What you can't ship from Japan to New Caledonia
17 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 11 item types that cannot be sent to New Caledonia and 6 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
- 11
- Conditional
- 6
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for New Caledonia. 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
Explosive or flammable substances
Explosive or flammable substances are prohibited from shipment to New Caledonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This applies to all such materials regardless of quantity or form.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Prohibited
Saccharin and Similar Substances
Saccharin and similar substances are prohibited from being shipped to New Caledonia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Items addressed to pharmacists are exempt from this prohibition.
Details and exceptions
- addressed to a pharmacist → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Prohibited
White Phosphorus Matches
White phosphorus matches are prohibited from shipment to New Caledonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies regardless of quantity or packaging.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
- Conditional
Chemical Products
Chemical products or extracts that are harmful to health may only be shipped to New Caledonia if prior authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination. This condition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination (New Caledonia) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities at the destination in New Caledonia
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 38
Alcohol
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Absinthe and similar alcoholic beverages
Absinthe and similar alcoholic beverages are prohibited from shipment to New Caledonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies across all standard shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Prohibited
Alcoholic beverages made from dried grapes, figs, dates, or similar fruits sold as wine
Alcoholic beverages produced from dried grapes, figs, dates, or similar fruits that are marketed or sold as wine are prohibited for shipment to New Caledonia. This prohibition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Copyright-infringing printed matter
Printed matter that infringes copyright is prohibited from shipment to New Caledonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies to any printed materials that violate copyright.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Food
1 conditional
- Conditional
Animal products
Products derived from animals are conditionally permitted for import into New Caledonia. Shipment is allowed only when the relevant authorities at the destination have granted prior approval.
Conditions and documents
- Prior permission obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination → permitted
Documents: Permission from the relevant authorities at the destination (New Caledonia)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
Plants & animals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Plants
Plants are conditionally permitted for shipment to New Caledonia. Importation is allowed only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Tobacco
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Tobacco
The mailing of tobacco is not permitted to New Caledonia. This prohibition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
Weapons
1 conditional
- Conditional
Weapons and Ammunition
Firearms, explosives, and ammunition are not permitted unless addressed to the local police. Air-compressed guns (excluding children's toy guns) are conditionally permitted only with prior authorization from the relevant local authorities at the destination.
Conditions and documents
- Firearms, explosives, and ammunition addressed to the local police at destination → permitted
- Air-compressed guns (excluding children's toy guns) with prior authorization from the relevant local authorities at the destination → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant local authorities at the destination (required for air-compressed guns)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Other items
4 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public order and morals
Articles that are contrary to public order and morals are prohibited from being shipped to New Caledonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This applies across all listed shipping types.
- Prohibited
Generally prohibited import items (with customs pre-authorization exception)
Items that are otherwise prohibited from import into New Caledonia may be sent via regular mail if advance permission has been obtained from the local customs authority (Direction Générale des Douanes). Without such prior authorization, these items remain prohibited for shipment by regular mail.
Details and exceptions
- Advance permission obtained from the customs authority of New Caledonia (Direction Générale des Douanes) → permitted
Documents: Prior authorization from New Caledonia customs authority (Direction Générale des Douanes)
- Prohibited
Goods with false or misleading labeling
Goods bearing false statements regarding their place of manufacture, manufacturer, or other particulars are prohibited from shipment to New Caledonia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers any product whose labeling misrepresents its origin, producer, or related information.
- Prohibited
Weighing scales and measuring rulers using non-decimal unit systems
Weighing scales and measuring rulers that use non-decimal unit systems are prohibited from being shipped to New Caledonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. Only instruments based on non-decimal units of measurement are covered by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 90
- Conditional
Film, Records, and Flexi Discs
Films, records, and flexi discs (sonosheets) may only be shipped to New Caledonia if the sender or recipient has obtained prior authorization from the relevant authorities at the destination. Shipment without such permission is not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination (New Caledonia) → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities at the destination
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
- Conditional
Machinery and apparatus (usable for coin minting)
Machinery and apparatus that could be used for coin minting are conditionally permitted to New Caledonia. Shipment is allowed only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities at the destination → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities at the destination (New Caledonia)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 84
Applies to every destination, including New Caledonia
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 New Caledonia?
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 New Caledonia?
- Japan Post's import rules for New Caledonia prohibit 11 item types, including Goods with false or misleading labeling; Saccharin and Similar Substances; Weighing scales and measuring rulers using non-decimal unit systems; Generally prohibited import items (with customs pre-authorization exception); Copyright-infringing printed matter; White Phosphorus Matches; Articles contrary to public order and morals; Absinthe and similar alcoholic beverages; and 3 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 New Caledonia only under conditions?
- 6 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Film, Records, and Flexi Discs; Chemical Products; Machinery and apparatus (usable for coin minting); Plants; Animal products; Weapons and Ammunition. 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 New Caledonia?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for New Caledonia; 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.