🇮🇳 India vs 🇯🇵 Japan
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇮🇳 India | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) | Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance) |
| VAT / GST | 5% / 12% / 18% / 28% IGST | 10% |
| De minimis (USD) | n/a | USD 91 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 5000 | USD 9000 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 2 | 3 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 100 | 400 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 480 | USD 1820 |
| Prohibited categories | Narcotic and psychotropic substances; Pornographic material; Counterfeit currency; Goods from certain sanctioned sources; Maps showing incorrect Indian territorial boundaries | Stimulant drugs (kakuseizai — including many cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine above personal limits); Narcotics and psychotropic substances; Counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property; Pornographic material (obscene publications are prohibited); Firearms without proper licensing |
| Restricted categories | Wildlife and endangered species (Wildlife Protection Act permits); Firearms and ammunition (Arms Act licence required); Medicines and drugs (CDSCO licence required for commercial imports); Food items (FSSAI import licence required); Certain agricultural products (Plant Quarantine Order compliance) | Firearms and swords (Firearms and Swords Possession Control Act — strict permit required); Certain prescription medications (allowances for personal use, 1–2 month supply); Over-the-counter medicines (up to 2 months supply without import notification); Certain foods and agricultural products (plant quarantine and animal quarantine inspections); Endangered species products (CITES permit) |
| Known scams | Fake Indian e-Visa sites inflating the official USD 10-80 fee. Apply only via indianvisaonline.gov.in. | Unofficial Visit Japan Web clones charging an 'application fee'. The official tool is free; the URL is always vjw-lp.digital.go.jp. • Narita airport transport scams by unlicensed taxi solicitors outside arrivals. Use only the official taxi rank or Airport Limousine Bus. |
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