What you can't ship from Japan to Latvia
29 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 17 item types that cannot be sent to Latvia and 12 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 August 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 17
- Conditional
- 12
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Latvia. 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
6 prohibited
- Prohibited
Animal Products (milk, dairy, semen, ova, embryos, fats, fish products, infant food)
Milk and dairy products from cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, and other even-toed ungulates, as well as semen, ova, and embryos from those animals, along with fats, fish products, and infant food are prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Parcel and EMS. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
- Prohibited
Canned goods
Sending canned goods addressed to private individuals is prohibited. This restriction applies to both parcel and EMS shipments to Latvia.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 16
- Prohibited
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Parcel and EMS services. This restriction applies regardless of quantity or type.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 17
- Prohibited
Grains and Animal Feed
Grains and animal feed are prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Parcel and EMS services. This restriction covers cereals/grains as well as food intended for animals.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 10
- Prohibited
Noodles
Noodles are prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Parcel and EMS services. This restriction applies to noodle products as a category.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 19
- Prohibited
Raw meat and meat products
Sending raw meat and meat products to Latvia is prohibited. Parcels containing them will not be returned to the sender and will be disposed of according to the instructions of the competent authorities in Latvia.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
Currency & valuables
3 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Ordinary or insured parcels containing coins, banknotes, bearer securities (cheques), or foreign exchange
Ordinary and insured parcels containing coins, banknotes, bearer securities (such as cheques), or foreign exchange are not accepted for shipment to Latvia. Latvia accepts no liability for loss or damage to such postal items.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Securities and Negotiable Instruments
Currency (of Latvia or any other country), government bonds, lottery tickets, personal cheques, and other securities or negotiable instruments are prohibited from being sent to Latvia via Regular mail, Parcel, or EMS. No such instruments of monetary value may be included in any of these shipment types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Valuables
Valuables are prohibited from shipment to Latvia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This includes coins, banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, platinum, gold, silver (worked or unworked), pearls, precious stones, and other valuables.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
- Conditional
Payment instruments
Payment instruments denominated in Latvia's currency — including cheques, transfer documents, bills of exchange, letters of credit, and other payment instruments — are conditionally permitted. They are only allowed if they meet one of three specified authorization criteria.
Conditions and documents
- Authorized by the Ministry of Finance (Ministere des finances) of Latvia → permitted
- Bill of exchange issued by the foreign trade authority of Latvia → permitted
- Nominative cheques and payment orders issued by Latvian overseas institutions based on special accounts of Latvian banks and savings banks → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Books & printed matter
3 conditional
- Conditional
Newspapers and Magazines
Books, newspapers, magazines, manuscripts, and other printed matter are conditionally permitted, limited to a single copy. Copies bearing corrections, annotations, or other markings are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- limited to a single copy → permitted
- copy bears corrections, annotations, or other markings → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Scientific and Technical Publications
Publications with scientific or technical content are conditionally permitted to Latvia only when sent under band wrapper (open wrapper) from a library or trading company, and only to a library, state-owned facility, scientific organization, or trade union in the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Sent under band wrapper from a library or trading company, addressed to a library, state-owned facility, scientific organization, or trade union in Latvia → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Small printed charts / cards
Small printed charts (such as cards and sticky notes) are permitted only when no more than one copy of each type is included, and the total across all types does not exceed 10 copies.
Conditions and documents
- No more than one copy of each type, and total number of copies across all types does not exceed 10 → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Chemicals
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Blue Sulfate (Copper Sulfate)
Blue sulfate (copper sulfate) is prohibited from shipment to Latvia via regular, parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
- Prohibited
Chemical products harmful to humans and animals used for eradicating pathogens or bacteria affecting plants
Chemical products used for the eradication of pathogens or plant-affecting bacteria that are harmful to humans or animals are prohibited from being sent to Latvia by regular mail, parcel, or EMS. This prohibition applies regardless of shipping method.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 38
Medicine & supplements
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Narcotics
Narcotics, psychotropic substances, and devices for smoking opium or cannabis are prohibited from shipment to Latvia. These items are excepted only when a special permit has been granted by the competent authority (Comité permanent du contrôle des narcotiques).
Details and exceptions
- Special permit issued by the competent authority (Comité permanent du contrôle des narcotiques) of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Special permit from the competent authority (Comité permanent du contrôle des narcotiques)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Pharmaceuticals / Medicines
Pharmaceuticals and medicines are conditionally permitted to Latvia via parcel and EMS shipments, provided the shipment is accompanied by a certificate issued by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, wholesale distributor, or licensed foreign pharmaceutical manufacturer, along with required documentation containing specified details. The required documentation must include information such as the issue date, product name and guarantee, batch number and quantity, supplier and manufacturer details, country of manufacture, recipient, sale price, and the European Medicine Evaluation registration number.
Conditions and documents
- Certificate issued by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, wholesale distributor, or licensed foreign pharmaceutical manufacturer is attached, along with documentation containing: issue date, product name and guarantee, batch number and quantity, supplier information (name, address, etc.), manufacturer information, country of manufacture, recipient, sale price, and European Medicine Evaluation registration number → permitted
Documents: Certificate issued by a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, pharmaceutical wholesaler, or licensed foreign pharmaceutical manufacturer; Issue date of the pharmaceutical product; Product name and guarantee/warranty statement; Batch number and quantity of the pharmaceutical; Supplier information (name, address, etc.); Manufacturer information; Country of manufacture; Recipient details; Sale price; European Medicine Evaluation Agency registration number
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Plants & animals
2 conditional
- Conditional
Plants (including bulbs, seeds, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits, vegetables, timber, bark, etc.)
Plants and plant materials — including cultivated plants, bulbs, sowing seeds, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits (excluding pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, and dates), vegetables, timber, and bark — require a phytosanitary certificate; importation is not permitted without one. An export inspection by a plant protection station and/or an import permit from the destination country may also be required.
Conditions and documents
- Phytosanitary certificate is attached → Import permitted (conditional)
- No phytosanitary certificate → Import not permitted
- Item is pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, or dates → Phytosanitary certificate requirement does not apply
- Rice submitted non-commercially for personal use → Prior notification to regional agricultural policy bureau not required
- Rice submitted for purposes other than personal non-commercial use → Prior notification to regional agricultural policy bureau required
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate; Export inspection by plant protection station (where required); Import permit from destination country (where required); Prior notification to regional agricultural policy bureau (for rice, except personal non-commercial use)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Silkworms
Silkworms shipped to Latvia are subject to quarantine inspection upon arrival. Depending on the outcome of the quarantine, items may be returned to the sender.
Conditions and documents
- quarantine inspection passed → delivery permitted
- quarantine inspection failed → item returned to sender
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
Weapons
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Weapons and Ammunition (excluding hunting rifles)
Weapons (excluding hunting rifles), weapon parts, and ammunition are prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Parcel and EMS services. Hunting rifles are explicitly excluded from this prohibition.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Hunting Rifle
Hunting rifles are conditionally permitted for shipment to Latvia via parcel or EMS. Import is allowed only when the recipient has obtained authorization from the destination country's Ministry of Foreign Trade (Ministère du commerce extérieur).
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the destination country's Ministry of Foreign Trade (Ministère du commerce extérieur) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the destination country (Ministère du commerce extérieur)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Other items
4 prohibited · 4 conditional
- Prohibited
Harmful materials
Printed matter, printing plates, films, photographs, tapes, motion pictures, video cassettes, video discs, manuscripts, records and other sound recordings, drawings, and artworks that could cause political or economic harm to Latvia or that could be detrimental to public order or morality in Latvia are prohibited. This restriction applies across all shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Microcomputers and Related Devices
Microcomputers, peripheral devices containing any kind of information or ideas, and information transmission devices are prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers the hardware regardless of the type of information or content stored or loaded on the device.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
- Prohibited
Postage Stamps
Postage stamps (cancelled or uncancelled), unless addressed to the philatelic authority of the destination country, are prohibited from being sent to Latvia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS mail. Void cheques and currency are also covered under this prohibition.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 97
- Prohibited
Used goods (used agricultural machinery and used clothing)
Used agricultural machinery and used clothing are prohibited from being shipped to Latvia via Parcel and EMS services. Both categories of secondhand goods are subject to this prohibition.
- Conditional
Fashion design patterns / dress patterns
Fashion design patterns (dress patterns / sewing patterns) are conditionally permitted to Latvia, but only when a single copy is sent to a national institution or individual in the destination country engaged in the manufacture or sale of clothing.
Conditions and documents
- Only one copy is sent, addressed to a national institution or individual in Latvia engaged in the manufacture or sale of clothing → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Insured Letter
Insured letters sent to Latvia via regular mail may not contain any handwritten documents other than a brief description of the contents. Only minimal handwritten notation relating to the enclosed items is permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Handwritten documents included are limited to a brief description of the contents only → permitted
- Contains any handwritten documents beyond a brief description of the contents → prohibited
- Conditional
Photographs and Related Manufacturing Materials
Photographs, lead plates, films, manuscripts, paintings, molds, automatic recording discs, and their manufacturing materials are permitted only with authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Latvia). Shipment via Regular, Parcel, or EMS is allowed solely upon obtaining such approval.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Latvia) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of Latvia
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 37
- Conditional
Prints, Maps, and Sheet Music
Prints, maps, and sheet music are permitted to Latvia only in limited quantities or under limited conditions. Shipment via regular mail, parcel, and EMS is subject to this partial allowance.
Conditions and documents
- only in part / limited quantities → conditional
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Applies to every destination, including Latvia
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 Latvia?
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 Latvia?
- Japan Post's import rules for Latvia prohibit 17 item types, including Canned goods; Chewing Gum; Microcomputers and Related Devices; Noodles; Chemical products harmful to humans and animals used for eradicating pathogens or bacteria affecting plants; Valuables; Grains and Animal Feed; Raw meat and meat products; 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 Latvia only under conditions?
- 12 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Photographs and Related Manufacturing Materials; Fashion design patterns / dress patterns; Scientific and Technical Publications; Silkworms; Payment instruments; Small printed charts / cards; Newspapers and Magazines; Prints, Maps, and Sheet Music; and 4 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 Latvia?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Latvia; 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.