Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Importing Medicines for Personal Use into Japan

Overview

• Importing medicines into Japan is controlled by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Customs Law to prevent health hazards.
• Necessary procedures depend on the type and amount of medicine brought for personal use.

Drugs, Quasi Drugs

• Personal medicines can be brought into Japan after completing certain procedures.
• "Yunyu Kakunin-sho": Import certificate required for certain medicines.
• No "Yunyu Kakunin-sho" needed if below specified amounts:
  • Poison, Deadly poison, Prescription drug: Up to 1-month supply
  • Drug for external use (excluding Poison, Deadly poison, Prescription drug): Up to 24 per item
  • Injectable drug and Syringe: Up to 1-month supply (only "Pre-filled Syringe" or "Self-injection Kit")
  • Other Drugs, Quasi drugs: Up to 2-month supply
• Restrictions on products with designated pharmaceutical ingredients.
• Prohibited drugs cannot be brought into Japan.
• More details in "Q&A for those bringing medicines into Japan".

Cosmetics

• Similar procedures as drugs and quasi drugs.
• Allowance: Up to 24 per item (e.g., lipsticks, regardless of brand or color).

Medical Devices

• Similar procedures as drugs and quasi drugs.
• Allowance:
  • Medical device for household use: 1 set
  • Disposable contact lens: Up to 2-month supply

Narcotics, Psychotropics

• Importing strictly controlled; prescription required.
• Permission from Japanese Government necessary for prescribed narcotics and psychotropics.
• Prohibited or controlled substances cannot be brought into Japan.

Application for Import Confirmation

• Contact Information for Import Inquiries
  • Drugs, Quasi drugs, Cosmetics, Medical devices
    • Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau: +81-48-740-0800; [email protected]
    • Kinki Regional Bureau: +81-6-6942-4096; [email protected]
  • Narcotics and Psychotropics
    • Compliance and Narcotics Division, MHLW: FAX +81-3-3501-0034

Additional Information

• As of April 1, 2020, Okinawa Narcotics Control Office operations were transferred to the Kinki Regional Bureau.
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