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Home > Export/Import > Customs Answer(FAQ) > 1102 Flow of Goods from Arrival to Release (FAQ)

1102 Flow of Goods from Arrival to Release (FAQ)


  Foreign goods arriving in Japan by air or sea shall be stored in the bonded area until customs clearance is complete.
  Import declaration must be made, in general, after the goods have been taken into a bonded area. When goods arrive at a port of entry, a shipping or airline company issues an Arrival Notice to the importer. The importer shall then go to the airline or shipping company to obtain the necessary documents regarding transportation agreements, and shall declare the goods to the customs office, in general, holding jurisdiction over the bonded area where the goods are stored by submitting the necessary documents with the invoice sent by the exporter.
  The customs office reviews the documents and may elect to inspect the shipment, and in principle, approves the import of the goods after confirming the payment of taxes such as import duties, etc. The goods shall be handed over to the importer when he/she presents the import permit to the officer at the bonded area where the goods are stored.
  Meanwhile, if you wish to know whether the goods have arrived in Japan, please contact the relevant airline or shipping company that transported the goods to Japan.


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