Eligible visitors will pay the tax-inclusive price first. The consumption-tax equivalent is refunded only after customs confirms that the qualifying goods are being taken out of Japan.
The purchase date determines which procedure applies. Purchases completed through October 31, 2026 follow the previous point-of-sale system. Qualifying purchases completed from November 1, 2026 follow the new refund method.
What Changes Under Japan’s New Tax Refund System?
| Procedure | Through October 31, 2026 | From November 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Price paid at the store | Eligible visitors normally complete the exemption at the participating shop and pay the tax-free price. | The visitor first pays the full tax-inclusive price. |
| Customs confirmation | The existing departure rules apply. | Customs confirmation is required before a refund is issued. |
| Refund timing | The tax benefit is normally applied during the store procedure. | The shop or its refund provider processes the refund after customs confirmation. |
| Consumable packaging | Special packaging requirements may apply. | The special packaging requirement is abolished. |
| Product categories | General goods and consumables are treated as separate categories. | The previous category distinction is removed. |
| Consumable maximum | The previous consumable-goods maximum applies. | The previous ¥500,000 consumable maximum is abolished. |
| Departure deadline | Previous rules apply. | Customs confirmation must be completed within 90 days of purchase. |
A visitor traveling across the changeover date could have purchases governed by two different procedures. Keep the receipt and refund information for each transaction rather than assuming every purchase follows the same rules.
Read the Japan Tourism Agency’s official Refund Method guidance
Who Is Eligible for Tax-Free Shopping in Japan?
A foreign passport alone does not automatically make a shopper eligible. Eligibility depends on non-resident status, the person’s entry status, length of stay, the retailer and the goods being purchased.
- Shop at a store authorized to conduct tax-free sales.
- Present the documentation requested by the retailer, normally your passport or an accepted digital procedure.
- Meet the applicable non-resident and entry-status requirements.
- Purchase qualifying goods totaling at least ¥5,000 before tax at the same store on the same day.
- Carry the qualifying goods out of Japan within the required period.
Japanese nationals who have lived abroad may be eligible only when they meet the applicable overseas-residence and documentation conditions. Confirm eligibility with the retailer before paying.
What to Do at the Store After November 1, 2026
Confirm that the store participates
Not every retailer offers tax-free shopping. Look for the official tax-free shop sign or ask the store before making a large purchase.
Present the required identification
Follow the retailer’s instructions and present your passport or another officially accepted method. A photocopy or ordinary passport photo should not be assumed to be sufficient.
Pay the tax-inclusive price
Under the new method, the store initially charges consumption tax. Do not expect the tax to be removed immediately at checkout.
Register the refund method
The store or its refund provider should explain the available refund method. Confirm whether the refund will use a payment card, bank transfer, app, cash or another supported option.
Keep every item in the transaction
Customs confirmation is handled by purchase transaction, such as one receipt. If one item from that transaction is missing, the other items recorded on the same transaction may also become ineligible for refund.
Japan Tax Refund Airport Procedure: Step by Step
- Arrive at your final airport or seaport of departure from Japan with enough additional time.
- Keep your passport and all qualifying tax-free goods with you.
- Before checking in baggage containing those goods, locate the tax-free procedure terminal in the international departure lobby.
- Present or scan your passport according to the instructions.
- Review the result displayed by the system.
- If you receive a Green Result, the customs-confirmation procedure is complete.
- If you receive a Red Result, bring the goods to the designated customs inspection area.
- After completing any required inspection, proceed with airline check-in, baggage drop and departure procedures.
- The store or its refund provider processes the refund according to the method registered for the purchase.
If your journey includes a domestic flight connecting to an international flight, complete the procedure at the airport where you actually leave Japan, not automatically at the first domestic airport.
What Do Green and Red Results Mean?
A Red Result does not automatically mean that you did something wrong. It means that customs needs to confirm the goods before approving the transaction for tax-free treatment.
Can You Use Visit Japan Web for the Tax Refund Procedure?
Visit Japan Web can support parts of Japan’s tax-free process, but it should not be confused with the company that sends your refund.
At participating shops
Some retailers accept the Visit Japan Web tax-free shopping QR code to obtain the traveler information needed for the purchase procedure. Not every tax-free shop accepts it.
At selected departure airports
At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha, travelers may be able to use Visit Japan Web instead of a terminal within designated international-departure areas and on the dedicated procedure network.
Visit Japan Web does not determine the retailer’s refund method and does not guarantee an instant cash refund. The shop or the refund provider working for that shop remains responsible for the refund.
Eligible Goods and Purchase Conditions
- The total must be at least ¥5,000 before tax at the same store on the same day.
- The goods must be taken out of Japan.
- Gold and platinum bullion and goods already exempt from consumption tax are excluded.
- The amount purchased must be limited to what the traveler can personally carry and export.
- The previous special packaging requirement for consumables is abolished under the new system.
- Food, drinks, cosmetics and other consumables must not be fully or partly consumed in Japan if you want the related transaction confirmed for refund.
- Qualifying goods must receive customs confirmation within 90 days of the purchase date.
How and When Will the Tax Refund Be Paid?
Customs does not necessarily hand the traveler cash. Customs confirms that the goods are leaving Japan. After that confirmation, the tax-free shop or the refund service provider appointed by the shop issues the refund.
Possible refund arrangements may include:
- refund to a payment card;
- bank transfer;
- transfer through a supported app;
- cash at the port of departure where offered;
- another method specified by the retailer or provider.
Japan’s national rules do not require every retailer to use the same refund method. Ask these questions before completing an expensive purchase:
- Which company will process my refund?
- How do I register the refund destination?
- Will a handling or service charge apply?
- How long should the refund take?
- What evidence should I keep if the refund does not arrive?
Mistakes That Can Stop a Japan Tax Refund
- Checking in the suitcase containing the goods before completing customs confirmation.
- Leaving one item from a recorded transaction at the hotel or in Japan.
- Eating, drinking or using part of a consumable purchase before departure.
- Waiting until there is not enough time to complete a required Red Result inspection.
- Trying to complete the procedure more than 90 days after the purchase.
- Assuming Visit Japan Web automatically sends the refund.
- Failing to register or retain the retailer’s refund instructions.
- Completing the procedure at the wrong airport during a domestic-to-international connection.
- Shipping items independently and expecting a shipping receipt to replace the required procedure.
Tax-Free Shopping Planning Guides
Tell Jatravi your travel dates, destinations, group size and shopping priorities. We can prepare a tailor-made itinerary and a free initial trip proposal, including realistic time for shopping, luggage handling and airport procedures.
Request a Free Initial ProposalJapan Tax Refund 2026 FAQ
When does Japan’s new tax refund system begin?
The refund method applies to qualifying purchases made on or after November 1, 2026.
Do tourists pay consumption tax when shopping after November 1, 2026?
Yes. Eligible visitors initially pay the tax-inclusive price. The tax-equivalent amount is refunded after successful customs confirmation.
Is the refund paid directly by Japan Customs?
No. Customs confirms that the qualifying goods are leaving Japan. The tax-free shop or its appointed refund provider issues the refund.
Can I complete the procedure after checking in my suitcase?
No. You must possess all applicable goods when completing customs confirmation. Finish the procedure before checking baggage containing those goods.
Can I use Visit Japan Web?
Visit Japan Web may be used at participating shops and for departure procedures in designated areas at selected major airports. It does not itself determine or guarantee the retailer’s refund method.
Can I consume tax-free food or cosmetics in Japan?
No. If part or all of a consumable transaction is consumed in Japan, the related transaction may not receive customs confirmation or a refund.
How soon must the goods leave Japan?
Under the new system, customs confirmation must be completed within 90 days of the purchase date.
How will I receive the refund?
The method depends on the tax-free shop or its refund provider. Possible arrangements include card, bank, app or cash refunds. Confirm the method when shopping.
Information last reviewed on October 14, 2026 using guidance from the Japan Tourism Agency, National Tax Agency and Visit Japan Web. Retailer refund methods, service charges, airport layouts and processing times may differ. Confirm the latest official and retailer instructions before shopping and departure.
