How do I move my personal belongings to Japan?

If you are planing on moving to Japan, OSS World Wide Movers can provide a complete door to door moving service with safe and secure packing for your valued belongings. You know you can trust OSS to efficiently move your entire home contents with minimum fuss as we have over 50 years specialist international moving experience.

If you would like us to contact you with some more information and a quote for moving you to Japan, please fill in the enquiry form on this page, and an OSS moving consultant will contact you with helpful advice and a no-obligation free quote.

Moving your household goods to Japan

How long will my move to Japan take?

When moving your household goods to Japan by sea freight, this will typically take between 6 and 8 weeks. Clearance times when your goods arrive in Japan take approximately 5 to 7 working days for an FCL (Full Container Load e.g. not a shared container), and 7 to 10 working days for a GRP (Groupage or shared container load) AFTER the shipping container has been unloaded from the vessel. Please note that in the current global climate, some delays may be incurred to extend transit times, and your move coordinator can guide you on this closer to your move date.

Can I pack my own goods when I move to Japan?

It is recommended that you do not ship items to Japan that have been “owner packed”  as they will attract stringent inspection by Customs on arrival. It is advisable to have your goods packed by your moving company to ensure the clearance process can be conducted with a minimum of fuss.

Can I Move to Japan with Pets?

Moving overseas with your pets presents a unique set of logistical challenges. When moving with your loved pet, eg Cat or Dog, this process will be managed with a specialist ‘OSS approved’ pet moving provider who understands the needs of both pets and their owners, and will take care of all the relevant arrangements for your move to Japan.

For more information about moving overseas with pets, please refer to our detailed guide to moving pets overseas page

How do I move my car to Japan?

Moving motor vehicles and motor bikes to Japan is possible provided Customs criteria are met.
This service is usually depot to depot, meaning the motor vehicle will be collected by you from our partners depot in Japan following customs clearance.
Customs may require evidence that the owner of the vehicle has lived abroad for 12 months or longer, so a copy of your passport with date stamp showing arrival in Japan, or copy of lease or rental agreement on in Japan would be sufficient.

Can I move my boat to Japan?

Moving a boat to Japan has similar requirements to moving a car to Japan when it comes to registration requirements and process.
Customs and Quarantine in Japan will have a special interest in the boat due to its exposure to marine life, however as Australia has a fairly clean marine environment, your boat should pass customs and quarantine without any problem.

What insurance should I have when moving to Japan?

OSS offers a full range of moving insurance options depending on your needs.
Although your shipment to Japan will be packed to export standards (designed to withstand the the longest journey), the small cost of insurance gives you complete peace of mind with regard to the exposure and rigours that are always inherent when moving from one side of the world to the other.
Ask us about MoveCover, our Marine Transit Insurance product.

Restricted and Prohibited items when moving to Japan

When looking to relocate to Japan you will need to consider the extensive list of restricted and prohibited items. The following PDF has an extensive list of prohibited and restricted items when moving to Japan: Moving to Japan – FIDI Guide

Tax implications when moving to Japan

It is vital that you understand and obtain specific accounting and taxation advice suitable to your individual circumstances prior to your arrival.

Visa and Immigration Information

When moving to Japan, it’s crucial that you have all the correct and valid information that’s required. Follow these links for visa’s, passports and immigration information.

Consulate / Embassy in Australia

Contact the Japanese Embassy by visiting 112 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 Australia. Phone +612 6273 3244 Fax +612 6273 1848 or follow this link to the embassy website: http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp

Visa Information

General visa information can be found here: http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/visa_enquiries.html

Passport Information

Please click this link for passport information: http://www.turning-japanese.info/2011/11/applying-for-japanese-passport.html

Immigration Information

Click this link for immigration information: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/tetuduki/index.html

Citizenship Information

Click this link for citizenship information http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2011/12/27/reference/many-angles-to-acquiring-japanese-citizenship/#.U_WDxVbUdfM

Social Media Links

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JAPANinAUS

Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/MofaJapan_en