Entry Requirements & Customs

Entry Requirements

Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders traveling to Japan as tourists for a stay of 90 days or less need only a valid passport to gain entry into the country. Canadians don't need a visa for stays of up to 3 months, and United Kingdom and Irish citizens can stay for up to 6 months without a visa.

Note: Only tourists don't need a visa -- that is, those in the country for sightseeing, sports activities, family visits, inspection tours, business meetings, or short study courses. Tourists cannot work in Japan or engage in any remunerative activity including the teaching of English (though some young people ignore the law). No extensions of stay are granted, which means tourists must leave the country after 90 days. If you're going to Japan to work or to study for longer than 90 days, you'll need a visa; contact the Japanese embassy or consulate nearest you (www.jnto.go.jp for a list of addresses).

An Important Note -- At all times, foreigners are required to carry either their passports or, for those who have been granted longer stays, their alien registration cards. Passports must also be presented at check-in for all lodgings in Japan. The police generally do not stop foreigners, but if you're caught without the proper identification, you'll be taken to the local police headquarters. Safeguard your passport in an inconspicuous, inaccessible place like a money belt. If you lose it, visit the nearest consulate of your native country as soon as possible for a replacement. Keeping a photocopy of your passport information page will facilitate its replacement.

Customs

What You Can Bring Into Japan -- If you're 20 or older, you can bring duty-free into Japan up to 400 non-Japanese cigarettes or 500 grams of tobacco or 100 cigars; three bottles (760cc each) of alcohol; and 2 ounces of perfume. You can also bring gifts and souvenirs with a total market value of less than ¥200,000 ($1,900).

What You Can Take Home -- Returning U.S. citizens who have been away for at least 48 hours or more are allowed to bring back, once every 30 days, $800 worth of merchandise duty-free including (for those 21 and older) 1 liter of wine or spirits. You'll be charged a flat rate of duty on the next $1,000 worth of purchases. Any dollar amount beyond that is dutiable at whatever rates apply. On mailed gifts, the duty-free limit is $200. Be sure to have your receipts or purchases handy to expedite the declaration process.

With few exceptions, you cannot bring fresh foodstuffs into the United States. For specifics on what you can bring back, download the free pamphlet Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov. (Click on "Travel," then on "Know Before You Go Online Brochure.") Or contact U.S. Customs & Border Protection at tel. 877/287-8867 to request the pamphlet.

For a summary of Canadian rules, write for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca). Canada allows its citizens a C$750 exemption, and you're allowed to bring back duty-free one carton of cigarettes, one can of tobacco, 40 imperial ounces of liquor, and 50 cigars. In addition, you're allowed to mail gifts to Canada valued at less than C$60 a day, provided they're unsolicited and don't contain alcohol or tobacco. Note: The $750 exemption can only be used once a year and only after an absence of 7 days.

U.K. citizens returning from Japan have a Customs allowance of 200 cigarettes; 50 cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; 2 liters of still table wine; 1 liter of spirits or strong liqueurs (over 22% volume); 2 liters of fortified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs; 60cc (ml) perfume; 250cc (ml) of toilet water; and £145 worth of all other goods, including gifts and souvenirs. People under 17 cannot have the tobacco or alcohol allowance. For more information, contact HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., tel. 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

The duty-free allowance in Australia is A$400 or, for those under 18, A$200. Citizens can bring in 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of loose tobacco, and 1,125 milliliters of alcohol. For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

The duty-free allowance for New Zealand is NZ$700. Citizens over 17 can bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco (or a mixture of all three if their combined weight doesn't exceed 250g); plus 4.5 liters of wine and beer, or 1.125 liters of liquor. New Zealand currency does not carry import or export restrictions. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).