🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇮🇳 India
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇮🇳 India | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance) | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
| VAT / GST | 10% | 5% / 12% / 18% / 28% IGST |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 91 | n/a |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 9000 | USD 5000 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 3 | 2 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 400 | 100 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 1820 | USD 480 |
| 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 | Narcotic and psychotropic substances; Pornographic material; Counterfeit currency; Goods from certain sanctioned sources; Maps showing incorrect Indian territorial boundaries |
| 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) | 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) |
| 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 Indian e-Visa sites inflating the official USD 10-80 fee. Apply only via indianvisaonline.gov.in. |
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