What you can't ship from Japan to Tuvalu
14 Japan Post import rules · verified · source: Japan Post
Short answer: Japan Post lists 13 item types that cannot be sent to Tuvalu and 1 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
- 13
- Conditional
- 1
- Carrier-wide rules
- 278
These are the destination rules Japan Post publishes for Tuvalu. 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
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Coal Tar and Its Derivatives
Coal tar and its derivatives are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu via regular and parcel shipping. This prohibition covers coal tar in all forms along with any compounds or products derived from it.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 27
- Prohibited
White Phosphorus Matches
White phosphorus matches are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu via regular and parcel shipping. This prohibition applies specifically to matches manufactured using white phosphorus.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 36
Currency & valuables
2 prohibited
- Prohibited
Counterfeit Currency
Counterfeit currency is prohibited from being shipped to Tuvalu via regular mail and parcel services. No exceptions are stated.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Valuables
Valuables including jewelry, precious metals, gems, certificates, coins, and other negotiable securities are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu via regular mail. This prohibition covers the full range of items described in the source.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 71
Food
1 prohibited
- Prohibited
Foodstuffs declared unfit for consumption by the competent authorities of the destination country
Foodstuffs that have been declared unfit for human consumption by the competent authorities of Tuvalu are prohibited from import via regular mail and parcel post. This applies to any food or food product that has received such a declaration.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 04
Medicine & supplements
1 conditional
- Conditional
Narcotics
Postal items containing narcotics such as opium, morphine, and cocaine are only permitted when sent for medical or scientific purposes, addressed to a pharmacist, and accompanied by a special permit issued by the government of the destination country.
Conditions and documents
- Sent for medical or scientific purposes, addressed to a pharmacist, and accompanied by a special permit from the government of the destination country → permitted
Documents: Special permit issued by the government of the destination country (Tuvalu)
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 29
Other items
8 prohibited
- Prohibited
Articles contrary to public morals
Printed matter, paintings, photographs, books, covers, lithographs, engravings, and other articles contrary to public morals are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu via regular and parcel post. This prohibition covers all such items regardless of format or medium.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Counterfeit Postage Stamps and Equipment for Their Manufacture
Counterfeit postage stamps and any instruments or equipment used to manufacture them are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu. This applies to both regular mail and parcel services.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 49
- Prohibited
Goods bearing a trademark identical to one used in the United Kingdom or its colonies, manufactured outside the UK or its colonies
Goods manufactured outside the United Kingdom or its colonies that bear a trademark identical to one used in the UK or its colonies are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu, unless the goods carry a clear indication that they were manufactured in the UK or its colonies.
Details and exceptions
- Goods bear an indication that they were manufactured in the UK or its colonies → permitted
- Prohibited
Goods bearing the British Royal Coat of Arms or similar heraldic devices
Goods bearing the British Royal Coat of Arms or a similar coat of arms are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu, unless the manufacturer has been granted permission to use such insignia. This prohibition applies to both regular mail and parcel services.
Details and exceptions
- manufacturer has been granted permission to use the coat of arms → permitted
- Prohibited
Goods prohibited by the laws of the destination country
All goods whose import is prohibited under the laws of Tuvalu are not permitted to be shipped. This applies to both regular mail and parcel services.
- Prohibited
Opium smoking apparatus and opium manufacturing equipment
Opium smoking devices and opium manufacturing instruments are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu via regular mail and parcel services. These items may not be sent through any applicable shipping channel.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 96
- Prohibited
Shaving brushes and all goods packaged together with them
Shaving brushes, and any goods packaged together with them, are prohibited from shipment to Tuvalu via regular mail and parcel. This prohibition extends to the entire package if a shaving brush is included alongside other items.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 96
- Prohibited
Used clothing (for sale)
Used clothing intended for sale is prohibited from being shipped to Tuvalu via regular and parcel services. This restriction applies specifically to secondhand garments destined for commercial resale.
Source: Japan Post · HS chapter 63
Applies to every destination, including Tuvalu
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 Tuvalu?
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 Tuvalu?
- Japan Post's import rules for Tuvalu prohibit 13 item types, including Opium smoking apparatus and opium manufacturing equipment; Goods prohibited by the laws of the destination country; Coal Tar and Its Derivatives; Shaving brushes and all goods packaged together with them; White Phosphorus Matches; Counterfeit Currency; Valuables; Goods bearing a trademark identical to one used in the United Kingdom or its colonies, manufactured outside the UK or its colonies; 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 Tuvalu only under conditions?
- 1 item types are allowed only when Japan Post's stated conditions are met — for example Narcotics. 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 Tuvalu?
- Not necessarily. This page lists the import rules Japan Post publishes for Tuvalu; 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.