that the person has left Japan and that the target goods belong to the person, a representative person can declare the goods on that person’s behalf and export the goods on their behalf.
- Legal basis:
- “Personal effects,” “occupational tools,” and “goods to be moved”: Notes from Appended Table 6, Export Trade Control Order, and Notes from Appended Table 2, Import Trade Control Order
- “Person who enters Japan for the purpose of permanent residence” and “goods separately shipped after completing declaration at customs”: Concerning the implementation of the Export Trade Control Order, 4-2-4 interpretation and handling of Table6 of the Order.
Souvenirs (only those listed in CITES Appendix Ⅱ)
Conditions to be met
Target species | Quantity |
---|---|
Edible caviar of sturgeon species*1 | 125g |
Rainsticks of Cactaceae spp. | 3 |
Products made from specimens of crocodilian species **2 | 4 |
Queen conch shells | 3 |
Seahorses | 4 |
Giant clam shells***3 | 3 (3kg or less in total) |
Agarwood | |
Woodchips | 1kg or less |
Oil | 24ml or less |
Total number of beads, prayer beads necklaces or bracelets | 2 or fewer |
Products made from any listed species other than those above | 4 |
Notes:
*1: The container has to be labelled in accordance with Resolution Conf. 12.7 (rev. CoP16)
**2: If you intend to import Siamese crocodiles, etc. listed in Appendix I, you are required to complete import procedures for import approval or certification. Some American crocodiles, Nile crocodiles and Estuarine crocodiles are listed in Appendices I and II depending on the country of origin. Therefore, when you intend to import products made from crocodiles species listed in Appendix II, you are required to file a certificate of origin or a document showing that the species used in the product is listed in Appendix II, as well as satisfying the conditions above.
***3: One complete shell or two half-shells composing one perfect clam are defined to be one clam.
2. Scientific names of animals or plants can be confirmed by documents provided by producers or distributors.
3. Only dead specimens, parts or derivatives
4. Not for commercial purposes.
Division in Charge
Licensing Group, Office of Trade Licensing for Wild Animals and Plants, Trade Control Department, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, METI
West Wing 8, 14th floor, METI Main Building, 1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901
Tel: 03-3501-1723
Fax: 03-3501-0997
Last updated:2024-11-28