Shipping a package from Japan to the Netherlands
You book from the Netherlands, the carrier picks up the package from the sender in Japan and delivers it to your door. We create the label and the customs invoice automatically.
10% welcome discount on all your bookings for the first 4 weeks · for businesses
DHL Express WorldwideExpress See rate 
UPS SaverExpress See rate 
FedEx Economy ImportEconomy See rate FedEx Priority ImportExpress See rate The sender doesn't need an account. You can compare and book without one too.
Calculate your shipping costs from Japan now
Japan is already set as the pickup country and the Netherlands as the destination. No need to swap anything.
Welcome discount · businesses only
10% off all your bookings for the first 4 weeks
Also on import shipments. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
How to have a package picked up in Japan
Four steps. The sender only has to stick the label on the box.
Book from the Netherlands
Enter the pickup address in Japan and your own address, with the dimensions and weight. You see the cost straight away.
Compare and choose
DHL, UPS and FedEx side by side, with price and expected delivery day. You pay, not the sender.
Label to the sender
You receive the shipping label and the customs invoice by email. Forward them to the sender, who prints them and sticks the label on the box.
Picked up and delivered
The carrier picks up from the sender in Japan and delivers to you. You follow the shipment with Track & Trace.
What you arrange, what the sender does
With an import shipment, you book and pay. The sender in Japan doesn't need an account and doesn't have to figure anything out.
What you need to book
- ✓The sender's name, pickup address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓For each item: what it is, how many and what it's worth (in English)
- ✓Your EORI number if you import as a business
What the sender does
- ✓Packs the shipment securely, in a well-filled box
- ✓Prints the label and the customs invoice and sticks the label on the box
- ✓Has the package ready on the pickup day you choose
Who pays what?
Shipping costs: you pay these when you book.
VAT and import duties: these are for you as the recipient. The carrier pays them to customs up front and settles them with you, on or after delivery.
Calculate your rate from Japan →Import costs on a package from Japan
Japan is outside the EU, so your package goes through Dutch customs. These are the costs to allow for.
VAT from the first euro
You pay VAT on everything you receive from outside the EU: usually 21%, 9% for some goods. Since 1 July 2021 there is no longer an exempt lower limit.
Import duty
Depends on what's inside (the HS code) and where it was made. Since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. Online purchases up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pay a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Other shipments, such as business shipments and samples, pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%.
Customs clearance by the carrier
The carrier declares your shipment to customs and pays the VAT and import duties up front. It charges a fee for this. You pay the total to the carrier.
Gift from a private person
A gift from one private person to another worth up to €45 is exempt from VAT and import duties. It does have to be a genuine gift, not something you bought.
Importing as a business
You need an EORI number. If you have an article 23 licence, you shift the import VAT to your VAT return and don't have to pay it up front.
What will customs cost for your shipment?
Enter the product, value and country and you get an instant estimate of the import duties and VAT, with the right HS code and what to put on your customs invoice.
Calculate your import duties ↓
Import duty from Japan
Thanks to the trade agreement between the EU and Japan, import duty on products made in Japan is often lower or zero. The sender does need to put a statement of origin on the invoice or send one with it. You always pay VAT.
Sources: Dutch Customs (import VAT, gifts up to €45, EORI, article 23 licence); European Commission, fixed €3 customs duty on low-value parcels (29 June 2026). More about import duties and importing (in Dutch).
Tips for a package from Japan
Most import delays start on the sender's side. With these four points it goes right first time.
Ask the sender exactly what's inside
The customs invoice states for each item what it is, how many and what it's worth, in English. Words like ‘gift’, ‘parts’ or ‘samples’ are too vague. That's the most common reason shipments get stuck at customs.
Have the sender pack it securely
A well-filled box that survives a one-metre drop. If you take out a transport guarantee, have photos taken of the packaging and the contents before it's sealed.
Agree the pickup day
When you book, you choose the day the carrier comes. Let the sender in Japan know when that is, so the package is ready with its label.
Measure and weigh accurately
Carriers measure again. If the dimensions or weight differ, an additional charge follows. Ask the sender to measure the box including packaging, and round up.
Booking checklist
Got everything to hand? Then you can book in two minutes
- ✓The sender's name, pickup address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓English description, quantity and value for each item
- ✓EORI number for business imports
Good to know when you book
Enter the address in Latin letters
Carriers cannot print labels with Japanese characters. Ask for the address in English, or translate the full address with Google Translate before you book.
Importing with DHL? Call to confirm the pickup
If you choose DHL for a parcel from Japan, call DHL in Japan yourself to confirm the pickup. Without that confirmation, there is a risk your shipment is not collected.
What can you have picked up in Japan?
The same rules apply to imports as to sending: anything that isn't allowed on the carrier's plane or truck, we can't have picked up either.
More about Japan
Have a shipment picked up in Japan and delivered in the Netherlands.
The other way round: compare carriers and rates to Japan.
Read more →Import dutiesHow import duties workHow VAT and import duties are calculated on imports.
Read more →What shippers say about us
Frequently asked questions about importing from Japan
How do I have a package picked up in Japan?+
You simply book the shipment here, from the Netherlands, with Japan as the pickup country. You receive the label and the customs invoice by email and forward them to the sender. They stick the label on the box and the carrier picks up the package.
How much does it cost to send a package from Japan to the Netherlands?+
That depends on the weight, the dimensions and the carrier. The calculator shows DHL, UPS and FedEx side by side, with the price for your shipment. A smaller box often saves money, because carriers charge on volumetric weight if it's higher than the actual weight.
How long does a package from Japan take?+
With express, the carriers say a package from Japan usually reaches you within 1 to 2 working days after pickup. Economy takes a little longer. Customs clearance can add a day. You see the expected delivery day for each carrier when you book.
Does the sender need an account or have to pay anything?+
No. You book and pay for the shipment. The sender just receives the label and sticks it on the box.
Do I pay import duties on a package from Japan?+
You always pay VAT, from the first euro. Import duty depends on the product and its origin. Since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. Online purchases up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pay a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Other shipments, such as business shipments and samples, pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%. The carrier pays it up front and settles it with you, plus a fee for the clearance.
Who makes the customs invoice?+
We do. When you book, you enter what's inside, how many and what it's worth, and the customs invoice arrives in your inbox together with the label. The sender only has to print it.
Can I have a package picked up abroad as a private customer?+
Yes. You book without an account and pay straight away, for example with iDEAL. As a business, a free account lets you pay by invoice and gives you a 10% welcome discount for 4 weeks.
Have your first shipment from Japan picked up with a 10% welcome discount
Register your business account and use the discount on all your bookings for four weeks. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
- ✓10% discount on all your bookings
- ✓For four weeks, from the day you register
- ✓No credit card, minimum volume or contract
Shipping as an individual? You can compare and book without an account.