Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for Japan.
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 1–3 days |
| FedEx | 4–7 days | 1–3 days |
| UPS | 5–8 days | 2–4 days |
| DPD | — | — |
| GLS | — | — |
Business days. Customs clearance time not included — allow 1–5 extra days depending on the goods.
Every shipment to Japan must include the correct documentation or it will be held at customs.
Required for all shipments. Must include HS code, declared value in EUR or JPY, country of origin, and EU origin statement for EPA preference.
Statement on invoice declaring EU preferential origin — enables 0% import duty under EU-Japan EPA. Must be in English.
Required for plant products, seeds, certain food items — Japan has strict plant quarantine rules.
Required for all food imports — must be filed with MHLW before shipment arrives in Japan.
Import duties and taxes apply to all shipments to Japan. Duty-free de minimis threshold: JPY 10,000 (~€60) — duty-exempt, but JCT (10%) still applies. Commercial shipments are always subject to full clearance.. VAT/local tax: 10% JCT (Japanese Consumption Tax) — standard rate. 8% reduced rate on food and non-alcoholic beverages..
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most manufactured goods (EU origin with EPA statement) | 0% | EU-Japan EPA gives 0% duty on the vast majority of EU manufactured goods |
| Food and agricultural products | Varies (EPA reducing) | The EPA progressively eliminates most food tariffs — wine went from 15% to 0%; olive oil from 10.6% to 0% |
| Clothing and textiles | 0–12% (EPA reducing) | Clothing tariffs being reduced under EPA — check current EPA schedule for your HS code |
| JCT on all imports | 10% | Japanese Consumption Tax applies to all taxable imports. 8% on food and non-alcoholic beverages. |
Duty rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on the HS code classification of your goods. Consult a customs broker for high-value or complex shipments.
The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in Japan. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
Always include the EU origin statement on your commercial invoice — this is the key to 0% EU-Japan EPA duty on most goods. Without it, Japan's MFN tariff rates apply.
DHL Express is the strongest carrier for Japan — excellent Tokyo (NRT) and Osaka (KIX) operations, typically 1–2 day delivery to major Japanese cities.
For food exports: file the MHLW Food Import Notification online via the FAINS (Food Import Automated Information System) system before the shipment departs Portugal. Failure to pre-notify will delay customs clearance.
Japanese packaging and labelling standards: all consumer products sold in Japan require Japanese-language labels. Include a Japanese label inside the packaging for consumer goods — this is often checked at customs.
Japanese consumers have very high quality expectations — damaged packaging significantly reduces acceptance. Use excellent packing standards for Japan-bound shipments.
Portugal-Japan trade: Portuguese wine (especially Vinho Verde and Douro reds), olive oil, cork products and ceramics are well-received in Japan. The EPA has eliminated duties on these key Portuguese export categories.
Under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA, in force since February 2019), most EU-manufactured goods qualify for 0% import duty. Include the EU origin statement on your commercial invoice to claim the EPA rate. Food tariffs were also significantly reduced — wine went from 15% to 0%, olive oil from 10.6% to 0%. JCT (10%) still applies to all taxable imports regardless of EPA preference.
Add this text to your commercial invoice: 'The exporter of the products covered by this document declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of EU preferential origin.' This statement must be in English. For shipments above €6,000 value, you must be a Registered Exporter (REX) in Portugal to make this declaration. For shipments below €6,000, any exporter can make the statement.
All food imports to Japan require a MHLW Food Import Notification (食品等輸入届出書) filed before the shipment arrives. Certain foods require prior approval. Japanese Food Sanitation Law sets maximum residue limits for pesticides, additives and contaminants — EU-permitted levels may exceed Japanese limits for some ingredients. Japanese-language labelling is required for all consumer food products. Engage a Japanese food import agent for first-time food exports.
Commercial cosmetics exports to Japan require that the Japanese importer holds a CMAH (Cosmetics Marketing Authorisation Holder) licence — a Japanese regulatory licence that is the responsibility of the Japanese buyer, not the Portuguese exporter. Japan prohibits some ingredients that are permitted in EU cosmetics. Ensure your Japanese business customer holds the appropriate licence before commercial cosmetics export.
JCT (Japanese Consumption Tax) is Japan's VAT at 10% standard rate (8% on food). On imports, JCT is paid by the Japanese importer to Japan Customs on clearance. B2B importers can claim JCT back as input tax. For B2C e-commerce: Japan does not yet have an equivalent to the EU IOSS scheme — Japanese customs collects JCT on import for B2C parcels above JPY 10,000 value.
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