What you can't ship from Japan to Malaysia
25 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 17 item types that cannot be sent to Malaysia 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 August 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 17
- Conditional
- 8
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Malaysia. 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
3 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Analytical substances / materials for analysis testing
Substances intended for analytical testing purposes are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies to analytical test materials as a category.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 38
- Prohibited
Butane gas lighters and refill gas canisters
Gas lighters that use butane gas and butane gas refill canisters are prohibited from being shipped to Malaysia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. Both the lighters themselves and the refill containers are covered by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Radioactive Materials
Radioactive materials are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are noted in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
- Conditional
Poisons / Toxic Substances
Poisons and toxic substances may be shipped to Malaysia only if they do not violate the laws and regulations of the destination country. Shipments that contravene Malaysian law are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Does not violate the laws and regulations of the destination country (Malaysia) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 28
Currency & valuables
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Banknotes (Paper Currency)
Banknotes (paper currency) are prohibited from being shipped to Malaysia via parcel. This restriction applies regardless of the currency or denomination.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Coins, Bank Notes, Currency, Traveler's Checks
Coins, bank notes, paper currency, and traveler's checks are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via regular shipping. These items may not be included in regular mail or parcels destined for Malaysia.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Counterfeit or Forged Currency
Counterfeit or forged currency is prohibited from being shipped to Malaysia via parcel. This applies to any falsified or altered monetary coins or banknotes.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Plants & animals
3 conditional
- Conditional
Live animals
Live animals are conditionally permitted to Malaysia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Only the following specific types are allowed: insects, snails, mice/rats, bees, leeches, and silkworms — and only when packed in a box designed to prevent any danger or damage to other mail items and to allow inspection of the contents.
Conditions and documents
- Packed in a box designed to prevent any danger and damage to other mail items, and to allow inspection of contents → permitted
- Animal type is insects, snails, mice/rats, bees, leeches, or silkworms → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Parasites (pest control organisms)
Parasites and predatory insects used for pest control may only be shipped between approved/authorized facilities, and only when packaged and sent as samples in accordance with the conditions specified for bees, leeches, and silkworms. Harmful soil, animals and plants, live rats and snails, and cultures of organisms capable of inducing plant diseases are subject to restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Pest control parasites and predatory insects exchanged between approved/authorized facilities, packaged and sent as samples in accordance with conditions specified for bees, leeches, and silkworms → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Plants
Shipping plants to Malaysia may require an export inspection by a plant protection station and an import permit from the destination country. Rice is additionally subject to a prior notification requirement to the regional agricultural policy bureau, except when sent non-commercially for personal use.
Conditions and documents
- Export inspection by plant protection station completed and import permit from destination country obtained (where required) → permitted
- Rice sent non-commercially for personal use → permitted without prior notification to regional agricultural policy bureau
- Rice sent for purposes other than non-commercial personal use → prior notification to regional agricultural policy bureau required
Documents: Export inspection certificate from plant protection station (植物防疫所による輸出検査証明); Import permit from destination country's plant protection authority (名宛国の輸入許可証); Prior notification to regional agricultural policy bureau (地方農政局等への届出) — for rice shipped other than non-commercially for personal use
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Medicine & supplements
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Circulars and advertisements relating to medicines
Circulars and advertisements relating to medicines used for treating illness or physical, mental, psychological, or sexual deficiencies are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via Regular and EMS services. This prohibition covers printed or written promotional and informational materials for such pharmaceutical products.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Narcotics and Syringes
Narcotics, psychotropic substances, and hypodermic syringes are conditionally permitted for shipment to Malaysia only when authorization has been obtained from the Director General of Medical Services of the destination country. This applies solely to items dispatched for medical or scientific purposes.
Conditions and documents
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances dispatched for medical or scientific purposes, with authorization from the Director General of Medical Services of Malaysia → permitted
- Hypodermic syringes, with authorization from the Director General of Medical Services of Malaysia → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the Director General of Medical Services of Malaysia
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Food
1 conditional
- Conditional
Condensed Milk and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
Condensed milk and non-nutritive sweeteners are conditionally permitted for shipment to Malaysia, but only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant Malaysian authorities under the Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance. Shipments without such authorization are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant Malaysian authorities under the Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant Malaysian authorities under the Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
Weapons
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Weapons
Weapons and their parts are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This includes daggers, switchblades, fishing guns and spears, firearms, and their components.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Other items
9 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Advertisements for amulets / lucky charms
Advertisements for amulets or lucky charms are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No conditions or exceptions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public order and morality
Books, paintings, photographs, card games, and other articles that are contrary to public order and morality are prohibited from being shipped to Malaysia. This also includes any articles bearing inscriptions, seals, or designs that are contrary to public order and morality.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Articles in violation of law (trademark or copyright infringement)
Goods that infringe Malaysia's trademark law or copyright law are prohibited from shipment via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers any articles whose import or distribution would constitute a violation of Malaysian trademark or copyright legislation.
- Prohibited
Articles relating to football match outcome predictions
Advertisements, documents, and other articles issued by foreign promoters relating to predicting the outcomes of football matches are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia. This prohibition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Dangerous articles
Articles that, by their nature or packaging, are liable to endanger postal workers or contaminate or damage other mail items are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia. This applies across all shipping types including regular mail, parcels, and EMS.
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and gambling-related articles
Lottery tickets and articles related to gambling are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers lottery tickets as well as any items associated with gambling activities.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Prohibited
Mail bearing markings that could be mistaken for official Malaysian postal items, or markings likely to embarrass Malaysian officials
Mail items bearing inscriptions that could cause them to be mistaken for official Malaysian postal items, or that contain markings likely to embarrass Malaysian postal officials, are prohibited. This applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS services.
- Prohibited
Postage Stamps and Revenue Stamps
Counterfeit postage stamps, used postage stamps, unused postage stamps, and revenue stamps are prohibited from being sent to Malaysia by parcel. All categories of postal stamps and revenue stamps — regardless of condition or authenticity — are banned.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Unclean or harmful articles
Unclean or harmful articles are prohibited from shipment to Malaysia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction covers any items considered unsanitary or hazardous in nature.
- Conditional
Electrical equipment
Electrical equipment and their parts/components may only be shipped to Malaysia if accompanied by an import permit issued by the Jabatan Telekomunikasi (Telecommunications Department). Shipments without this permit are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Import permit from the Telecommunications Department (電気通信局) is attached → permitted
Documents: Import permit issued by the Telecommunications Department (電気通信局 / Jabatan Telekomunikasi)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
- Conditional
Valuables (coins, precious metals, gems, and other valuables)
Coins not exceeding MYR 3,000 in value, platinum, gold, or silver (worked or unworked), pearls, gemstones, and other valuables may only be sent to Malaysia by parcel post if shipped as insured parcels. The parcel packaging must be a sturdy box with a minimum combined measurement of 1 metre across all three dimensions.
Conditions and documents
- Value of coins does not exceed MYR 3,000 → permitted when sent as an insured parcel
- Shipped as an insured parcel with sturdy box packaging where the sum of all three dimensions is at least 1 metre → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Applies to every destination, including Malaysia
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 Malaysia?
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 Malaysia?
- Japan Post's import rules for Malaysia prohibit 17 item types, including Articles relating to football match outcome predictions; Mail bearing markings that could be mistaken for official Malaysian postal items, or markings likely to embarrass Malaysian officials; Butane gas lighters and refill gas canisters; Circulars and advertisements relating to medicines; Counterfeit or Forged Currency; Dangerous articles; Articles contrary to public order and morality; Banknotes (Paper Currency); 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 Malaysia only under conditions?
- 8 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Parasites (pest control organisms); Valuables (coins, precious metals, gems, and other valuables); Plants; Live animals; Electrical equipment; Poisons / Toxic Substances; Narcotics and Syringes; Condensed Milk and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners. 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 Malaysia?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Malaysia; 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.