Entry Procedures
(1) Arriving in Japan
Follow the “Arrivals” signs for the immigration desks. Some passengers will be in transit for other flights so it is a good idea to make sure of where you are going so that you don’t go in the wrong direction.
(2) Immigration
Show your passport and disembarkation card to the immigration officer. You will be asked about the purpose and length of your stay, etc. and to show your return air ticket. Immigration is divided into 2 sections: one exclusively for Japanese citizens and residents returning to Japan and one exclusively for visitors from overseas.
What is immigration?
It is a place where it is judged whether it is possible to permit someone to enter the country according to the details on their credentials such as passports and visas. You should show your passport and disembarkation card to the immigration officer at the counter here. The system of judgement is as follows.
- 1. The immigration officer will compare the passenger’s face with the photo in their passport in order to check that they are the said person.
- 2. Next, the magnetic or IC information stripe on the passport will be swiped to check past entry records, etc. The passport is checked and if there is no visa in passports from countries from which visas are required or if the remaining validity period is too short, etc., entry will be denied. If the passenger does not have sufficient funds or does not have a return air ticket, it is possible that entry will be denied. You are strongly advised to check whether you need a visa and the required remaining validity period for a passport for entry before your departure.
Filling in the Disembarkation Card
When entering or departing from Japan, foreigners must fill in an “embarkation / disembarkation card”. Embarkation / disembarkation cards can be obtained either during your flight or at the counter near the immigration desks. There are 2 parts on embarkation / disembarkation cards (right and left). The right is the disembarkation card and the left is the embarkation card and these must be filled in either Chinese characters or English (Pinyin).
(3) Baggage Claim
There are large electronic noticeboards in the Baggage Claim lobby displaying flight numbers and arrival times. You can retrieve your luggage from the station marked with your flight number. You can take the luggage trolleys provided as far as the airport bus terminal or car park.
(4) Customs
Here, overseas passengers who enter Japan are questioned and inspected for whether they are carrying taxable items and items that are not permitted to be brought into Japan (illegal drugs, firearms, fake products, etc.). If they are carrying such items, tax will be levied or these items will be confiscated. Show the customs form that you filled in during your flight. Counters are divided into “Declare” marked by red lights and “Not Declare” marked by green lights so if you do not have anything to declare, proceed to a counter with a green light. Spots checks are regularly carried out but there will be no problems if you cooperate with these.
Items that are not permitted to be brought in Japan
- ・Heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis, stimulants, psychotropic substances and other narcotic drugs.
- ・Firearms (pistols, etc.), ammunition (bullets) thereof, and pistol parts.
- ・Counterfeit , altered or imitation coins, paper money, bank notes, or securities, etc.
- ・Books, drawings, carvings and any other article which may harm public safety or morals (pornographic books or videos, etc.)
- ・Counterfeit or fake products
Other points to note
- ・If you are carrying shotguns, Japanese swords or knives, you must show a Public Safety Department certificate.
- ・Bringing plants and animals into Japan is prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- ・If you are carrying more than the regulated amount of cosmetics or medicine for uses other than personal use, you must go through import clearance procedures under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Regulated amounts: Cosmetics and standard-sized medicine for external use should be limited to 24 items. Medicine for internal use is limited to a 2-month supply for personal use only. - ・If you fail to declare taxable items, you will be liable for a penalty from Customs.
Regulation Duty-free limits
- ・Alcohol Duty-free allowance: 3 bottles・・・Bottles containing approx. 760ml.
- ・Cigarettes Duty-free allowance: 200・・・This allowance is doubled for both Japanese and foreign products imported by foreign residents.
- ・Cigars Duty-free allowance: 50
- ・Other tobacco products Duty-free allowance: 250g
- ・Perfume Duty-free allowance: 2 ounces (approx. 56cc)
- ・Other items with a total value of 10,000 yen or less * e.g. 9 boxes of sweets at 1,000 yen are tax-free.
Other items with a total value of over 10,000 yen* Tax will be levied for items exceeding a total amount of 200,000 yen.
Items with a value of more than 200,000 yen will be taxed on their total value.
※This is calculated on the purchase price in the country where purchased and converted into Japanese yen.
(5) Entry
Once you have passed through the last gate, you have entered the country.