🇬🇧 United Kingdom vs 🇯🇵 Japan
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) | Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance) |
| VAT / GST | 20% | 10% |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 190 | USD 91 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 12500 | USD 9000 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 4 | 3 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 200 | 400 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 1100 | USD 1820 |
| Prohibited categories | Illegal firearms and offensive weapons (flick knives, knuckledusters); Class A, B, and C controlled substances without authorisation; Obscene publications and indecent images; Counterfeit currency; Products from endangered species without CITES permits | 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 | Firearms and weapons (requires licence); Controlled drugs (prescription required); Certain food products from outside EU/GB (health certificate may be required); Plants and plant products (phytosanitary certificate required); Live animals (health certificate and pre-notification required) | 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 | Unofficial 'UK ETA' booking sites charging well above the official £10 fee. Apply only via gov.uk. • Fake HMRC/Border Force payment-demand SMS or emails after recent arrivals. HMRC never asks for payment by SMS link. | 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. |
Detailed pages: United Kingdom • Japan
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