9601 Customs Clearance Procedures for Persons Living Abroad (Customs Procedure Agent) (FAQ)

  When any person living abroad needs to proceed customs procedure(*1) such as import declarations and other customs related matters including receipt of notice from Japan Customs, the person living abroad shall designate a person in Japan as a Customs Procedure Agent and notify it in advance to the customs office where the customs procedure is to be carried out.
  *1: A Customs Procedure Agent who is not a licensed customs broker is not permitted to engage, as a business, in customs brokerage services such as filing import declarations. In such cases, the non-resident importer or the Customs Procedure Agent is required to engage a licensed customs broker to carry out customs clearance procedures. Alternatively, the Customs Procedure Agent may obtain a customs brokerage license.

  In this case, Customs Procedure Agent will carry out the customs procedures such as export/import declaration, on-site witness of customs inspections, procedure of customs duties payment, receiving and sending documents between customs and non-resident and tax refund from the customs office, on behalf of the person who does not live in Japan.

  Customs Procedure Agent must have an address or residence in Japan (head office or principal office in the case of a corporation).

  Notification of Customs Procedure Agent must be made by submitting the two copies of the notification form (Customs Form C No.7500).
  Please find the guidelines (Japanese only) for you reference.

  The following supporting documents must be required when filing notification forms.

A. Proxy (or documents that clarify details of the contract if you have a contract of proxy)
B. Documents confirming the existence of the notifier (overseas register or certificate of residence)
C. Documents confirming the existence of Customs Procedure Agent (certificate of all historical matters)
D. Commercial or transaction flow chart
*Please note that you may be asked to submit additional documents as necessary.
(ex. Seller Information (for notifications concerning listings on an e-commerce platform))

  For Customs Procedure Agent which have already submitted to Japan Customs until September 30th in 2023, you do not need to submit the notification form again with the amendment of the Customs Procedure Agent System.

  If there are any changes to the information stated in the filed Notification on the appointment of the Customs Procedure Agent, please submit two copies (the original and one copy for issuance) of a Notification of Change (using Form C7500) to the Customs Office where the initial notification was filed.

  When you cancel the Customs Procedure Agent you have notified, please submit the two copies of the cancellation form (Customs Form C No. 7510) to customs office where you have submitted the notification of the Customs Procedure Agent.

  Upon submission of the notifications, you can use NACCS (code: HYS) to file “GT7: Notification of Appointment of Customs Procedure Agent (Notification of Appointment of agent for tax payment)” and “GT8: Notification of cancellation of Customs Procedure Agent (Notification of cancellation of agent for tax payment).”

  Please click here for the details on the amendment of the Customs Procedure Agent that enforced from October 1st in 2023.
https://www.customs.go.jp/shiryo/leaflet_jimukanrinin_e.pdf

(Article 95 of the Customs Act, Article 84 and 85 of the Order for Enforcement of the Customs Act, Article 11-2 of the Regulation for Enforcement of the Customs Act, Article 95-1, 95-2 and 95-13 of the General Notification of the Customs Act, Article 2 and 3 of the Law of Customs Brokerage)

For consultations on customs procedures, please contact the nearest Customs Counselor.
Please see No. 9301 for inquiries.