What you can't ship from Japan to Kenya
27 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 19 item types that cannot be sent to Kenya and 8 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 October 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 19
- Conditional
- 8
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Kenya. 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 prohibited
- Prohibited
Flammable liquids
Liquids with a flash point below 32.2°C are prohibited, as are liquids with a flash point of 32.2°C or above but below 65.5°C when the volume is 1 litre or more.
Details and exceptions
- Flash point below 32.2°C → prohibited
- Flash point 32.2°C or above and below 65.5°C, and volume is 1 litre or more → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 27
- Prohibited
Matches
Matches are prohibited from being sent to Kenya via Parcel and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Radioactive substances and articles containing radioactive substances
Radioactive substances and any articles that incorporate radioactive substances are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via parcel or EMS. This prohibition applies to both the raw materials and finished goods containing them.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
- Prohibited
Radioactive substances and products containing radioactive substances
Radioactive substances and products made using radioactive substances are prohibited from shipment to Kenya via Regular and EMS services. This applies to both the raw materials and any items incorporating radioactive material.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
Currency & valuables
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Banknotes and Securities
Banknotes, paper currency, traveler's checks, and other negotiable securities are prohibited from shipment to Kenya via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Coins (issued by countries other than Kenya)
Coins issued by countries other than the destination country (Kenya) are prohibited for shipment via regular mail to Kenya. This restriction applies to foreign coins regardless of denomination or origin.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Prohibited
Currency (counterfeit/altered and genuine)
Both counterfeit or altered currency and genuine (non-counterfeit, non-altered) currency are prohibited from being sent to Kenya via parcel or EMS. Shipments of currency in any form — whether fraudulent or authentic — are not permitted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Weapons
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Cartridges, Explosives, and Related Ordnance
Explosives, cartridges, and firearms-related explosive devices are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via Parcel and EMS services. This prohibition covers explosive charges, propellant cartridges, and ordnance intended for use in firearms or other weapons.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Weapons and Ammunition
Weapons and ammunition, including firearms, bullets, and other deadly weapons, are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via Regular mail and EMS. This covers guns, ammunition, and all other lethal weapons.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Prohibited
Weapons and Related Items
Ammunition for firearms and other articles deemed to be deadly weapons are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via parcel or EMS. This covers bullets and cartridges as well as any other items classified as dangerous weapons.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Food
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Beverages and foodstuffs hazardous to health
Beverages and foodstuffs that are hazardous to health are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via Parcel and EMS. No conditional exceptions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Prohibited
Condensed milk (fat content 9% or less, excluding added fat)
Condensed milk with a fat content of 9% or less (excluding added fat) is prohibited from being sent to Kenya via parcel or EMS. This restriction applies regardless of quantity or packaging.
Details and exceptions
- fat content (excluding added fat) is 9% or less → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
Alcohol
1 conditional
- Conditional
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages are conditionally permitted for import into Kenya via parcel or EMS. Shipment is allowed only when accompanied by a certificate confirming that the beverage has been fermented in wooden containers for a period of at least three years.
Conditions and documents
- Certificate attached confirming the beverage was fermented in wooden containers for a period of at least three years → permitted
Documents: Certificate confirming that the alcoholic beverage has been fermented in wooden containers for a period of at least three years
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Books & printed matter
1 conditional
- Conditional
Publications
Publications relating to sexual matters are conditionally permitted for import into Kenya via parcel or EMS, but only with prior authorization from the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. All other publications are unrestricted under this rule.
Conditions and documents
- Publication relates to sexual matters AND authorization has been obtained from the Commissioner of Customs and Excise of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Kenya
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Plants & animals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Plants
Plants are conditionally permitted for shipment to Kenya by parcel or EMS. Importation is allowed only when the sender or recipient has obtained prior authorization from Kenya's Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from Kenya's Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Other items
7 prohibited · 5 conditional
- Prohibited
Articles bearing the coat of arms (or a close imitation thereof) without authorization from the destination country
Items displaying Kenya's coat of arms or a closely similar imitation are prohibited unless authorization has been obtained from the destination country. This applies to both Parcel and EMS shipments.
- Prohibited
Brushes
Brushes are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via Parcel and EMS services. No further details or conditions are specified in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 96
- Prohibited
Counterfeit Postage Stamps and Counterfeit Postage Meter Impressions
Counterfeit postage stamps and counterfeit impressions from postage meters of the destination country (Kenya) are prohibited from being sent via Parcel and EMS. This applies to any falsified postal payment instruments bearing fraudulent reproductions of Kenyan postal charges.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Counterfeit Postage Stamps and Counterfeit Postage Meter Impressions
Counterfeit postage stamps and counterfeit impressions from postage meters of the destination country (Kenya) are prohibited from shipment via Regular and EMS mail. These items may not be included in any postal items sent to Kenya.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Counterfeit trademarks and false markings
Goods bearing false markings that violate trademark registration rules, or goods affixed with false indications regarding manufacturing rights or quality, are prohibited from shipment to Kenya via Parcel and EMS. This covers any article carrying a counterfeit trademark, fraudulent origin claim, or deceptive quality representation.
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and related obscene materials
Documents related to lotteries, as well as obscene publications, artwork, drawings, and photographs are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via Parcel or EMS. This applies to both lottery-related written materials and any obscene printed or visual content.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Used clothing and similar articles
Used clothing, bedding, and similar articles, as well as textiles and fabrics, are prohibited from being shipped to Kenya via Parcel and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 63
- Conditional
Badges (Scout insignia)
Items displaying Boy Scout or Girl Scout badges are conditionally permitted; shipment requires prior authorization from the Director-General of the respective Scout association. No other badge types are addressed by this restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Item displays Boy Scout badge and authorization has been obtained from the Director-General of the Boy Scout Association → permitted
- Item displays Girl Scout badge and authorization has been obtained from the Director-General of the Girl Scout Association → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Director-General of the Boy Scout Association (for items displaying Boy Scout badges); Authorization from the Director-General of the Girl Scout Association (for items displaying Girl Scout badges)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 62
- Conditional
Bullion, precious metals, gemstones, and other valuables
Bullion, precious metals, gemstones, pearls, and other valuables valued at not more than 100 shillings are permitted in parcels to Kenya, but only when sent as insured parcels.
Conditions and documents
- Value does not exceed 100 shillings AND shipped as an insured parcel → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Conditional
Postage meter / franking machine
Postage meters (franking machines) may only be sent to Kenya if the Postmaster General of the destination country has granted permission. Shipment is conditional on obtaining that authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Permission granted by the Postmaster General of Kenya → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Conditional
Traps (animal traps)
Traps designed to capture livestock or game animals are conditionally permitted for import into Kenya. Permission from the Chief Game Warden is required.
Conditions and documents
- Traps intended for capturing livestock/game animals with permission from the Chief Game Warden → permitted
Documents: Permission from the Chief Game Warden (Kenya)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 73
- Conditional
Uniforms
Uniforms that could be mistaken for military or government agency uniforms are only permitted when prior authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities in Kenya.
Conditions and documents
- Uniform could be mistaken for military or government agency uniform → permitted only with authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of Kenya
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 62
Applies to every destination, including Kenya
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 Kenya?
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 Kenya?
- Japan Post's import rules for Kenya prohibit 19 item types, including Counterfeit trademarks and false markings; Brushes; Matches; Articles bearing the coat of arms (or a close imitation thereof) without authorization from the destination country; Beverages and foodstuffs hazardous to health; Flammable liquids; Currency (counterfeit/altered and genuine); Banknotes and Securities; and 11 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 Kenya only under conditions?
- 8 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Traps (animal traps); Bullion, precious metals, gemstones, and other valuables; Badges (Scout insignia); Alcoholic Beverages; Publications; Plants; Uniforms; Postage meter / franking machine. 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 Kenya?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Kenya; 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.