Customs Process

Last updated: Nov, 2026

Latest Customs & Duty Update for International Orders

Please review the information below carefully when selecting a shipping option at checkout. We currently offer two types of shipping terms:

  • DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid): Taxes & duties not included at checkout – may be requested by customs upon arrival.
  • DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): All taxes & duties included – no extra payment at delivery.

For example:

  • Japan Post EMS – Tracked – DDU – Taxes & Duties Not Included
    This means that taxes and duties are not paid at checkout, and you will be responsible for paying them during customs clearance, if applicable.
  • Japan Post EMS – Tracked – DDP – Taxes & Duties Prepaid
    Taxes and duties are prepaid at checkout, so no additional customs payment is normally required during customs clearance.

The availability of DDU and DDP shipping options varies by country or territory. Please refer to the table below for details:

Zone Shipping term
United States DDP – Japan Post Air Packet (up to $250), Japan Post EMS (under $1,150) and ECMS Express
DDU – DHL, FedEx and UPS: duties are paid by the recipient on delivery
United Kingdom DDU
Canada DDP - ECMS
DDU – All other shipments
Australia DDU
New Zealand DDU
Germany DDU
France DDU
Ireland DDU
Singapore DDU
China DDU
Hong Kong DDU
Taiwan DDU
Korea DDU
Colombia DDU
EU (Exclude Germany, France, Ireland) DDU
North America (Exclude US, Canada) DDU
Rest of the World DDU


1.  [Nov 5, 2026 JST] 🇩🇪 Update for Customers in Germany

Due to recent changes in German import procedures, starting November 5, 2026, new orders to Germany with a total value over €150 are no longer available.

  • Orders of €150 or less can still be placed as usual.
  • Orders already placed before November 5 will be contacted if there are any changes to shipments.
  • EU customs charges still apply to orders shipped to Germany, including the €3 customs duty, the €2 handling fee and import VAT (19%).

If your order is over €150, you can split it into smaller orders of €150 or less each.
Please note that due to stricter EU customs checks, some shipments to Germany may be returned by customs. If a parcel is returned, the original outbound shipping cost will be deducted from your refund.

We’re sorry for the inconvenience and will update this notice once shipping for larger orders becomes available again.

2. [November 1, 2026 JST] 🇪🇺 New €2 EU Handling Fee applies to all orders, regardless of value, including orders over €150

Starting November 1, 2026, the EU has added a new €2 Union Handling Fee (UHF) on online orders shipped from outside the EU. This applies to all EU countries, including Ireland.

  • The fee is €2 per customs line item. Items of the same type are counted as one line, while different types of products in the same parcel are counted separately. 

  • It applies to all orders, regardless of value, including orders over €150.

  • It is in addition to the €3 customs duty introduced in July. Orders of €150 or less pay both charges, plus VAT as usual.

  • The fee is set by the EU and is non-refundable, even if an item is returned.

Example:

An order with 2 different types of items under €150 would include €6 in customs duty (2 × €3) and €4 in handling fees (2 × €2), plus VAT.

An order with 2 different types of items over €150 would include customs duty and €4 in handling fees (2 × €2), plus VAT.

3. [July 2026, JST] 🇪🇺 VAT & Duties Update for EU & 🇨🇦 Canada Orders

  • EU orders under €150: Starting July 1, 2026, EU orders valued under €150 may incur a customs-related fee of €3 per tariff line when cleared through customs.
  • EU orders valued at €150 or above: duties and taxes will continue to apply as before.

A tariff line refers to a unique customs tariff classification in a parcel. This means the fee is not charged per individual item. If an order includes multiple items under the same tariff classification, the fee is charged only once for that tariff line.

For example, a parcel containing only apparel would be charged €3. A parcel containing apparel, cosmetics, shoes, and jewelry may be charged €12, as these items may fall under four different tariff lines.

  • Canada orders: From June 25, 2026, applicable duties will be collected directly at checkout.

4. [Dec 24, 2025 JST] 🇺🇸 Duties Update for US Orders

At Japan Figure, we’d like to share an important update regarding shipments from Japan to the United States. Due to recent changes in U.S. customs regulations, import duties on international parcels may increase, with rates reaching up to 50% for certain products.

In particular, items containing aluminum or steel components (such as parts of figures, display bases, or accessories) may be subject to higher import taxes. All duties are determined by U.S. Customs and paid by the recipient, so please be prepared for potential charges upon delivery.

5. [Sep 25, 2025 JST] 🇺🇸 Duties Update for US Orders

The U.S. de minimis exemption has ended. Beginning August 29, 2025, U.S. Customs applies an up to 50% import duty on most goods, regardless of value.

How we’re handling your orders (applies to US, updated October 2026)

  • Duties prepaid (DDP): Japan Post Air Packet (up to $250), Japan Post EMS (under $1,150) and ECMS Express. Duties are included at checkout, so no extra payment is normally required on delivery.
  • Duties unpaid (DDU): DHL, FedEx and UPS. Duties are not included at checkout and are paid by the recipient on delivery.

What you need to know

  • Transit times and customs reviews can vary; we’ll keep you updated if your shipment needs any extra paperwork.
  • We may split large orders into multiple parcels to comply with courier and customs rules. If splitting is needed, our team will notify you.

Important notice on returns

  • Any order returned or refused due to unpaid import duties will be subject to two-way shipping fees if a refund is requested.
  • Please review our Refund Policy for full details.
For assistance with your current order, please contact info@japan-figure.com with your order number and tracking.

6. Customs Policy (for All Customers)

In general, items purchased from overseas may be subject to additional taxes and handling fees imposed by the customs authorities or mail carriers of your country and region. Such costs are the responsibility of the customer.

Customs and import rules vary by country and region. Unfortunately, we’re not able to estimate these in advance, but here we have provided some helpful links, together with some general information for your reference. Please note that these are subject to change, so it’s best to check with your local customs.

As the rules and value thresholds differ by country, we invite you to please refer to your country's government website. To find out more about VAT and duties in your country: Click here!

Any order returned or not accepted because of import duties left unpaid will be subject to a two-way shipping fee if a refund is requested. Please also see our Refund Policy.