Moving from Japan to France (2026): Relocation Guide
Key takeaways
- Because Japan is an EU-listed third country, a dog or cat entering France needs only a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate — no rabies antibody (titre) test. You still need a MAFF export certificate to leave Japan.
- Before leaving Japan, surrender your residence card at the airport, decide on the pension lump-sum withdrawal, close utilities, tax and bank accounts, and file the Japan Customs unaccompanied-baggage declaration.
- Household goods ship from Japan as unaccompanied baggage; you clear them into France under the franchise de déménagement (transfer-of-residence relief) using the customs inventory and cerfa n°10070, normally free of duty and import VAT.
- Sea freight from Yokohama, Tokyo or Kobe to Le Havre or Fos-sur-Mer (Marseille) takes several weeks door-to-door; air freight to Paris (Roissy-CDG) is faster but much dearer.
- Non-EU nationals must validate their long-stay visa (VLS-TS) with the OFII within three months of arrival; EU citizens simply settle in.
- Get a tailored, all-in quote for your Japan-to-France move from Flyto’s advisor.
1. Leaving Japan: what to close out
Plan around three months. A departure from Japan touches immigration, your city office, the pension service, customs and your utilities — and some steps have firm deadlines.
Residence card. When you leave permanently (departing without a re-entry permit), hand your residence card (在留カード) to the immigration officer at the airport departure gate. It will be cancelled and can be hole-punched and returned as a keepsake, or you can post it to the Immigration Services Agency. No separate “notification of leaving” is needed on final departure.
Municipal move-out (tenshutsu todoke). Notify your city or ward office you are leaving Japan so your residence record closes and resident tax and national health insurance are settled properly. If you’ll claim the pension refund, consider appointing a tax representative (nozei kanrinin) before deregistering.
Pension lump-sum withdrawal. If you contributed to the National Pension or Employees’ Pension for six months or more and won’t draw a Japanese pension, claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment (dattai ichijikin). Apply within two years of leaving Japan; the refund covers up to 60 contribution months. A flat 20.42% is withheld from the Employees’ Pension portion, much of which a tax representative can reclaim afterwards. The Japan Pension Service publishes the English form (see Sources).
Money and utilities. Japanese banks generally require residency, so time account closures around final pay and pension paperwork. Cancel your mobile contract, electricity, gas, water and internet with move-out dates, settle NHK, and keep the final statements — they help prove your Japanese residence for the French customs franchise.
2. How your household goods ship to France
Your belongings leave Japan as unaccompanied baggage, almost always by sea. A removals company packs and inventories your goods, books space and files the export paperwork. Japanese origin handling is thorough and precise, which makes the French import side smoother.
You or your mover complete the Japan Customs Declaration of Personal Effects and Unaccompanied Articles, form C-5360-B, so the shipment is recorded as used household goods rather than commercial cargo. Keep the endorsed copy (see Japan Customs).
Ports and routing. Shipments depart from Yokohama, Tokyo or Kobe. The usual French gateways are Le Havre on the Atlantic and Fos-sur-Mer (Marseille) on the Mediterranean, generally via a transhipment hub such as Rotterdam or Singapore. A full 20ft or 40ft container gives an exclusive load; a smaller volume shares a container (groupage/LCL) at lower cost but on a fixed consolidation schedule.
Transit. Ocean transit from Japan to France runs to several weeks, and total door-to-door time then adds packing, sailing frequency, transhipment, French port handling and customs clearance. Any single figure is indicative — schedules, congestion and weather all move it. Pack an essentials box and expect several weeks between arrival and delivery.
Air option. Air freight from Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) to Paris (Roissy-CDG) cuts transit to days but costs several times more per cubic metre. Use it for a small, urgent shipment while the bulk follows by sea.
3. France customs & transfer-of-residence relief
Importing from a non-EU country like Japan means your goods cross the EU external border and must be declared to French customs (la douane). A genuine relocation qualifies for the franchise de déménagement (transfer-of-residence relief), which exempts used personal belongings from customs duty and the 20% import VAT.
To qualify you must generally have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, be transferring your main residence to France, and be importing goods you have owned and used privately for at least six months before the move. The goods must be for personal use and imported within 12 months of settling in France; you cannot sell or lend them for one year after import.
You provide a detailed, dated and signed inventory in two copies (including any vehicle), documents proving you lived in Japan, and documents proving you are settling in France (a certificate of change of residence, work contract, or residence permit). The customs form to complete and sign is cerfa n°10070. Full guidance is on the French customs website and the public-service page F492. Alcohol, tobacco and vehicles have their own conditions, and newly bought items may attract duty and VAT.
4. Arriving: registration, residence, driving, healthcare
France has no single town-hall “registration” like Germany, but non-EU arrivals have an important immigration step to complete quickly.
Residence status. If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen moving from Japan, you have freedom of movement and just settle in — no residence permit is required. If you are a third-country national (a Japanese citizen or other non-EU national), you generally need a long-stay visa obtained from the French consulate in Tokyo before travel. Most long-stay visas double as a residence permit — the VLS-TS (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour) — which you must validate online with the OFII within three months of arrival and pay the associated tax. For longer stays you later apply for a carte de séjour at your préfecture. Sort your visa well before shipping, as your status underpins the customs franchise and everyday life.
Driving licence. France and Japan have a reciprocal agreement, so you can exchange your Japanese licence for a French one without taking a test, generally within the first year of establishing residence (during the validity of your VLS-TS). You’ll need an official French translation of your Japanese licence and proof of residence; apply via the ANTS online portal (see service-public.fr). Until the exchange is complete, you may drive on your Japanese licence with an official translation during the permitted initial period.
Healthcare. Once you are settled and stably resident, you can register for French public health insurance (Assurance Maladie / PUMa) and obtain a carte Vitale; keep private or travel cover in place during the gap. Registering also lets you choose a médecin traitant (regular GP).
Practical set-up. Open a French bank account (a proof of address and residence document are usually needed) and arrange home utilities. A justificatif de domicile (proof of address) is requested everywhere, so keep utility bills and your lease handy.
5. Pets
The Japan-to-France pet route is refreshingly simple. Japan is an EU-listed third country, so a pet dog or cat entering France needs only three things: an ISO-standard microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given after the chip and current on the day of travel), and an EU animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian. There is no rabies antibody titre test — the blood test and long wait that apply to non-listed countries do not apply from Japan (see the European Commission’s guidance on bringing a pet into the EU and its list of countries).
On the Japanese side you still satisfy MAFF’s export rules: apply for export inspection to the Animal Quarantine Service (ideally at least 7-10 days ahead) and collect the MAFF export quarantine certificate at the airport before departure (see MAFF). The EU animal health certificate is valid 10 days for entry into the EU, so coordinate the vet visit, MAFF endorsement and flight closely. Book pet-friendly cargo or cabin space early — capacity from Japan is limited and summer heat embargoes can affect flights.
6. Money, banking & tax basics
You become French tax-resident once France is your main home. France and Japan have a double-taxation treaty that generally prevents the same income being taxed twice, but your final Japanese salary, any pension lump-sum and French income can interact in the year of the move — worth checking with an accountant if your situation is complex. Keep records of money transferred from Japan and watch the currency-conversion spread on large transfers. Set up a French bank account early (needed for rent, utilities and the OFII tax), and remember that your customs inventory and residence documents are the evidence base for the franchise and much of your admin, so keep them organised.
How Flyto handles your Japan to France move
Flyto manages the entire Japan-to-France corridor as one accountable service: export packing and customs in Japan, sea or air freight to Le Havre, Fos-sur-Mer or Paris, and franchise de déménagement clearance and delivery to your French address. Because we run our own hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe, your shipment stays within a single network from Yokohama to your Paris, Lyon or Nice home — one point of contact, one plan, no disconnected local agents. We prepare the cerfa n°10070 and inventory, align the pet timeline with your vet and MAFF, and give you realistic dates. Get a quote and we’ll map out your move.
Frequently asked questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to enter France from Japan?
No. Japan is an EU-listed third country, so only a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate are required — no titre test. You still need the MAFF export certificate to leave Japan. Source.
Will I pay import duty or VAT on my household goods?
Usually not. A genuine relocation from Japan qualifies for the franchise de déménagement on used goods owned at least six months, declared with a signed inventory and cerfa n°10070 — this waives duty and the 20% import VAT. Source.
How long does sea freight from Japan to France take?
Ocean transit runs to several weeks, and total door-to-door time adds packing, transhipment, port handling and customs. Air freight to Paris takes days but costs several times more, so it suits only small, urgent shipments.
What must a non-EU national do on arrival in France?
Validate your long-stay visa (VLS-TS) online with the OFII within three months of arrival and pay the associated tax. For longer stays you later apply for a carte de séjour at your préfecture. Source.
Can I use my Japanese driving licence in France?
Yes. France and Japan have a reciprocal agreement, so you can exchange your Japanese licence for a French one without a test, generally within the first year of residence, with an official translation. Source.
Can I claim my Japanese pension after moving to France?
Yes. If you contributed for six months or more and won’t draw a Japanese pension, apply for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment within two years of leaving Japan; a tax representative can help reclaim tax withheld. Source.
Related moves
Sources
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
- European Commission — Listing of territories and non-EU countries (Japan listed)
- French Customs (Douane) — Deductibles when transferring your main residence to France
- Service-Public.fr — Déménagement depuis l’étranger (franchise douanière, F492)
- MAFF Animal Quarantine Service — Departure from Japan (dogs and cats)
- Japan Customs — Declaration of accompanied and unaccompanied articles (C-5360)
- Japan Pension Service — Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments
- Service-Public.fr — Échange d’un permis de conduire étranger
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — residence card procedures
Hiring an international mover? See our full International removals to Japan service — Flyto’s own European hubs, vetted local partners and one English-speaking coordinator, door to door.