🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇦🇺 Australia
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance) | Australian Border Force (ABF) |
| VAT / GST | 10% | 10% |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 91 | USD 680 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 9000 | USD 7600 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 3 | 2.25 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 400 | 25 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 1820 | USD 680 |
| Prohibited categories | 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 | Illicit drugs and psychotropic substances; Weapons (automatic/semi-automatic firearms, prohibited weapons); Pornographic material involving minors; Products from endangered species without CITES permits; Steroids and human growth hormone without prescription |
| Restricted categories | 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) | Food (all food items must be declared; many require biosecurity permits); Plants and plant materials (must be declared; import conditions apply); Animals and animal products (biosecurity conditions apply); Certain medications and therapeutic goods (TGA approval required); Firearms and weapons (import licence required) |
| Known scams | 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. | Fake ETA / eVisitor websites charging service fees on top of (or instead of) the official A$20 charge. Apply only via immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. • 'Border Force fine' SMS demanding immediate payment for an undeclared item. ABF does not issue fines by SMS link. |
Detailed pages: Japan • Australia
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