Import duties Japan
Wondering how import duties work for Japan? If you receive a parcel from Japan, expect costs such as import duties and VAT, because Japan is not part of the European Union. In most cases you pay these costs, but you can of course make arrangements with the sender of the parcel. Read on to find out more.
Calculating import duties for Japan
You order a camera from Japan. How much import duty do you pay?
To be clear: since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. An online purchase up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pays a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Above €150, and for other shipments such as business shipments and samples, you pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%. On top of that, you always pay VAT on the goods. Want to work out the exact import duties for Japan? It isn't easy to calculate the amount yourself in advance. Our online calculator (in Dutch) gives you an indication of import duties, but the final amount is set by customs at the moment of import. The website of the Belastingdienst (the Dutch tax and customs administration) has some worked examples of import duties (in Dutch). On this page you can read all about import duties and VAT.
ParcelParcel's import duty calculator
Get an instant estimate of the import duties and VAT for your shipment, with the right HS code and what to put on your customs invoice.
Calculate your import duties at the top of this page ↑
Import duties Japan: how do you make sure you pay the right amount?
Japan is a country outside the European Union, so there are rules for exporting and importing products or goods. To ship to and from Japan you therefore need documents such as customs forms. When you ship with ParcelParcel, you get these documents automatically and free of charge.
Of course you don't want to pay too much import duty. You help customs by putting the right commodity code, or HS code, on the customs invoice. That way customs can set the import duties and other import taxes easily and correctly. You can look up the right commodity code for any goods with our HS code tool.
Customs information Japan
Japanese customs doesn't allow certain products to be imported. On our website you'll find a list of goods that may cause problems and all other customs formalities for Japan (in Dutch). Our website also has more information about sending a parcel to Japan.
More information?
If you still have questions about import duties, VAT or the clearance process, contact us via Live Chat (working days 08:00-17:30). Our support specialists are happy to help with your questions. You can of course also contact us by phone or by email .
