What you can't ship from Japan to DR Congo
22 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 6 item types that cannot be sent to DR Congo and 16 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
- 6
- Conditional
- 16
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for DR Congo. 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.
Chemicals
4 conditional
- Conditional
Dyes
Dyes such as aniline dyes are conditionally permitted, provided they are packaged in a manner that does not cause harm to handlers or mail items. Shipments that do not meet this packaging requirement are not accepted.
Conditions and documents
- Packaged so as not to cause harm to handlers or mail items → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 32
- Conditional
Fatty bodies (solid/semi-solid fats)
Fatty bodies that do not liquefy easily are conditionally permitted, provided they are packaged in a manner that prevents harm to handlers and mail items. Proper protective packaging is required.
Conditions and documents
- Fatty bodies that do not liquefy easily AND are packaged so as not to cause harm to handlers or mail items → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 15
- Conditional
Oils and easily liquefiable substances
Oils and substances that easily liquefy are conditionally permitted for shipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, provided they are packaged in a manner that prevents harm to handlers and mail items.
Conditions and documents
- Packaged so as not to cause harm to handlers or mail items → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 15
- Conditional
Potassium Nitrate
Potassium nitrate may only be shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo if the sender has obtained permission from the destination country's territorial administration (Administration de territoire). Shipment is conditional upon holding this authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Permission obtained from the destination country's territorial administration (Administration de territoire) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Administration de territoire (territorial administration) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
Medicine & supplements
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Abortifacients and Abortion Instruments
Drugs and devices intended for inducing abortion are prohibited from shipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo via regular and parcel shipping. This covers both pharmaceutical abortifacients and physical abortion instruments.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Narcotics
Insured parcels containing narcotics such as opium, morphine, or cocaine are permitted only when sent for medical or scientific purposes and authorized by the health ministry of the central government of the destination country. No other shipments of narcotics are allowed.
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes AND authorized by the health ministry of the central government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo → permitted (insured parcels only)
Documents: Authorization from the health ministry of the central government of the destination country (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Pharmaceuticals and Non-Infectious Substances
Pharmaceuticals and non-infectious substances may only be shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo if authorization has been obtained from the destination country's government medical authority. Shipments without such authorization are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the destination country's government medical authority → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the government medical authority of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Currency & valuables
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- 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 regular shipments to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the precious metals or stones are processed or unprocessed.
- Conditional
Precious Metals
Cast or ingot gold and other precious metals are permitted only with prior authorization from the destination country's Monetary Council (Conseil monétaire). Shipments without this authorization are not allowed.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the destination country's Monetary Council (Conseil monétaire) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Monetary Council (Conseil monétaire) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Food
2 conditional
- Conditional
Corn (Maize)
Shipments of corn (maize) to the Democratic Republic of the Congo are conditionally permitted, but only if prior authorization has been obtained from the central government's Ministry of Economy. No import is allowed without this advance approval.
Conditions and documents
- Prior authorization obtained from the central government's Ministry of Economy of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Prior authorization from the central government's Ministry of Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 10
- Conditional
Sweeteners (Saccharin and saccharin-containing substances)
Saccharin and substances containing saccharin are only permitted when authorization has been obtained from the destination country's central government Ministry of Economic Affairs (Ministère des Affaires économiques). No other sweeteners are addressed by this restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the central government Ministry of Economic Affairs (Ministère des Affaires économiques) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Ministère des Affaires économiques) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Plants & animals
2 conditional
- Conditional
Live plants etc. (cacao, coffee trees, sunflowers, bananas, and silkworm eggs)
Live plants and their parts of cacao, coffee trees, sunflowers, and bananas, as well as silkworm eggs, are permitted only when authorization has been obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture of the central government of the destination country. No other live plants are covered by this restriction entry.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture of the central government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture of the central government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Plant seeds
Mailpieces containing seeds or plants (excluding flower and vegetable seeds) are permitted only when accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of origin; cotton seeds additionally require an import permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministère de l'Agriculture) of the destination country's central government.
Conditions and documents
- Seeds or plants (excluding flower and vegetable seeds) accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of origin → permitted
- Cotton seeds accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, a certificate of origin, AND an import permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministère de l'Agriculture) of the DRC central government → permitted
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate (検疫証明書); Certificate of origin (原産地証明書); Import permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministère de l'Agriculture) of the DRC central government (cotton seeds only)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 12
Weapons
2 conditional
- Conditional
Matches and Ammunition
Matches, metallic percussion caps and cartridges for portable firearms, and fuse materials for cannons are permitted only when packed in sturdy boxes. Charged metallic cartridges are permitted only when filled with elastic felt of at least 6 millimetres in thickness.
Conditions and documents
- Matches, metallic percussion caps and cartridges for portable firearms, and fuse materials for cannons are packed in sturdy boxes → permitted
- Charged metallic cartridges are filled with elastic felt of at least 6 millimetres in thickness → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Weapons and Ammunition
All types of weapons and ammunition are conditionally permitted for shipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, provided the sender has obtained special authorization from the central government's Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'Intérieur). No shipment is allowed without this specific permit.
Conditions and documents
- Special authorization obtained from the central government's Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'Intérieur) of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Special permit from the Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'Intérieur) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Alcohol
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Absinthe
Alcoholic beverages containing absinthe are prohibited from being shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo via regular mail and parcel services. This applies to any alcoholic drink that includes absinthe as a component.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Newspapers and publications prohibited by the government of the destination country
Newspapers, publications, and written works whose importation is banned by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are prohibited from being shipped. This applies to both regular mail and parcel services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Other items
2 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Clothing accessories made of celluloid or cellulose nitrate
Clothing accessories manufactured using celluloid or cellulose nitrate are prohibited from shipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo via regular and parcel shipping. This prohibition applies specifically to accessories composed of these materials.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 96
- Prohibited
Gaming equipment / Game apparatus
Gaming equipment and game apparatus are prohibited from being shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo via regular and parcel shipping. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Conditional
Distillation apparatus
Distillation apparatus may only be shipped to the Democratic Republic of the Congo if prior authorization has been obtained from the central government's Ministry of Finance (Ministère des Finances). No other conditions are stated.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the central government's Ministry of Finance (Ministère des Finances) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of Finance (Ministère des Finances) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 73
- Conditional
Glassware / Glass Products
Glass products are conditionally permitted for shipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo via regular mail, provided they are packaged in a manner that prevents harm to handlers and mail items.
Conditions and documents
- Packaged in a manner that prevents harm to handlers and mail items → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 70
- Conditional
Liquids
Liquids are conditionally permitted for shipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo via regular mail, provided they are packaged in a manner that prevents harm to handlers and other mail items.
Conditions and documents
- Packaged so as not to cause harm to handlers or other mail items → permitted
Applies to every destination, including DR Congo
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 DR Congo?
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 DR Congo?
- Japan Post's import rules for DR Congo prohibit 6 item types, including Clothing accessories made of celluloid or cellulose nitrate; Absinthe; Registered ordinary mail containing valuables; Newspapers and publications prohibited by the government of the destination country; Abortifacients and Abortion Instruments; Gaming equipment / Game apparatus. 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 DR Congo only under conditions?
- 16 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Glassware / Glass Products; Live plants etc. (cacao, coffee trees, sunflowers, bananas, and silkworm eggs); Corn (Maize); Matches and Ammunition; Pharmaceuticals and Non-Infectious Substances; Liquids; Sweeteners (Saccharin and saccharin-containing substances); Precious Metals; and 8 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 DR Congo?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for DR Congo; 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.