Summary of Advance Filing Rules on Cargo, Crew and Passenger Information

a) The information shall be filed until the time 24 hours before the arrival of the vessel at the port of destination in Japan.
(other than in cases b) and c) below)

b) The information shall be filed until the time 12 hours before the arrival of the vessel at the port of destination if the vessel arrives at the area in Japan from the area other than Japan as stipulated in Section 1 of Annex 1.

c) The information shall be filed before the arrival of the vessel at the port of destination if the vessel arrives at the area in Japan from the area other than Japan as stipulated in Section 2 of Annex 1.

In the application of the deadline above, where the vessel arrives at the port of destination via another Japanese port to which an earlier deadline is applicable, the earlier deadline shall be applicable to the port of destination. (If the vessel arrives at the port via more than one Japanese port, the earliest deadline shall be applicable with priority).

a) Passenger information shall be filed until the time 2 hours before the arrival of the vessel at the port of destination in Japan.
(other than in case b) hereunder)

b) Passenger information shall be filed before the arrival of the vessel at the port of destination if the vessel arrives at the area in Japan from the area other than Japan as stipulated in Annex 2 or via other ports in Japan.

Required information elements regarding cargos, passengers and crew members are the same as those currently required

Place of shipment, place of destination, marks & numbers, cargo descriptions, quantities, consigners and consignees of goods, bill of lading number and container number

Name, nationality, date of birth, identification number documents and rank

Name, nationality, date of birth, passport number, place of embarkation and final destination

The following information shall be filed by the specified deadline which varies by the length of the flight from the last foreign airport to the airport of destination in Japan.

A Cargo Information	Deadline
a) longer than 5 hours,	3 hours before arrival
b) between 3 hours and 5 hours,	1 hour before arrival
c) shorter than 3 hours,	before arrival

The following information shall be filed by the specified deadline which varies by the length of the flight from the last foreign airport to the airport of destination in Japan.

B Passenger/Crew Information	Deadline
a) longer than 2 hours,	90 minutes before arrival
b) between 1 hour and 2 hours,	30 minutes before arrival
c) shorter than 1 hour, or entering 　　via other airports in Japan	before arrival

Airport of origin, Airport of destination, marks & numbers, cargo description, quantity, and AWB number. (The same as those currently required)

Name, nationality, date of birth, gender, passport number, place of embarkation, and final destination.
(The underlined elements are new additions)

Name, nationality, date of birth, gender, and passport number.
(The same as those currently required)

The captain of the vessel or aircraft is responsible for the advance filing. However, such actions may be done by the owner or the administrator of the vessel or aircraft, or by an agent of the owner or the administrator or of the captain of the vessel or aircraft.

In the following situations where the advance filing is difficult, the information shall be submitted to Customs in writing immediately upon the arrival.

b) Emergency caused by fierce weather or grave damage to the vessel or aircraft.

c) Emergency entry to avoid danger caused by the reasons such as cargo loosening, outrage of passenger/crew or similar reasons

d) Forced entry by threat (e.g. seajack or hijacking) or by the order of the local/national government entity.

Failure in compliance, such as not filing information by the specified deadline or false information, is subject to the following penalties.

A For a vessel or aircraft which moves/flies between a foreign country and Japan for foreign trade