Moving from Australia to Japan
A medium length Pacific haul into a country where the residence status, not the shipping, sets the pace. Arrange a status of residence first, watch the rules on medicines, then ship to Yokohama or Kobe. Here is the honest brief for this corridor.
Japan is a rewarding place to land but it runs on paperwork, and the document that sets your timeline is the status of residence. Most movers need a Certificate of Eligibility, the COE, sponsored by an employer, a school, or a family member in Japan, which you then convert to a visa and, on arrival, a residence card, the zairyu card, issued at the airport. Get the COE process moving early, because the shipping is the easy part.
Two things surprise Australians. First, Japan restricts or bans some medicines that are ordinary at home, including certain stimulant based cold and allergy drugs, and bringing more than a short supply can require an import certificate called a yakkan shoumei. Second, you must register your address at the local city or ward office within fourteen days of moving in, which links to the My Number system that underpins tax and services. Ship to the port nearest your city, usually Yokohama or Kobe, and keep your customs list tidy.
What it costs to move from Australia to Japan.
What it really costs to ship a household from Australia to Japan in 2026, shown as indicative ranges by home size and method. Costs vary with the Australian departure port and the Japanese port nearest your city.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in Australian dollars, before full packing, premium insurance, and delivery from the port to your home. Japanese cities often mean small lifts and narrow streets, which can add handling fees. These are not binding figures.
Four levers move the number here. Volume dominates, since a shared container is priced by space, so a careful sort before the survey pays off, especially because Japanese homes are smaller and some furniture simply will not fit. Ports matter: matching the Japanese arrival port to your city, Yokohama or Tokyo for the capital, Kobe or Osaka for the Kansai region, reduces inland trucking. Access at delivery can be the quiet cost, since narrow streets, small elevators, and walk ups in dense neighbourhoods often need shuttle vehicles or hoisting. And season adds a premium over the busy mid year window.
A realistic schedule, working back from the sailing.
Work back from the sailing. On this corridor the Certificate of Eligibility is the long pole, so begin it first, then book surveys and prepare the customs and medicine paperwork.
Start the residence status
Have your sponsor in Japan, an employer, school, or family member, apply for your Certificate of Eligibility. Once granted, you convert it to a visa at a Japanese consulate. This step gates the whole move, so begin early.
Get binding surveys
Have movers run video or in home surveys for an accurate volume, then compare shared container and sole use quotes on a like for like basis. Confirm the sailing and the Japanese arrival port nearest your destination city.
Customs and medicine paperwork
Prepare your inventory with values, your passport and visa, and the customs declaration of personal effects and unaccompanied articles. If you take regular medication, check whether you need a yakkan shoumei import certificate. Arrange pet import, which has strict steps and long lead times.
Pack and load
The packing crew arrives one to two days before collection. Goods are inventoried, sealed, and trucked to the Australian departure port for loading onto the vessel.
Clear customs and deliver
Your goods clear Japan Customs against your declaration, then are delivered and unpacked. Register your address at the city or ward office within fourteen days, which sets up your residence card details and My Number.
Clearing your goods into Japan.
Japan sits outside any customs union with Australia, so your household goods are declared to Japan Customs on arrival. People moving to live in Japan can normally import used personal effects and household goods free of duty, provided the items have been used and are for your continued personal use, and the unaccompanied goods arrive within six months of your entry.
You declare unaccompanied baggage on the customs form for personal effects and unaccompanied articles when you enter, and a stamped copy lets your agent clear the shipment duty free. Keep an itemised inventory with values, your passport, and your visa to hand. New goods, or items clearly bought for resale, can attract duty and consumption tax, so declare honestly and keep receipts.
Some categories are tightly controlled. Firearms and many knives are effectively prohibited, and certain medicines that are routine in Australia are restricted, including some stimulant based cold, sinus, and allergy products, so carrying more than a short personal supply can require a yakkan shoumei import certificate arranged in advance. Pornographic material and some foods and plants are restricted. Vehicles can be imported but face strict standards and registration, so most movers buy locally. Pets enter under strict rules with long advance steps, so plan months ahead.
How Australians actually move to Japan.
Australian citizens can visit Japan visa free for short stays, but living there needs a status of residence arranged before you go, almost always starting with a Certificate of Eligibility. These are the routes most Australian movers use.
For Australians with a Japanese job offer in a qualifying field, such as engineer or specialist in humanities. The employer sponsors a Certificate of Eligibility, which you convert to a visa and then a residence card.
- Basis
- Japanese job offer
- Sponsor
- Employer files COE
- Card
- Residence card on arrival
- Family
- Dependents can join
For the spouse or child of a Japanese national or of a resident foreign national. You evidence the relationship, and the sponsor files the Certificate of Eligibility.
- Basis
- Family ties
- Sponsor
- Files COE
- Work
- Often allowed
- Valid
- Renewable
For admission to a Japanese university, college, or language school. The institution usually sponsors the Certificate of Eligibility, and limited part time work is allowed with permission.
- Basis
- Enrolment
- Sponsor
- School files COE
- Work
- Limited, with permit
- Path
- Can change status
A points based status for high earning or highly qualified professionals, offering faster routes to longer stays and added benefits for those who qualify.
- Basis
- Points
- Needs
- Salary and skills
- Benefit
- Faster track
- Apply
- With sponsor
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Australia to Japan?
As indicative ranges for 2026, a 2 to 3 bedroom move runs roughly 6,000 to 10,000 Australian dollars by shared container and up to 14,000 for a sole use 40ft container, before packing, insurance, and delivery from the port. Tight access in Japanese cities can add handling fees. Get a binding quote from a survey.
How long does shipping from Australia to Japan take?
Plan on five to nine weeks door to door, including consolidation, the sailing to Yokohama or Kobe, customs clearance, and delivery. Matching the arrival port to your city shortens the inland leg. Summer is the busy season, so book early to protect your dates.
Do I pay duty on my furniture moving to Japan?
Usually not. Used personal effects and household goods that you have owned and used, brought when you move to live in Japan and arriving within six months of your entry, are commonly admitted free of duty. You declare unaccompanied baggage to Japan Customs with an inventory. New items can attract duty and consumption tax, so keep receipts and verify the current rules first.
What visa do Australians need to move to Japan?
You need a status of residence arranged before you go. For most movers that starts with a Certificate of Eligibility, the COE, sponsored by an employer, school, or family member, which you convert to a visa and then a residence card on arrival. This is not immigration advice, so confirm current requirements officially.
Can I bring my medicines to Japan?
Be careful. Japan restricts or bans some medicines that are ordinary in Australia, including certain stimulant based cold, sinus, and allergy products. Carrying more than a short personal supply, or any restricted ingredient, can require an import certificate called a yakkan shoumei arranged in advance. Check your prescriptions and over the counter drugs before you travel.
Do I need to register my address in Japan?
Yes. You must register your address at the local city or ward office within fourteen days of moving in. This sets your residence card details and connects you to the My Number system, which underpins tax, health insurance, and most public services, so do it promptly after arrival.