What you can't ship from Japan to Costa Rica
17 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 16 item types that cannot be sent to Costa Rica and 1 that can be sent only under conditions. Separately, Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every destination, covering dangerous goods and items banned from international mail — perfume, aerosols and lithium batteries among them. Rules last verified against Japan Post on September 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 16
- Conditional
- 1
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Costa Rica. They do not repeat the items Japan Post refuses to every country — those are on one shared page, linked below. A rule marked conditional allows the item only when the stated conditions hold; whether your product qualifies is what the ShipMate GO app works out before you book.
Medicine & supplements
3 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Blood and Blood Products
Blood and blood products are prohibited from being shipped to Costa Rica via regular mail, parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers whole blood as well as derived blood products.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Prohibited
Medicines / Pharmaceuticals with Unknown Ingredients or Formulation
Medicines and pharmaceutical products whose ingredients or formulation are unknown are prohibited from shipment to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies regardless of the form or type of medicine involved.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Prohibited
Trade samples containing benzodiazepines
Trade samples that contain benzodiazepines are prohibited for shipment to Costa Rica via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. No exceptions are indicated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Opium
Opium and its alkaloids are conditionally permitted for shipment to Costa Rica only when handled through the intermediary of the destination country's government authority. No other circumstances are specified as permissible.
Conditions and documents
- handled through the intermediary of the destination country's government authority → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Food
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Agricultural products in used containers
Agricultural products packed in used/secondhand containers are prohibited from shipment to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. The prohibition applies specifically to agricultural goods housed in previously used packaging or containers.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 07
- Prohibited
Foodstuffs and beverages that are spoiled or contain added sweeteners and are harmful to health
Food and beverages that are either spoiled/rotten or have had sweeteners added and are considered harmful to health are prohibited from shipment to Costa Rica. This restriction applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
Plants & animals
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Fruits and Seeds (containing pathogens or parasites)
Fruits and seeds that contain pathogens or parasites are prohibited from being sent to Costa Rica via all mail types. This restriction applies to regular mail, parcels, and EMS.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 08
- Prohibited
Products made from animal and plant waste / by-products
Products derived from animal and plant waste or their by-products are prohibited from being shipped to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction covers any goods manufactured from or consisting of such animal or plant residues and their secondary outputs.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 05
Weapons
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Military supplies / munitions
Military supplies and munitions are prohibited from shipment to Costa Rica via regular mail, parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Prohibited
Weapons and Firearms
Weapons including bladed weapons and firearms are prohibited for shipment to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Items authorized by the public security authorities of the destination country are excluded from this prohibition.
Details and exceptions
- authorized by the public security authorities of the destination country (Costa Rica) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Currency & valuables
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing valuables
Registered ordinary mail items containing coins, banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, platinum, gold or silver (worked or unworked), pearls, gemstones, or other valuables are prohibited for shipment to Costa Rica via regular mail. This prohibition applies to such items when enclosed within registered ordinary postal items.
Other items
6 prohibited
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public morals
Printed matter and other articles contrary to public morals are prohibited from being shipped to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This applies to any item deemed offensive to accepted moral standards.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Baby Bottles with Dual Graduation Markings
Baby bottles featuring dual (double) graduation markings are prohibited from shipment to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Single-scale baby bottles are not mentioned by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 39
- Prohibited
Blank Waybills / Blank Consignment Notes
Blank waybills (blank consignment notes) are prohibited from being sent to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS shipping. No completed or pre-filled forms are referenced; only blank/unfilled waybill documents are covered by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Lottery Tickets
Lottery tickets are prohibited from being shipped to Costa Rica via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers lottery tickets and related vouchers.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Used clothing
Used clothing is prohibited for shipment to Costa Rica unless accompanied by a disinfection certificate. Shipment via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services is subject to this restriction.
Details and exceptions
- disinfection certificate is attached → permitted
Documents: disinfection certificate
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 63
- Prohibited
Valuables
Valuables including platinum, gold, silver, gems, and other precious items are prohibited from shipment to Costa Rica via regular and parcel mail. This prohibition covers precious metals and jewels in all forms.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Applies to every destination, including Costa Rica
Japan Post applies 278 carrier-wide rules to every country on top of the rules above — outright bans on dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and lighters, and conditions on items such as lithium batteries.
Not sure about a specific item for Costa Rica?
This page lists Japan Post's rules. The ShipMate GO app checks your actual item against them, asks the one or two questions a conditional rule needs, and tells you the outcome before anything is charged. Sending a parcel from Japan? Booking is free and you pay once, after weighing. Shopping from abroad with Shop for Me? Anything that can't ship is dropped from your order before you pay for the goods.
Common questions
- What can't I ship from Japan to Costa Rica?
- Japan Post's import rules for Costa Rica prohibit 16 item types, including Baby Bottles with Dual Graduation Markings; Medicines / Pharmaceuticals with Unknown Ingredients or Formulation; Fruits and Seeds (containing pathogens or parasites); Valuables; Military supplies / munitions; Blood and Blood Products; Registered ordinary mail containing valuables; Trade samples containing benzodiazepines; and 8 more. On top of these, Japan Post refuses dangerous goods such as perfume, aerosols and loose lithium batteries to every destination.
- Which items can be shipped to Costa Rica only under conditions?
- 1 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Opium. Whether a specific product qualifies depends on the item, which is what the ShipMate GO app checks before you book.
- Does an item that isn't listed here ship freely to Costa Rica?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Costa Rica; an item that isn't named has no specific rule here, but it may still fall under Japan Post's carrier-wide bans or a general category such as food or medicine. Check the exact item in the ShipMate GO app, which reads these rules live and asks the follow-up questions a conditional rule needs.