What you can't ship from Japan to Serbia
27 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 18 item types that cannot be sent to Serbia and 9 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 October 1, 2026.
- Prohibited
- 18
- Conditional
- 9
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Serbia. 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
2 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Abortifacient drugs
Abortifacient drugs (medications used to induce abortion) are prohibited from shipment to Serbia via regular mail and parcel services. This prohibition applies to all such pharmaceutical products intended for terminating pregnancy.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Prohibited
Medicines / Pharmaceutical Products
Medicines and pharmaceutical products are prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular mail and parcel services. No exceptions or conditions are specified in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Medical devices / Medical instruments
Medical devices and instruments may be shipped to Serbia under conditional terms. The recipient must contact Serbian customs authorities in advance.
Conditions and documents
- Recipient has contacted Serbian customs authorities in advance → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 90
- Conditional
Narcotics
Opium, morphine, cocaine, and other narcotics are only permitted when sent for medical or scientific purposes to an officially recognized institution in Serbia. Shipments that do not meet this condition are not allowed.
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes to an officially recognized institution in the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Currency & valuables
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Currency (Serbian)
Currency of Serbia is prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular and parcel services. This restriction applies to Serbian monetary currency.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Metal tokens resembling coins of the destination country
Metal tokens that closely resemble the coins of Serbia are prohibited for shipment via regular mail. Items bearing a strong likeness to Serbian currency coins are not permitted.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 83
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing valuables
Registered ordinary mail items containing coins, banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveler's checks, platinum, gold or silver (worked or unworked), pearls, gemstones, or other valuables are prohibited for shipment to Serbia via regular mail. This restriction applies to all such items enclosed within registered ordinary mail pieces.
Food
3 prohibited
- Prohibited
Coffee (exceeding 5 kg per personal mail item)
Coffee is prohibited in personal mail items addressed to individuals when the quantity exceeds 5 kilograms per parcel. Shipments of 5 kg or less per personal mail item are not covered by this prohibition.
Details and exceptions
- coffee quantity exceeds 5 kg per personal mail item addressed to an individual → 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 Serbia via regular and parcel services. This restriction applies regardless of the type of food product involved.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Prohibited
Yeast (adulterated or inactive)
Yeast containing harmful substances such as gypsum, chalk, or saccharin, as well as yeast that has lost its leavening efficacy, is prohibited from shipment to Serbia. Both adulterated and non-viable yeast products are covered by this restriction.
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 Serbia via regular and parcel shipping. This restriction applies to both shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 22
- Prohibited
Essences for artificial alcoholic beverage production
Essences intended for the manufacture of artificial alcoholic beverages are prohibited from shipment to Serbia via regular and parcel shipping. This prohibition applies specifically to essences used in producing artificial alcoholic drinks.
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 free or paid) to Serbia is not permitted. Only eight specified booksellers in the destination country are authorized to receive this type of printed matter.
Details and exceptions
- Recipient is one of the eight authorized booksellers listed (e.g. Jugoslovenska Kniga, Beograd; Gradsko preduzece za rasturanje stampeu Beogradu, Beograd; Zagrebacko Knizarsko preduzece, Zagreb; Znanstvena knjizara izdavackog zavoda Jugoslovenske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, Zagreb; Tehnicka Kniga, Zagreb; Invalidsko preduzece Jugoreklam, Ljubljana; Drzavna zalozba Slovenije, Ljubljana; Knjizarsko preduzece Lipa, Koper) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Maps
Maps are conditionally permitted for shipment to Serbia. 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 (Serbia) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Plants & animals
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Silkworm eggs (silkworm seed)
Silkworm eggs are prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular and parcel services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 01
- Conditional
Plants
Shipping plants to Serbia may require an export inspection by a plant protection station and an import permit from the destination country. Senders should consult their nearest plant protection station or Serbia's plant protection authority in advance.
Conditions and documents
- Export inspection by plant protection station and import permit from destination country may be required → conditional — consult nearest plant protection station or Serbia's plant protection authority before shipping
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)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
Weapons
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Weapons and Ammunition
Weapons, their parts, and ammunition are prohibited for shipment to Serbia via regular and parcel services. This includes complete weapons systems as well as individual components and all types of ammunition.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
- Conditional
Hunting Rifle
Hunting rifles and their ammunition are permitted for shipment to Serbia only when authorization has been obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Shipment is conditional on holding this official permission.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Serbia) → 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 Serbia 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 (Serbia) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Tobacco
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Cigarette rolling paper
Cigarette rolling paper is prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular and parcel shipping. This restriction applies to paper intended for hand-rolling cigarettes.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 48
Other items
4 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Goods with falsified or fraudulent country-of-origin markings
Goods that bear false or misleading country-of-origin markings are prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular mail and parcel services. This applies to any item whose origin labeling has been falsified or misrepresented.
- Prohibited
Lottery tickets and related materials from countries other than Serbia
Lottery tickets, advertisements, and other materials relating to lotteries from countries other than Serbia are prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular mail. This applies to all such lottery-related items originating from or pertaining to any foreign lottery.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Military uniforms of countries other than Serbia
Military uniforms belonging to countries other than the destination country (Serbia) are prohibited from being shipped to Serbia via regular and parcel services. This restriction applies specifically to foreign military uniforms.
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 Serbia via regular and parcel services. Items falling below this lead content threshold are not covered by this restriction.
Details and exceptions
- lead content is 10% or more → prohibited
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 69
- Conditional
Inherited goods and contractually supplied goods
Goods inherited abroad and goods supplied under an inter-governmental contract may only be imported into Serbia when imported in accordance with the relevant inheritance or contract terms. Import is conditional on compliance with those specific terms.
Conditions and documents
- Goods inherited abroad → permitted only when imported in accordance with the inheritance terms
- Goods supplied under an inter-governmental contract → permitted only when imported in accordance with that contract
- Conditional
Occupational items for intellectual professions
Items (instruments, reproductions, and parts) addressed to an individual engaged in an intellectual profession and intended for use in that profession are conditionally permitted. Shipment is allowed only when specific conditions are met.
Conditions and documents
- Items are addressed to an individual engaged in an intellectual profession and intended for use in that profession (instruments, reproductions, or parts), and special conditions are satisfied → conditional
- Conditional
Telephones and Telegraph Equipment
Telephones and wireless telegraph devices may only be shipped to Serbia if the sender has obtained permission from the relevant authorities of the destination country. Shipment is conditional on holding such authorization.
Conditions and documents
- Permission obtained from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Serbia) → permitted
Documents: Permission from the relevant authorities of the destination country (Serbia)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 85
Applies to every destination, including Serbia
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 Serbia?
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 Serbia?
- Japan Post's import rules for Serbia prohibit 18 item types, including Essences for artificial alcoholic beverage production; Coffee (exceeding 5 kg per personal mail item); Medicines / Pharmaceutical Products; Printed Matter (for distribution); Currency (Serbian); Cigarette rolling paper; Metal tokens resembling coins of the destination country; Military uniforms of countries other than Serbia; and 10 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 Serbia only under conditions?
- 9 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Plants; Occupational items for intellectual professions; Inherited goods and contractually supplied goods; Maps; Telephones and Telegraph Equipment; 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 Serbia?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Serbia; 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.