What you can't ship from Japan to Côte d'Ivoire
30 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 17 item types that cannot be sent to Côte d'Ivoire and 13 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 July 25, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 17
- Conditional
- 13
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Côte d'Ivoire. 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.
Weapons
4 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Ammunition
Ammunition, including propellant powder for firearms, is prohibited for shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition covers gunpowder and propellant charges used in firearms cartridges.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Prohibited
Ammunition and Matches
Charged metallic percussion caps and cartridge cases for portable firearms, non-explosive artillery fuze components, and matches are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Swords and bladed weapons
Swords and bladed weapons are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular, parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Prohibited
War Materials
War materials and similar items are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular, parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers war materials and articles similar to them.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Firearms and related items
Firearms, cartridges, gunpowder, and substances used in the manufacture of gunpowder are permitted only if authorization has been obtained from the government of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the government of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Alcohol
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Alcoholic beverages (specific prohibited categories)
Certain categories of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via all services, including aperitifs and digestifs containing alcohol, alcoholic beverages containing alcohols other than ethyl alcohol, beverages containing narcotics or harmful substances, absinthe and similar spirits, beverages with 60% or more alcohol content, mint liqueurs prohibited under local law, and extracts used in alcohol production.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Alcohol
Alcohol may only be shipped to Côte d'Ivoire if the sender or recipient has obtained authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Shipment is conditional on holding such permission.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Distilled spirits
Distilled spirits may only be shipped to Côte d'Ivoire if authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country. This restriction applies to Regular, Parcel, and EMS shipments.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Chemicals
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Butane Gas Lighters
Lighters that use butane gas are prohibited for shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular, parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies specifically to butane-fueled lighters.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 96
- Prohibited
Explosives and Similar Dangerous Substances
Substances that are explosive, flammable/ignitable, or otherwise dangerous are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers any material possessing explosive, incendiary, or hazardous properties.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Saccharin
Saccharin is conditionally permitted for shipment to Côte d'Ivoire only when consigned to a pharmacist or beverage manufacturer in the destination country and accompanied by authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Consigned to a pharmacist or beverage manufacturer in the destination country AND authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of Côte d'Ivoire
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Currency & valuables
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Items easily mistaken for currency
Items that closely resemble or could be mistaken for currency are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This restriction applies across all standard shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing valuables
Registered ordinary mail items that contain 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 Côte d'Ivoire via regular mail. No such items may be enclosed within registered ordinary mail pieces.
- Prohibited
Valuables (coins, banknotes, gold, and similar precious items)
Coins, banknotes, gold, and similar valuables are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular and parcel services. This restriction applies to all such precious items regardless of form or quantity.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Publications prohibited by the laws of the destination country
Newspapers, magazines, and other publications that are prohibited under the laws of Côte d'Ivoire may not be sent via regular mail, parcel, or EMS. Only publications specifically banned by Ivorian legislation are restricted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Printed matter (Arabic-language)
Printed matter in the Arabic language is subject to inspection by the relevant authorities of Côte d'Ivoire, and may be confiscated or returned depending on the outcome. Shipment is conditionally accepted under this scrutiny.
Conditions and documents
- Printed matter is in the Arabic language → Subject to inspection by relevant authorities of Côte d'Ivoire; may be confiscated or returned depending on the result
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Food
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Canned fish (boxes exceeding 1 kilogram)
Boxes of canned fish exceeding 1 kilogram in weight are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Shipments at or under 1 kilogram are not covered by this prohibition.
Details and exceptions
- Box of canned fish weighs more than 1 kilogram → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 16
- Conditional
Beverage extracts
Beverage extracts may only be shipped to Côte d'Ivoire if the relevant authorities in the destination country have granted permission. Shipment is conditional on obtaining that prior authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Prior authorization obtained from the relevant authorities in the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
Medicine & supplements
1 conditional
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics — including opium, morphine, and cocaine — are permitted only when sent to a public authority in Côte d'Ivoire for medical or scientific purposes and when the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted authorization. All other shipments of narcotics are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Sent to a public authority in the destination country for medical or scientific purposes AND prior authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of Côte d'Ivoire
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Plants & animals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Plants (seedlings of specified species)
Seedlings of banana, coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, and cotton may only be shipped to Côte d'Ivoire with prior authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country. No other conditions are stated in the source.
Conditions and documents
- Seedlings of banana, coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, or cotton with authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Other items
5 prohibited · 5 conditional
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public order and morals
Articles contrary to public order and morals are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition applies to any goods deemed offensive to public decency or social order.
- Prohibited
Instruments and equipment for manufacturing currency
Equipment used for manufacturing currency — including coin minting machines, coining presses, drops, and hammers — is prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular post, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies across all listed shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Prohibited
Rough diamonds
Rough (uncut) diamonds are prohibited from being shipped to Côte d'Ivoire via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This restriction applies to unprocessed diamond stones in their raw form.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Prohibited
Trademark-counterfeit articles and goods bearing prohibited marks
Articles bearing a red cross emblem on a white background as a trademark, goods whose trademark includes the words 'Croix Rouge' (Red Cross) or 'Croix de Geneve' (Geneva Cross), and foreign-made goods falsely marked as manufactured in Côte d'Ivoire are prohibited from shipment. This prohibition applies across all shipping services.
- Prohibited
Weighing scales and measuring instruments using non-decimal unit systems
Weighing scales and measuring rulers/sticks that use non-decimal (non-metric) unit systems are prohibited from shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies across all three applicable shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 90
- Conditional
Artificial mineral water
Artificial mineral water is conditionally permitted for shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. It must be packed in bottles or siphons and the container must bear the label 'eaux artificielles' (meaning 'artificial water') in a manner that cannot be easily erased.
Conditions and documents
- Packed in bottles or siphons AND container bears the label 'eaux artificielles' in a manner that cannot be easily erased → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Distillation apparatus
Distillation apparatus may only be shipped to Côte d'Ivoire if the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted permission. This condition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Conditions and documents
- Permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire) → permitted
Documents: Authorization/permission from the relevant authorities of Côte d'Ivoire
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Conditional
Gold (excluding gold jewellery for personal use of the addressee)
Gold is permitted for import into Côte d'Ivoire only with authorisation from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Gold jewellery intended for the personal use of the addressee is exempt from this requirement.
Conditions and documents
- Gold jewellery for the personal use of the addressee → permitted
- All other gold; authorisation obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorisation from the relevant authorities of Côte d'Ivoire
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Conditional
Mineral water
Natural mineral water may only be shipped to Côte d'Ivoire if the sender or shipment has obtained authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country. This condition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS services.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Conditional
Phonograph Records
Phonograph records are conditionally permitted for shipment to Côte d'Ivoire via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. They are allowed only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Côte d'Ivoire)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
Applies to every destination, including Côte d'Ivoire
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 Côte d'Ivoire?
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 Côte d'Ivoire?
- Japan Post's import rules for Côte d'Ivoire prohibit 17 item types, including Rough diamonds; Weighing scales and measuring instruments using non-decimal unit systems; Butane Gas Lighters; Items easily mistaken for currency; Instruments and equipment for manufacturing currency; Valuables (coins, banknotes, gold, and similar precious items); Canned fish (boxes exceeding 1 kilogram); Articles contrary to public order and morals; and 9 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 Côte d'Ivoire only under conditions?
- 13 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Alcohol; Beverage extracts; Gold (excluding gold jewellery for personal use of the addressee); Mineral water; Saccharin; Distillation apparatus; Phonograph Records; Printed matter (Arabic-language); and 5 more. 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 Côte d'Ivoire?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Côte d'Ivoire; 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.