The short answer
Belongings you ship to Japan separately from your flight are unaccompanied articles. Japan Customs asks you to declare them when you arrive: you prepare two copies of the declaration of accompanied and unaccompanied articles and hand them in at your arrival airport. A customs officer stamps one copy and returns it to you, and that stamped copy is needed to clear the shipment. You cannot declare unaccompanied articles after you have entered Japan, and they must be cleared within 6 months of your arrival.
Checklist
- Two copies of the declaration, filled in before you land and listing the goods shipped separately
- The stamped copy you get back at the airport (keep it safe; it cannot be reissued)
- An inventory of everything in the shipment (our shipping data sheet produces it)
- Your shipment marked “unaccompanied baggage” on the parcels, the customs notice and the invoice, with you as the addressee
- Clearance within 6 months of your arrival
Before you book
Plan the shipment around your flight: the declaration is made when you land, so tell us your arrival date. Japan Customs also recommends declaring electronically through Visit Japan Web.
How Get It All Service ApS helps
We collect your boxes, furniture or pallets at your door anywhere in Denmark and ship them to your address in Japan, marked as unaccompanied baggage. Our shipping data sheet asks the Japan questions, including your arrival date, and builds the inventory. Basic transport insurance is included. See also shipping belongings abroad from Denmark, our international freight service, and shipping new Danish purchases to Japan.
Questions
How do I declare belongings shipped separately to Japan?
Prepare two copies of the declaration of accompanied and unaccompanied articles and submit them at your arrival airport. Customs stamps one copy and returns it.
Can I declare my shipment after I have arrived?
No. Japan Customs states that unaccompanied articles cannot be declared after entry.
How long do I have to clear the shipment?
Unaccompanied articles must be cleared within 6 months of your arrival.
How should the parcels be marked?
Write “unaccompanied baggage” on the parcels, the customs notice and the invoice, and set yourself as the addressee.
Sources
- Japan Customs: Procedures for declaring unaccompanied articles
- Japan Customs: Passenger clearance
This page explains general rules. It is not legal or tax advice, and customs decides each case. Check the official sources before you ship.