If you are shipping your personal effects through one of our offices abroad or through one of our partner moving companies, the staff coordinating your move at the origin would have advised you on all import procedures for Japan. Unless other arrangements have been made, all necessary documents are sent to Shipmates Worldwide Moving from the origin office.

Upon your arrival in Japan, please be sure to contact our office by phone or email sales@shipmates.jp. We have English speaking staff available and a Shipmates representative will be appointed to assist you with any questions you may have and to coordinate the last leg of your shipment.

ALL individuals moving to Japan

Remember, you must complete and present an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Declaration Form to the Customs officer at the airport upon your arrival in Japan.

Prior to entering Japan, you MUST fill out TWO Unaccompanied Personal Effects Declaration Forms to declare your unaccompanied personal effects to Japanese Customs at your arrival airport. You can obtain the form on your flight or at the airport customs counter.

Please note that you are not clearing customs for your shipment at the airport, you are simply declaring to Japanese Customs that you have a shipment that will be arriving later.

The Customs officer will stamp your TWO declaration forms and will keep one. You will need the second one to clear customs once your shipment arrives in Japan.

If you wish to have Shipmates clear customs for you, send
The original Unaccompanied Personal Effects Declaration Form
A photocopy of your passport (information page) and for non-Japanese citizens,
a photo copy of your visa and entry stamp pages
Your packing list/inventory (must be legible)
Your Bill of Lading and all other shipping documents you may have received from the freight forwarding agent or shipping company.

Important: Failure to fill out the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Declaration Form will result in delay of your shipment and may cause your shipment to incur additional charges. For more information on importing your personal effects or to inquire about prices on import customs clearance and delivery of your personal effects from the Port to your residence, please send an email to sales@shipmates.jp