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CUSTOMS PROCEDURES FOR SUPERYACHTS

December, 2021
Enforcement Division, Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance

This is to announce Customs procedures for the arrival and departure of a large-scale pleasure vessel, also known as “Superyacht”, whose length is 80 feet (24 meters) or longer. From 16 December 2021, Customs procedures concerning the change in the status of a vessel (from a special vessel to a coastal vessel) will be operated as below.

1.CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF SUPERYACHTS
(1) Procedures for changing the status of Superyachts to a domestic vessel
If you wish to change the status of your Superyacht to a vessel engaged in only domestic voyages in Japan, the following application forms are required to be submitted to Customs either via NACCS or in person at a Customs office. In the process, the inspection of the Superyacht by Customs and an import clearance procedure for the stores of the vessel may also be required.

[Application Forms – one copy for each]

  • Report on change in the status of vessel/aircraft (Customs Form C No.2240)
  • Ship’s stores declaration (Customs Form C No.2040)
  • Crew’s effects declaration (Customs Form C No.5370)
  • Sailing schedule (in an appropriate format)
  • Document that certifies the status of a vessel

Notes:
1. Sailing schedule should include information on planned domestic voyages in Japan and departure from Japan, i.e. ports of call and the location and date of changing the status of your Superyacht to a vessel engaged in international voyages.
2. In addition to the above-mentioned forms, you may be required to present documents which can verify the shaft horse power of your Superyacht for the import clearance of the fuel oils remained in the vessel.

[Import Clearance Procedures]

Import clearance procedures are required for the stores of the vessel and crews’ effects that cannot be confirmed by Customs as domestic goods. However, goods that will not be used during voyages in Japan may be stored on the vessel as foreign goods after being sealed by Customs officials.

(2) Important Notes

  • In the process of changing the status of your Superyacht to a vessel engaged in domestic voyages, import clearance, vessel inspection and/or questioning on board the vessel by Customs officials may be conducted. As these procedures may take time depending on the port of entry or the size of the vessel, please notify relevant information, including the date and port of entry, etc., to a Customs office having jurisdiction over the port of entry as soon as such information becomes available.
  • When your Superyacht whose status has been changed to a vessel engaged in domestic voyages departs from Japan to overseas, its status is required to be changed to a vessel engaged in international voyages, since the vessel will be regarded as a vessel traveling between Japan and foreign countries after the departure. Similar procedures as specified in 1 (1) apply for such change in status (from a coastal vessel to a special vessel).
    Note:
    If a coastal vessel would depart from Japan to overseas without having necessary procedures to change the status of the vessel to a vessel engaged in international voyages, the master of the vessel would be subject to imprisonment with labor for not more than one year or to a fine of not more than three hundred thousand yen, in accordance with Article 115 of the Customs Act.
  • In case of a change (from the original sailing schedule submitted to Customs) concerning the intended location and date of changing the status of your Superyacht to a vessel engaged in international voyages, please contact a Customs office having jurisdiction over the location of your shipping agent or the anchorage point of your Superyacht.
  • If you wish to change your shipping agent, the current shipping agent or the master of the Superyacht is requested to report the change to Customs.
  • Please note that, if you wish to change the nationality of your Superyacht to Japan, the Superyacht itself must be subject to Customs clearance procedures for importation.

2.REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES
Japan Customs conducts strict enforcement measures at the border to prevent the inflow of illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine and cannabis, and terrorism-related materials, such as firearms, explosives, and chemical products, which are threatening the security and safety of the lives of citizens, as well as goods infringing intellectual property and counterfeit credit cards, which impede the sound development of the economy.
As such, if you find any suspicious activities around you, please report to nearby Customs offices. Your information will help Customs to prevent smuggling of illicit goods and terrorism-related activities.