What you can't ship from Japan to North Macedonia
26 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 16 item types that cannot be sent to North Macedonia and 9 that can be sent only under conditions and 1 need a manual review. 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
- 16
- Conditional
- 9
- Needs review
- 1
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for North Macedonia. 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.
Medicine & supplements
1 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Abortifacients
Abortifacients (drugs used to induce abortion) are prohibited from shipment to North Macedonia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition applies to pharmaceutical substances intended for terminating pregnancy.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Medical devices / medical instruments
Medical devices and medical instruments may only be shipped to North Macedonia if prior authorization has been obtained from the relevant administrative authority of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the administrative authority of the destination country (North Macedonia) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 90
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics including opium, morphine, and cocaine are only permitted when sent to an officially recognized institution in the destination country for medical or scientific purposes.
Conditions and documents
- Sent to an officially recognized institution in the destination country for medical or scientific purposes → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Pharmaceutical products / Medicines
Medicines and pharmaceutical products are conditionally permitted to Macedonia (MKD): they are allowed only if authorized by the relevant authorities of the destination country, or if sent to an officially recognized institution for research purposes. However, this restriction does not apply to human serums, veterinary vaccines, or treatments for liver fluke disease.
Conditions and documents
- Authorized by the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
- Sent to an officially recognized institution in the destination country for research purposes → permitted
- Item is human serum, veterinary vaccine, or treatment for liver fluke disease → restriction does not apply (permitted)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Food
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Coffee (exceeding 5 kg per postal item addressed to an individual)
Coffee is prohibited when a single postal item addressed to an individual contains more than 5 kilograms. Shipments of 5 kg or less per individual-addressed item are not covered by this prohibition.
Details and exceptions
- coffee per postal item addressed to an individual exceeds 5 kg → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 09
- Prohibited
Foodstuffs containing 0.035% or more sulfuric acid
Foodstuffs with a sulfuric acid content of 0.035% or more are prohibited from shipment to Macedonia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition applies regardless of the type of food product involved.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Prohibited
Yeast containing harmful substances or ineffective yeast
Yeast that contains harmful substances such as gypsum, chalk, or saccharin, as well as yeast that is no longer active or effective, is prohibited from shipment to Macedonia. This applies across regular, parcel, and EMS shipping services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
Alcohol
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Alcoholic beverages containing sulfuric acid
Alcoholic beverages that contain sulfuric acid are prohibited from shipment to Macedonia (MKD) via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition applies regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Prohibited
Essences for artificial alcoholic beverage production
Essences intended for the artificial manufacture of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from shipment to Macedonia (MKD) via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition applies to flavoring or compounding essences used in producing artificial spirits or liquors.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 33
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Printed matter (for distribution)
Sending printed matter intended for distribution (whether paid or free) to Macedonia is prohibited. The only two entities permitted to receive such printed matter in the destination country are the two specified booksellers in Beograd.
Details and exceptions
- Recipient is Jugoslovenska Kniga, Beograd → permitted
- Recipient is Gradsko preduzece za rasturanje stampeu Beogradu, Beograd → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Maps
Maps are conditionally permitted for shipment to Macedonia (MKD) via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. They are only allowed when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Macedonia) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Currency (Macedonian)
Currency of the destination country (Macedonia) is prohibited from being sent by parcel. This restriction applies to Macedonian currency specifically.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Metal tokens resembling coins of the destination country
Metal tokens that closely resemble the coins of Macedonia are prohibited from being shipped via Regular and EMS services. Items that imitate or are nearly identical in appearance to Macedonian currency coins are not permitted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 83
Plants & animals
1 prohibited · 1 need review
- Prohibited
Silkworm eggs (silkworm seed)
Silkworm eggs are prohibited from being shipped to Macedonia (MKD) via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Needs review
Plants
Plants shipped to Macedonia (MKD) may require an export inspection by a plant protection station and an import permit from the destination country. Senders are advised to consult their nearest plant protection station or the destination country's plant protection authority in advance.
Conditions and documents
- Export inspection by plant protection station required and import permit from destination country may be required → conditional — permitted subject to compliance
Documents: Export inspection certificate from plant protection station (植物防疫所による輸出検査); Import permit from destination country (名宛国の輸入許可証), where required
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Weapons
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Weapons, Ammunition
Weapons, their parts, and ammunition are prohibited from shipment to Macedonia (MKD) via regular, parcel, and EMS services. This restriction covers the complete item as well as component parts.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Hunting Rifle
Hunting rifles and their ammunition are conditionally permitted for shipment to Macedonia (MKD), provided that authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Chemicals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Toxic substances and acetic acid
Toxic substances and acetic acid are permitted for shipment to Macedonia only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Authorization from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Macedonia)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Tobacco
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Cigarette rolling paper
Cigarette rolling paper is prohibited from being shipped to Macedonia (MKD) via regular, parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies to paper intended for rolling cigarettes.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 48
Other items
4 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Goods with falsified country of origin markings
Goods bearing false or misleading country of origin markings are prohibited from being shipped to Macedonia via regular mail, parcel, and EMS. This prohibition applies across all applicable shipping types.
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and related materials from countries other than the destination country
Lottery tickets, advertisements, and other materials relating to lotteries from any country other than Macedonia are prohibited. This applies to both regular mail and EMS shipments.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Military uniforms of countries other than the destination country
Military uniforms belonging to countries other than Macedonia (MKD) are prohibited from being shipped via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This restriction applies specifically to uniforms of foreign militaries.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 62
- Prohibited
Tableware with lead content of 10% or more
Tableware containing 10% or more lead is prohibited from being shipped to Macedonia via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. Items falling below this lead content threshold are not covered by this restriction.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 69
- Conditional
Inherited goods and goods supplied under interstate contracts
Goods inherited abroad and goods supplied under contracts concluded between states are permitted for import into Macedonia only when imported in accordance with the terms of the respective inheritance or interstate contract.
Conditions and documents
- Goods inherited abroad → permitted only when imported in accordance with the inheritance
- Goods supplied under contracts concluded between states → permitted only when imported in accordance with the terms of the contract
- Conditional
Occupational articles (professional tools and equipment)
Articles intended for use in an intellectual profession (including instruments, reproductions, and parts) addressed to an individual engaged in that profession are conditionally permitted. Shipment is allowed only when specific conditions are met.
Conditions and documents
- Addressed to an individual engaged in an intellectual profession and intended for use in that profession, and special conditions are met → permitted
- Conditional
Telephone sets and telegraph apparatus
Telephone sets and wireless telegraph apparatus are conditionally permitted for shipment to Macedonia, provided that authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
Applies to every destination, including North Macedonia
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 North Macedonia?
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 North Macedonia?
- Japan Post's import rules for North Macedonia prohibit 16 item types, including Essences for artificial alcoholic beverage production; Coffee (exceeding 5 kg per postal item addressed to an individual); Printed matter (for distribution); Currency (Macedonian); Metal tokens resembling coins of the destination country; Military uniforms of countries other than the destination country; Yeast containing harmful substances or ineffective yeast; Cigarette rolling paper; and 8 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 North Macedonia only under conditions?
- 9 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Pharmaceutical products / Medicines; Occupational articles (professional tools and equipment); Inherited goods and goods supplied under interstate contracts; Maps; Telephone sets and telegraph apparatus; Toxic substances and acetic acid; Narcotics; Hunting Rifle; and 1 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 North Macedonia?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for North Macedonia; 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.