What you can't ship from Japan to Greece
29 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 18 item types that cannot be sent to Greece and 11 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
- 18
- Conditional
- 11
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Greece. 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.
Food
2 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Meat
Meat is prohibited for shipment to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Raw meat, pork, sausages, unprocessed animal hides, wool, animal horns, hooves, other animal parts, and slaughter by-products are permitted only when accompanied by an official document issued by a competent authority certifying that trichinosis is not prevalent in the country of origin.
Details and exceptions
- Raw meat, pork, sausages, unprocessed animal hides, wool, animal horns, hooves, other animal parts, and slaughter by-products accompanied by an official document issued by a competent authority certifying that trichinosis is not prevalent in the country of origin → permitted
Documents: Official document issued by a competent authority certifying that trichinosis is not prevalent in the country of origin
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
- Prohibited
Salt
Salt is prohibited from being shipped to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No further details or conditions are specified in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 25
- Conditional
Condensed Milk
Condensed milk is conditionally permitted to Greece, provided that a label stating instructions for use in Greek is affixed to the product.
Conditions and documents
- A label stating instructions for use in Greek is affixed to the product → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
- Conditional
Meat and related animal products
Raw meat, pork, sausages, unprocessed animal hides, wool, animal horns, hooves, and slaughter by-products are conditionally permitted for shipment to Greece only when accompanied by an official document issued by a competent authority in the country of origin certifying that trichinosis (trichinellosis) is not prevalent there.
Conditions and documents
- Official document issued by a competent authority in the country of origin certifying that trichinosis is not prevalent in the country of origin is attached → permitted
Documents: Official certificate issued by a competent authority in the country of origin certifying that trichinosis (trichinellosis) is not prevalent in the country of origin
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
Tobacco
3 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Cigarette paper and tobacco
Cigarette paper and tobacco are prohibited from being shipped to Greece via Regular and EMS services. Both cigarette rolling paper and tobacco in any form are not accepted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
- Prohibited
Cigarette rolling paper and paper usable in cigarette manufacturing
Rolling paper for cigarettes and paper that can be used in the manufacture of cigarettes are prohibited from shipment to Greece via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies to all applicable shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 48
- Prohibited
Hashish and similar substances
Hashish and snuff (nasal tobacco) are prohibited from shipment to Greece via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. These items may not be sent through any of the applicable shipping channels.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
- Conditional
Tobacco (tobacco leaves for cigar manufacturing)
Tobacco leaves intended for cigar manufacturing are conditionally permitted to Greece. Importation is allowed only when authorization has been obtained from the Greek Ministry of Finance (Ministere des finances).
Conditions and documents
- Tobacco leaves for cigar manufacturing with authorization from the Greek Ministry of Finance (Ministere des finances) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Greek Ministry of Finance (Ministere des finances)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
Medicine & supplements
3 conditional
- Conditional
Medicines / Pharmaceutical Products
Medicines and pharmaceutical products are conditionally permitted for shipment to Greece, provided that the container and outer packaging clearly state the product name, the substances contained, and the name and address of the manufacturer.
Conditions and documents
- Container and outer packaging clearly state the product name, the substances contained, and the name and address of the manufacturer → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics including opium, morphine, and cocaine are conditionally permitted only when sent for medical or scientific purposes and with authorization from the Minister of Finance of the destination country (Greece). No other circumstances are permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes AND authorization obtained from the Minister of Finance of the destination country (Greece) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Minister of Finance of Greece
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Patent Medicines / Proprietary Medicines
Certain patent medicines (proprietary medicines) require authorization from the relevant authorities of Greece before import is permitted. Not all patent medicines are restricted, but some are subject to this conditional approval requirement.
Conditions and documents
- certain patent medicines requiring authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted only with authorization
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Weapons
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Ammunition and Matches
Primed metallic cartridges and casings for portable firearms, non-explosive artillery fuze components, and matches are prohibited from shipment to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. These items are not permitted in any form under the applicable shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Weapons
Weapons are prohibited for shipment to Greece. As an exception, hunting weapons intended for sale may be permitted only if the recipient has obtained authorization from the police authorities of the destination country.
Details and exceptions
- Hunting weapons intended for sale, where the recipient has obtained authorization from the police authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the police authorities of the destination country (Greece)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Weapons
Hunting weapons intended for sale are conditionally permitted to Greece, provided the recipient holds authorization from the police authorities of the destination country. No other weapons are addressed by this entry.
Conditions and documents
- Hunting weapons intended for sale, and the recipient holds authorization from the police authorities of Greece → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the police authorities of the destination country (Greece), held by the recipient
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Chemicals
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Fireworks
Fireworks are prohibited from being shipped to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Saccharin
Saccharin is prohibited from shipment to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Registered letters containing banknotes and traveler's checks
Registered letters that contain banknotes or traveler's checks are prohibited for shipment to Greece via regular mail. This restriction applies to registered letter services carrying such monetary instruments.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Valuables
Valuables including coins, platinum, gold, silver, gemstones, pearls, and other precious items are prohibited for regular shipping to Greece. This restriction covers all such precious items sent via standard postal or courier services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Printed matter offensive to public order
Printed materials that are offensive to public order are prohibited from being shipped to Greece via Regular and EMS services. This restriction applies to all such printed matter regardless of format.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Plants & animals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Plants
A wide range of plants and plant products — including plants for cultivation, bulbs, seeds for sowing, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits (excluding pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, and date palm), vegetables, timber, and bark — require a phytosanitary certificate to enter Greece; importation is not permitted without one. An export inspection by the plant protection authority and an import permit from the destination country may also be required under applicable plant protection law.
Conditions and documents
- Phytosanitary certificate is attached → Import permitted
- No phytosanitary certificate → Import not permitted
- Required under plant protection law: export inspection by plant protection authority and/or import permit from destination country → Export inspection and/or import permit may be required before shipment
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate (植物検疫証明書); Export inspection certificate from plant protection authority (植物防疫所による輸出検査証明) — where required; Import permit from destination country (名宛国の輸入許可証) — where required
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Other items
6 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Aluminum (sheet form)
Sheet aluminum is prohibited from shipment to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Only the plate/sheet form of aluminum is covered by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 76
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public order and morals
Articles contrary to public order and morals are prohibited from being shipped to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No further detail on specific items is provided in the source.
- Prohibited
Karuta (Japanese Playing Cards)
Karuta (Japanese playing cards) are prohibited from being shipped to Greece via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and lottery-related documents
Lottery tickets and any documents related to lotteries are prohibited from being shipped to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers both the tickets themselves and associated paperwork.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Perishable and Putrefied Goods
Goods that have already putrefied or decomposed, as well as goods that are liable to putrefy or perish, are prohibited from shipment to Greece via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services.
- Prohibited
Watermarked paper
Watermarked paper is prohibited for shipment to Greece via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This restriction applies to paper containing watermarks.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 48
- Conditional
Paper (≤60 g/m²)
Paper with a weight of 60 grams or less per square meter is conditionally permitted, but only when authorization has been obtained from the destination country's national chemical laboratory. No other paper weights or types are addressed by this restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Paper weighing 60 g/m² or less per square meter → Permitted only with authorization from the destination country's national chemical laboratory
Documents: Authorization from the national chemical laboratory of Greece
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 48
- Conditional
Securities / Wireless Telegraph Equipment and Portable Wireless Telephones
Securities, wireless telegraph equipment, and portable wireless telephones may only be sent to Greece if the relevant authorities of the destination country have granted permission. Shipment is conditional on obtaining such authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Prior permission obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Greece) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of Greece
- Conditional
Used goods (clothing, bedding, apparel, footwear, bags, and waste paper)
Used clothing, bedding, apparel, footwear, bags, and waste paper are conditionally permitted to Greece only when intended purely for personal use and accompanied by a certificate of disinfection.
Conditions and documents
- Intended purely for personal use AND accompanied by a certificate of disinfection → permitted
Documents: Certificate of disinfection
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 63
Applies to every destination, including Greece
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 Greece?
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 Greece?
- Japan Post's import rules for Greece prohibit 18 item types, including Aluminum (sheet form); Saccharin; Cigarette rolling paper and paper usable in cigarette manufacturing; Cigarette paper and tobacco; Hashish and similar substances; Printed matter offensive to public order; Valuables; Articles contrary to public order and morals; and 10 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 Greece only under conditions?
- 11 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Tobacco (tobacco leaves for cigar manufacturing); Medicines / Pharmaceutical Products; Paper (≤60 g/m²); Plants; Used goods (clothing, bedding, apparel, footwear, bags, and waste paper); Patent Medicines / Proprietary Medicines; Meat and related animal products; Weapons; and 3 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 Greece?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Greece; 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.