Moving Companies To Japan from Ireland

1. Can I Import My Personal Items To Japan?
2. How Do I Import A Vehicle To Japan?
3. The Easiest Move Will Always Be To Work With The Experts

Japan is a popular destination for expats. The country is highly developed, with world-class technology, infrastructure, and opportunities. Japan is a beautiful island nation, famous for being a center of technology, karaoke, and anime. It is most popular among millennials and early career professionals.

If you are moving from Ireland to Japan, you may want to bring your vehicle or personal goods with you. Are you allowed to bring your vehicle? What does it cost to import household goods? When it comes to importing your belongings to Japan, you probably have a lot of questions.

As always, you should also check in with your local Japanese Embassy for the most recent guidance. This guide will give you the basics of what you need to import your personal belongings or vehicle to Japan. Here’s what you need to know:

Can I Import my Personal Items to Japan?

Yes. Even better, your imported personal goods will be duty-free as long as you meet guidelines. The items must be for your personal use, owned and used by you for at least a year, and intended for your ongoing personal use in Japan. The goods should be cleared within six months of your arrival in Japan. You will need to be able to provide a detailed packing list.

While you do not need to physically attend the clearance procedure, you will need to have already arrived in country.

How Do I Import a Vehicle to Japan?

Public transportation in Japan is excellent, so you may not even need your vehicle in Japan. Most people do still choose to import their vehicle for maximum freedom of movement. The entire importation process is typically handled by an import agent who will deliver the vehicle to the owner after it has been properly processed and registered. Besides the language barrier, there are other very good reasons for this. The most important reason is that your vehicle will need to be moved multiple times during this process, and you are unable to drive the vehicle on Japan’s roads legally until the process is complete. Working with a shipping company will make this process much easier for you.

You will need to be prepared to be without your vehicle for at least a couple of weeks as it moves through this process. The import agent or shipping company will handle the following:

• Customs – A customs declaration form must be submitted when the vehicle passes through customs. Here the automobile acquisition tax must be paid. This tax is calculated at 5% of the depreciated value of the vehicle. When the car is cleared, a custom clearance certificate will be awarded.
• Emissions test and preliminary inspection – The vehicle is then delivered to the testing center for inspection. This process can take about a week, so plan your time accordingly.
• Registration – Your car will need to be registered at the Land Transport Bureau office. Vehicle taxes will be paid and the car registration certificate (shaken sho) is awarded.
• National Number Plates - Cars cannot be driven in Japan without a national number plate, which can only be obtained once all other importation steps are complete.
• Parking Space Certificate - To own a car in Japan you are required to have a registered parking space. You can apply for a registered parking space at your local police station or transport bureau office. You can also apply online. You will be required to provide documentation and processing takes about a week.

The Easiest Move Will Always Be to Work with the Experts

Getting your car on the road in Japan will require a lot of logistics since your vehicle cannot be legally driven on the roadway until the multi-step process is complete. Don’t rely on just the luck of the Irish. Working with a shipping company will save you time and stress. At A-1 Auto Transport, our international shipping experts have experience working with customs officials and government agencies to handle complex transfers. Working with us, you can have confidence that every step is handled appropriately, from paperwork to customs declarations. Call us today for your free, no-obligation shipping quote to get started. A-1 Auto Transport is here to get you home.