Terra Global Customs Desk – Tokyo
Customs Clearance Agency Japan Import and Export Clearance from Tokyo
Shipping goods into or out of Japan and not sure what Japan Customs will ask for? Terra Global Salespartners is a Tokyo-based trading and logistics company that works as your customs clearance agency in Japan. We check your documents and HS codes before the goods arrive, arrange the declaration through Japan’s NACCS system and handle Customs questions in Japanese, with English updates until your cargo is released. Below: how customs clearance in Japan works, what it costs and how long it takes.
Air, sea and courier shipments into and out of Japan.
Invoice, packing list, B/L or air waybill and origin papers reviewed.
Tariff classification and a duty and tax estimate before you ship.
We talk to Customs in Japanese and report to you in English.
Key Takeaways
Japan customs clearance in brief- Every shipment is declaredImports and exports are declared to Japan Customs, usually through NACCS.
- Brokers file for youMost declarations are filed by a licensed customs broker.
- Import costsCustoms duty depends on the HS code; consumption tax is 10% (8% for most food) on value plus duty.
- No Japanese entity?Non-residents must appoint a Japan-based Customs Procedure Agent (ACP).
- Paperwork decides speedMost delays come from missing documents or permits.
The Basics
How Customs Clearance in Japan Works
Customs clearance in Japan means declaring your goods to Japan Customs and getting a permit before they can enter the country or leave it. Goods normally wait in a bonded area (hozei area) at the port, airport or a bonded warehouse while this happens. Four parties are involved.
Japan Customs
Part of the Ministry of Finance. Regional Customs offices check declarations, examine goods, collect duty and tax and issue the import or export permit.
NACCS
The Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System: the online platform Customs, other ministries, brokers, carriers and bonded warehouses use for declarations and permits.
Licensed customs broker
A tsukan-gyosha licensed under the Customs Brokerage Act. Only licensed brokers may file declarations for others as a business, with a registered customs specialist (tsukanshi) who passed a national exam.
Other agencies
Food, plants and animals, electrical goods, cosmetics, chemicals and more may need approval under other laws before Customs releases them.
Do you have to use a customs broker?
Not by law. Japan uses self-assessment: the importer declares the goods, their value and classification and calculates the duty and tax, and Customs checks it and can audit later. In practice most companies use a customs broker in Japan, because filings are in Japanese through NACCS and mistakes are costly. A customs clearance agency also handles the work around the declaration: documents, permits, carriers and warehouses.
Two Directions, Different Rules
Import vs Export Customs Clearance in Japan
Both directions need a declaration and a permit. Imports pay duty and tax and face more product rules; exports are mostly about paperwork and export controls.
Importing without a Japanese company
Customs Procedure Agent (ACP)A company or person living outside Japan can be the importer, but under Article 95 of the Customs Act it must first appoint a Customs Procedure Agent (often called an ACP, Attorney for Customs Procedures) based in Japan and notify Customs on form C-7500. The agent handles customs correspondence, inspections, duty payment and refunds for you.
An ACP that is not a licensed customs broker still needs one to file the declaration. Terra Global can act as your ACP and coordinate the filing. Cosmetics, medical devices and some other regulated goods also need a Japanese business holding the right licence; see our Importer of Record service.
Paperwork
Documents You Need for Customs Clearance in Japan
Most delays start with a missing or mismatched document. Japan Customs lists the invoice and B/L or air waybill as core import documents.
Duty and Tax
HS Codes, Customs Duty and Consumption Tax Explained
What you pay at import depends on the HS code, the customs value and the consumption tax rate. Here is how they fit together.
HS codes
The first 6 digits are the international Harmonized System; Japan adds 3 for its 9-digit code. The code sets the duty rate and which other laws apply. Japan Customs offers advance rulings.
Customs duty
Most rates are a percentage of the CIF value; some are a fixed amount per unit. Many industrial goods are duty-free; food, leather and footwear can pay more. EPA origin can lower the rate.
Consumption tax
10% on almost all imports, or 8% for food and non-alcoholic drinks, on the customs value plus duty and any excise tax. Japanese businesses can usually reclaim it as input tax.
Low-value goods
Imports worth ¥10,000 or less in total are generally free of duty and consumption tax, with exceptions such as leather goods and knitwear. Rules for low-value e-commerce change from April 2028.
Customs rounds the taxable value down to the nearest ¥1,000 and duty to the nearest ¥100, and uses its own weekly exchange rate. Commercial imports of ¥200,000 or less can use a simplified tariff. Your broker confirms the exact rate before you ship.
Timeline
How Long Does Customs Clearance Take in Japan?
The Customs decision itself is fast. Most waiting happens before the declaration: unloading, moving cargo into the bonded area and getting documents and permits ready, as Japan’s Ministry of Finance Time Release Study shows.
Source: Ministry of Finance, 13th Time Release Study (11 to 17 March 2024). Averages only.
Common causes of delay
And how we avoid themNo filing until the papers are complete.
Food, quarantine or safety approvals come first.
Customs may ask questions, X-ray or open the cargo.
Cargo arriving before a holiday often waits a day.
We check documents and permits before arrival so the declaration can be filed as soon as the cargo is ready.
Step by Step
Our Customs Clearance Process
The same five steps apply to air, sea and courier shipments. You approve the estimate before anything is filed.
Document and Product Check
Send the invoice, packing list and product details. We check HS codes, origin and permits.
Duty and Tax Estimate
We estimate duty and consumption tax and flag approvals needed first.
NACCS Declaration
Once the cargo is in the bonded area, the declaration is filed through NACCS.
Review, Inspection and Payment
We answer Customs questions, attend any inspection and arrange payment of duty and tax.
Permit and Delivery
Customs issues the permit; goods are delivered or loaded, and you get a copy.
Our Service
What Terra Global Does as Your Customs Clearance Agency in Japan
We prepare the paperwork, coordinate the declaration and stay in contact with Customs, carriers and warehouses until release. Book clearance on its own or with sourcing, warehousing and shipping.
Import Customs Clearance
Goods arriving by air, sea or courier.
- Document and HS code check before arrival
- Duty and consumption tax estimate
- Declaration, Customs questions and permit
Export Clearance and Papers
Goods leaving Japan, including goods we source.
- Invoice, packing list and export declaration
- Export control and permit check
- Origin papers for your destination
Customs Procedure Agent (ACP)
Overseas importers without a Japanese entity.
- ACP notification to Customs (form C-7500)
- Duty and tax payment on your behalf
- Importer of Record option
Warehousing and Repacking
Storage, checks or repacking around clearance.
- Receiving and inspection
- Labelling and repacking
- Delivery in Japan or re-export
How to Choose a Customs Broker in Japan
Four things to check firstWhoever files your declaration must hold a Customs Brokerage Act licence. Ask for the details.
Food, cosmetics, electronics and chemicals each need their own permits. Ask what they have cleared.
Ask what is included: declaration, inspection attendance, permits, storage, delivery.
One team for freight and delivery, updating you in English.
Check Before You Ship
Goods That Need Extra Permits or Are Restricted
Customs will not release goods needing approval under another law until it is shown. Firearms, narcotics and counterfeits are prohibited. Tell us the product first.
Rules depend on the exact product, so we check case by case. Buying from Japan? Our proxy agent in Japan service checks export rules before purchase, and vehicles are covered on used cars from Japan.
Tokyo Trade and Customs Desk
Company Profile
Your Customs and Trade Partner in Tokyo
Terra Global Salespartners is a Japanese trading and logistics company, and a bridge between Japan and the world. We connect international businesses with Japanese products and suppliers.
We treat customs clearance as part of the whole shipment: what you buy, how it is packed, documented and moved. Importing or exporting, you deal with one bilingual team in Tokyo.
Clarity and Answers
Frequently Asked Questions About Customs Clearance in Japan
Quick answers for overseas importers and exporters. More detail in our guide Customs Clearance in Japan, Your Complete Importer Guide.
What does a customs clearance agency in Japan do?
It manages the customs side of your shipment: documents and HS codes, duty and tax estimates, the declaration through NACCS, Customs questions and inspections, and the permit.
Do I need a licensed customs broker in Japan?
Not by law; you may declare your own goods. But only a licensed customs broker may file for others as a business, and most companies use one because filings are in Japanese through NACCS.
Can a foreign company import into Japan without a Japanese entity?
Often, yes. A non-resident importer appoints a Japan-based Customs Procedure Agent (ACP) and notifies Customs in advance. Some regulated goods also need a licensed Japanese business, where an Importer of Record service helps.
How are import duty and consumption tax calculated?
Duty is usually a percentage of the CIF value, set by the HS code. Consumption tax is 10% (8% for most food) of the CIF value plus duty and any excise tax. See the worked example above.
Are low-value shipments free of duty and tax?
Generally yes, up to a total customs value of ¥10,000, but goods such as leather goods and knitwear are excluded. Japan’s 2026 tax reform changes low-value e-commerce rules from April 2028.
How long does customs clearance take in Japan?
In the 2024 Time Release Study, arrival to import permit averaged about 2.3 days for sea cargo and 1 day for air cargo. Missing documents, permits and inspections cause most longer delays.
How do I find the right HS code for my product?
Start with the 6-digit HS code used in your country, then confirm the 9-digit Japanese code with your broker. For unclear cases, request an advance ruling from Japan Customs.
What happens if Customs inspects my shipment?
Customs may ask for documents, X-ray the cargo or open it, which adds time and possibly handling charges. We answer, attend where needed and report back.
Do you also handle export clearance and shipping from Japan?
Yes. We prepare export declarations and documents and coordinate freight. Import clearance in your country is done by a broker there; we prepare matching paperwork.
This page gives general information, not legal or tax advice. Official sources: Japan Customs import procedures, tariff and duty rates and NACCS.
Customs Clearance Inquiry
Get Your Shipment Cleared in Japan
Send us your shipment details and documents. Our Tokyo team will check them, tell you what Japan Customs is likely to need and send you a quote for clearance and any related logistics.
Ginza Ohtake Residence 2F, 1-22-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
What to Include in Your Request
Send these through our contact page; complete details mean a faster quote.
- 01Import into Japan or export from Japan
- 02Invoice and packing list (drafts are fine)
- 03Product description, materials and HS code if known
- 04Mode, port and expected arrival date
- 05Your company name and business email