What you can't ship from Japan to Pitcairn Islands
7 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 2 item types that cannot be sent to Pitcairn Islands and 5 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
- 2
- Conditional
- 5
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Pitcairn Islands. 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.
Plants & animals
2 conditional
- Conditional
Animals
Animals may only be shipped to Pitcairn if the sender holds a permit issued by the Council of the destination. Shipment is conditional upon possession of this permit.
Conditions and documents
- Permit issued by the Council of the destination (Pitcairn Council) is held → permitted
Documents: Permit issued by the Council of Pitcairn
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Plants
Plants may be shipped to Pitcairn conditionally: tropical plants require a permit issued by the Island Council, while non-tropical plants require a certificate from the relevant authority in the origin country confirming the plants are free from disease and pests.
Conditions and documents
- Tropical plants with a permit issued by the Island Council of Pitcairn → permitted
- Non-tropical plants with a certificate from the relevant authority in the country of origin confirming the plants are free from disease and pests → permitted
Documents: Permit issued by the Island Council (for tropical plants); Certificate from the relevant authority in the country of origin confirming the plants are free from disease and pests (for non-tropical plants)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Alcohol
1 conditional
- Conditional
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages are permitted to Pitcairn only when accompanied by a licence issued by the Governor of the destination. Shipment via regular and parcel services is subject to this condition.
Conditions and documents
- licence issued by the Governor of the destination (Pitcairn) is held → permitted
Documents: Licence issued by the Governor of Pitcairn
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
Medicine & supplements
1 conditional
- Conditional
Medicines / Pharmaceutical Products
Medicines and pharmaceutical products may only be shipped to Pitcairn if approved by the destination's military doctor or accompanied by a prescription from a licensed physician. Shipments without such authorization or prescription are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Approved by the military doctor at the destination → permitted
- Accompanied by a prescription from a licensed physician → permitted
Documents: Approval from the military doctor at the destination, or a prescription from a licensed physician
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Weapons
1 conditional
- Conditional
Weapons and Ammunition
Weapons and ammunition may only be shipped to Pitcairn if prior approval has been obtained from a police officer. Shipments without such approval are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- prior approval obtained from a police officer → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Other items
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Articles subject to letter postage rates
Articles that are subject to letter postage rates are prohibited from being shipped to Pitcairn via regular mail and parcel services. No additional details or conditions are specified in the source.
- Prohibited
Obscene and indecent articles
Obscene and indecent articles are prohibited from being shipped to Pitcairn via regular mail and parcel services. This applies to all such materials regardless of format or medium.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Applies to every destination, including Pitcairn Islands
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 Pitcairn Islands?
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 Pitcairn Islands?
- Japan Post's import rules for Pitcairn Islands prohibit 2 item types, including Obscene and indecent articles; Articles subject to letter postage rates. 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 Pitcairn Islands only under conditions?
- 5 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Medicines / Pharmaceutical Products; Alcoholic Beverages; Plants; Animals; 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 Pitcairn Islands?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Pitcairn Islands; 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.