Moving to Japan

First of all, we here at Phoenix Transport (Japan), Ltd., would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide you with some information about our services.

Phoenix Transport specializes in the moving of household goods and personal effects for employees of multinational companies throughout Japan. Through the years we have helped thousands of families and individuals come and go, and have always striven to meet the needs of our valued clients. So, relax and let our bilingual staff take care of everything for you.

Documents needed for Customs Clearance

In order to obtain duty / tax exemption on your used household goods and personal effects, we will require the following documents from you after your arrival.

1). Customs Declaration (Unaccompanied Articles Customs Form C No. 5360)

The Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles (Japanese Customs Form C No. 5360) is available either on your flight to Japan or at the customs house at your airport of arrival into Japan. Two copies of the written declaration (Click here to view sample) must be submitted to the customs officer upon entry. The officer will stamp both copies with the customs seal / date and return them to you. We require this form to be mailed to our office as soon as possible after your arrival in Japan. As a fax copy cannot be used, we will need the original copy to clear your shipment through import customs.

2). Passport Copy

Along with the Japanese Customs Form, we require a copy of your passport. Please forward to us copies of the first page with your picture and signature, and all other stamped pages. This must include your latest entry stamp into Japan. The date of the stamp must be less than six months prior to the entry of your shipment. The stamp must also match the date on the Japanese Customs Form ( ‘1’ above) you retain from the customs officer on arrival into Japan.

  3). Visa

You will be required to have a working visa valid for more than one year. If you do not have a working visa, or are in the process of receiving one, you will need to write an “Apology Letter” to the customs officer at the port where your shipment is arriving. If you have both air and surface shipments, you will be required to write two letters. Please contact us to discuss this in further detail, and we can advise you on your needs and assist you in preparing these documents accordingly.

△ Please note that pre-clearance of your shipment in Japan is not possible and therefore customs clearance can only take place after your arrival (Although you do not need to physically attend the clearance procedure, you will need to have already arrived in the country).

Customs Clearance and Delivery

After we receive the documents noted above, we can generally clear and deliver surface shipments within 7-10 days after their arrival in their port of entry in Japan (approximate time frame, depending on the location of your residence). For air shipments, please allow for at least 3-5 days for customs clearance and delivery, after the goods arrive in their respective airports in Japan (approximate time frame, depending on the location of your residence).

Customs Regulations

Prohibited Articles

Please kindly be advised that the following articles should not be included in your shipment;

l          Firearms or weapons of any kind

l          Ammunition

l          Narcotics

l          Pornography

l          Explosives

l          Fresh foodstuffs 

Liquor

You may bring a maximum of three bottles of liquor/wine into Japan without incurring duties. Anything above this will be subject to import duties. Alcohol can only be imported with personal effects for personal use. Duties are as follows;

If you plan to import more than three bottles of alcohol, please contact Phoenix Transport in advance for more information. Please be advised that importation of these items may cause delays in customs clearance if we are not advised beforehand. If you have a wine list prepared, please provide us with this beforehand.

Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics

A volume restriction is applied when pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are imported for personal use. The volume allowed for internal medicines is limited to the amount that should be taken in two months or less, and a maximum of 24 pieces for external medicines and cosmetics. Keep any prescriptions readily available, as you may be required to show them to the customs officers.

Importing Pets

Importation of family pets (dogs and cats) is permitted as long as the following documents are obtained before departure from the country of origin. Please note that as from June 1, 2005 there has been a change in import procedures. Please ensure that you contact Phoenix Transport as soon as possible to discuss requirements.

l         A Certificate of Vaccination for Rabies. This must be dated no less than 30 days and no more than 180 days before entry into Japan. It also must state that there have been no outbreaks of rabies in the country of origin within the last 6 months.

l         A Health Certificate. This must be dated no more than 10 days before the pets arrival in Japan.

l         A Detailed Invoice for the Pet. This must include the pet’s value, weight, species & breed, name, age and any other relevant details.

l         A Signed Declaration from the Owner. This must state that the pet has not left the origin country in the last 6 months.

△ Quarantine / Customs regulations depend very much on the country of origin, so please be sure to contact Phoenix Transport at least 2 months before you intend forwarding your pet. This should give us sufficient time to arrange any further documentation such as Import Permits that may be required. We would be happy to answer your questions at any time.

Delivery of Your Shipment

Prior to the delivery of your shipment, please keep the following in mind and contact us should you have any questions or concerns;

l         Will everything fit in my new place? As I’m sure you are aware, Japanese doorways and rooms tend to be narrower than Western countries.

l         Do any of my items need to be assembled? Please advise if you have any new or complicated assemblies within your shipment. Generally there is an additional charge for the assembly of new flat pack furniture.

l         Where will my items to go? Have a good idea of where you would like your items settled before your delivery. This will save time for everybody and enable us to complete your delivery as promptly as possible.

Your surface shipment will generally clear customs and be delivered on the same day. If storage will be required, please let us know. We can store items in our fully secured and government bonded warehouse for as long as necessary.

Our crew will deliver, unpack and settle all items and remove all debris. If there are items you would like to unpack yourself, please let us know. If there are many boxes remaining, we can arrange to pick the boxes up at a later date. Our crew will also assemble furniture such as tables and beds, or any other items that require simple assembly. Should a specialist be required (for difficult / complicated pieces), we can also arrange this for you!

As your items are brought into your residence, we will check them off your inventory to ensure all pieces are accounted for. Each box or piece of furniture will have a number. If there are any damaged or missing items, please note them clearly on the inventory next to the item description. After the delivery has been completed, please sign the inventory and return it to our crew. You will also receive a copy of this to retain with your records.

Your delivery is not complete until you are completely satisfied. Even after your move is complete, if there is anything we can assist with, please do not hesitate to let us know. The Phoenix team awaits your arrival!

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