What you can't ship from Japan to Spain
27 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 13 item types that cannot be sent to Spain and 14 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
- 13
- Conditional
- 14
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Spain. 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 · 4 conditional
- Prohibited
Narcotics
Narcotics — including opium, morphine, cocaine, and other narcotic drugs — are prohibited from shipment to Spain via Regular and EMS services. No exceptions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Narcotics
Narcotics such as opium, morphine, and cocaine are conditionally permitted when sent for medical or scientific purposes and in compliance with Spain's regulations on narcotic drug trafficking. Shipments that do not meet both of these conditions are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes AND not in violation of Spain's regulations on narcotic drug trafficking → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
- Conditional
Pharmaceuticals (including all types of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and similar products)
Pharmaceuticals of all kinds, including narcotics, psychotropic substances, and similar products, may only be imported by laboratories and distributors that meet the requirements established by the laws of the destination country (Spain). Import is conditional on compliance with those legal requirements.
Conditions and documents
- Importer is a laboratory or distributor meeting the requirements established by the laws of Spain → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Sera, Vaccines, and Related Biological/Medical Products
Sera, vaccines, organ fluid therapy agents, disinfectants, and breast milk substitutes may be sent by mail to Spain, but a certificate of disinfection must be attached to the container. Shipment is conditional on this documentation requirement being met.
Conditions and documents
- Certificate of disinfection is attached to the container → permitted
Documents: Certificate of disinfection (消毒済み証明書) attached to the container
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
- Conditional
Veterinary Patent Preparations etc.
Serums, vaccines, and diagnostic biological components used for the prevention or treatment of livestock diseases are conditionally permitted, provided they do not violate the regulations stipulated by the competent authorities of the destination country. Shipment is allowed only when compliant with Spanish regulatory requirements.
Conditions and documents
- Does not violate regulations stipulated by the competent authorities of the destination country (Spain) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 30
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Copper coins from the Western Caliphate period
Copper coins dating from the Western Caliphate period are prohibited from being shipped to Spain via regular mail, parcel, or EMS. These historically significant coins are not permitted for import through postal channels.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 97
- Prohibited
Registered ordinary mail containing valuables
Registered ordinary mail items containing coins, banknotes, currency, bearer securities, traveller's cheques, platinum, gold or silver (worked or unworked), pearls, gemstones, or other valuables are prohibited for regular shipping to Spain. This restriction applies to all such registered letter-post items regardless of declared content.
- Conditional
Banknotes
Banknotes may only be shipped to Spain if accompanied by an authorization letter from the relevant department of the Bank of Spain (Instituto Español de Moneda Extranjera). Shipments without this authorization are not permitted.
Conditions and documents
- Authorization letter from the Bank of Spain (Instituto Español de Moneda Extranjera) is attached → permitted
Documents: Authorization letter from the Bank of Spain (Instituto Español de Moneda Extranjera / Instituto Espanol de Moneda Extranjera)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Food
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Saccharin (and food products containing saccharin)
Food products containing saccharin cannot be sent to Spain by mail. This prohibition applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
- Conditional
Animals, Meat, and Related Products
Animals, meat, hides, tallow, horns, hooves, and their products, as well as marine mammals, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and parts thereof, are conditionally permitted to Spain provided they do not violate public health regulations established by the destination country's Ministry of Agriculture or Ministry of Commerce. Shipment is only allowed when compliant with those public health rules.
Conditions and documents
- Does not violate public health regulations established by Spain's Ministry of Agriculture (Ministère de l'agriculture) or Ministry of Commerce (Ministère du commerce) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 02
- Conditional
Food and beverages
All types of food and beverages are conditionally permitted for shipment to Spain, provided they do not violate the sanitary regulations set by the destination country's health authority (Direction générale de la santé). Shipments that breach these sanitary rules are not allowed.
Conditions and documents
- Does not violate sanitary regulations set by the Direction générale de la santé of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 21
Plants & animals
1 prohibited · 2 conditional
- Prohibited
Cotton seeds / cotton bolls
Cotton seeds (and cotton bolls) are prohibited from being shipped to Spain via Regular mail and EMS, except when addressed to the Instituto de Fomento de la produccion de Fibras Textiles Espanolas (Spanish Textile Fiber Production Promotion Association). Shipments consigned to that institute are exempt from this prohibition.
Details and exceptions
- Addressed to Instituto de Fomento de la produccion de Fibras Textiles Espanolas → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 52
- Conditional
Plants (including bulbs, seeds, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits, vegetables, timber, and bark)
A wide range of plants and plant products — including plants for cultivation, bulbs, seeds for sowing, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits (excluding pineapple, coconut, durian, banana, and date palm), vegetables, timber, and bark — require a phytosanitary certificate to be attached; importation is not permitted without one. An export inspection by a plant protection station and/or an import permit from the destination country may also be required under Japan's Plant Protection Act.
Conditions and documents
- Phytosanitary certificate is attached → Import permitted (conditional)
- No phytosanitary certificate → Import not permitted
Documents: Phytosanitary certificate (植物検疫証明書); Export inspection by plant protection station (植物防疫所による輸出検査) — may be required under Japan's Plant Protection Act; Import permit from destination country (名宛国の輸入許可証) — may be required
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 06
- Conditional
Vegetables and Similar Items
Vegetables, fruits, tubers, bulbs, grafts, and similar items are conditionally permitted, provided they do not violate the public health regulations set by Spain's Ministry of Agriculture. Shipment is allowed only when these regulatory requirements are met.
Conditions and documents
- Does not violate the public health regulations set by the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministère de l'agriculture) of the destination country → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 07
Tobacco
1 prohibited · 1 conditional
- Prohibited
Tobacco, medicines (violating health laws), matches, playing cards, mahjong tiles, lottery tickets, and items contrary to public order and morals
The following items are prohibited from shipment to Spain via Regular and EMS services: tobacco, matches, medicines that violate Spain's health laws, playing cards, mahjong tiles, lottery tickets, and any articles bearing images or descriptions contrary to public order or morals.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
- Conditional
Tobacco / Cigarettes
Tobacco is permitted only when destined for Ceuta or Melilla, or when destined for the Canary Islands provided the recipient pays the prescribed import duty. Shipments to mainland Spain and other destinations are not covered by these exceptions.
Conditions and documents
- Destination is Ceuta or Melilla → permitted
- Destination is the Canary Islands and the recipient pays the prescribed import duty → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 24
Books & printed matter
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Printed matter infringing copyright law of the destination country
Printed matter that violates the copyright laws of Spain is prohibited. This applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
Chemicals
1 conditional
- Conditional
Petroleum and related products
Petroleum and related products — including mineral oil, lubricating oil, petroleum jelly, tar, paraffin, benzol, distilled oils from coal (including peat), and butane gas — may only be shipped to Spain if sent through the destination country's Petroleum Control Authority (Administration de la Regie du petrole).
Conditions and documents
- Shipment is routed through the destination country's Petroleum Control Authority (Administration de la Regie du petrole) → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 27
Weapons
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Weapons, Ammunition, and Related Military Supplies
All types of weapons and munitions, including military supplies of any kind, are prohibited for shipment to Spain via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This prohibition covers arms and war materiel of every description.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 93
Other items
5 prohibited · 3 conditional
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public order and morality
Items that violate public order or morality are prohibited from being shipped to Spain via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No further specification of individual article types is provided in the source.
- Prohibited
Foreign-made products bearing domestic trademarks (including unregistered or counterfeit registered trademarks)
Foreign-made products that bear Spain's domestic trademarks — whether unregistered or counterfeit registered trademarks — are prohibited from shipment to Spain via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. This covers any foreign goods carrying such marks, including those with forged or unauthorised trademark usage.
- Prohibited
Mahjong tiles
Mahjong tiles are prohibited from being shipped to Spain via regular mail, parcel, and EMS services. No exceptions or conditions are stated in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Prohibited
Playing Cards
Playing cards are prohibited from being shipped to Spain via Regular, Parcel, and EMS services. No additional details or conditions are specified in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 95
- Prohibited
Reproductions of nautical charts issued by the Spanish Ministry of Marine (Ministère de la marine)
Reproductions of nautical charts issued by the destination country's Ministry of Marine (Ministère de la marine) are prohibited from being shipped to Spain. This applies across regular mail, parcel, and EMS shipping types.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Postcards (with mica, glass powder, or similar flake materials)
Postcards embedded with mica, powdered glass, or similar flake/particle materials are conditionally permitted when enclosed in a sealed envelope. Postcards without such materials are not subject to this restriction.
Conditions and documents
- Postcard is embedded with mica, powdered glass, or similar flake materials AND is enclosed in a sealed envelope → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Conditional
Religious Articles
Rosaries and other religious articles are conditionally permitted, but only when manufactured in Palestine (holy sites) and imported by the designated religious organization (l'Oeuvre Pie de Jerusalem) in the destination country. No other imports of such items under this provision are allowed.
Conditions and documents
- Manufactured in Palestine (holy sites / lieux saints) AND imported by l'Oeuvre Pie de Jerusalem in Spain → permitted
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 97
- Conditional
Valuables (precious items)
Precious stones, jewelry, and other valuables are only permitted when accompanied by an import license issued by the destination country's Ministry of Commerce (Ministère du Commerce). Shipment without this documentation is not allowed.
Conditions and documents
- Import license issued by the Ministry of Commerce (Ministère du Commerce) of the destination country is attached → permitted
Documents: Import license issued by the Ministry of Commerce (Ministère du Commerce) of the destination country
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Applies to every destination, including Spain
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 Spain?
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 Spain?
- Japan Post's import rules for Spain prohibit 13 item types, including Printed matter infringing copyright law of the destination country; Foreign-made products bearing domestic trademarks (including unregistered or counterfeit registered trademarks); Saccharin (and food products containing saccharin); Reproductions of nautical charts issued by the Spanish Ministry of Marine (Ministère de la marine); Tobacco, medicines (violating health laws), matches, playing cards, mahjong tiles, lottery tickets, and items contrary to public order and morals; Copper coins from the Western Caliphate period; Playing Cards; Mahjong tiles; and 5 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 Spain only under conditions?
- 14 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Tobacco / Cigarettes; Valuables (precious items); Sera, Vaccines, and Related Biological/Medical Products; Banknotes; Veterinary Patent Preparations etc.; Plants (including bulbs, seeds, cut flowers, cut branches, fruits, vegetables, timber, and bark); Food and beverages; Religious Articles; and 6 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 Spain?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Spain; 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.