Good news for ZenMarket customers shipping from Japan to Europe! We have introduced a new way to prepay import duties and taxes for eligible Japan Post shipments, making international shipping even more convenient.
With our new Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) service, applicable import charges can be calculated and paid together with your international shipping fees, helping you prepare for customs procedures before your parcel leaves Japan.
Depending on your destination and the value of your parcel, upfront payment may be mandatory or optional. For larger orders, DDP is available up to certain value limits, giving you greater flexibility when shipping your purchases from Japan.
What is DDP?
Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) is a shipping arrangement that allows applicable import duties and taxes to be paid before a parcel reaches its destination country.
Normally, when shipping internationally, customs authorities or delivery providers may require you to pay import charges after your parcel arrives in your country. This is commonly referred to as Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU).
With DDP, applicable import charges are calculated in advance and collected together with your shipping payment, simplifying the process of receiving your purchases from Japan.
For certain destinations and parcel values, you can choose between DDP and DDU, allowing you to select the payment arrangement that best suits your needs.
Benefits of Paying Import Charges Upfront
- Convenient Upfront Payment! - Pay applicable import duties and taxes together with your international shipping fees, instead of arranging a separate payment after your parcel reaches customs.
- Smoother Customs Processing! - With applicable import charges already paid, your parcel may be processed more efficiently through customs, reducing the need for additional payment procedures upon arrival.
- More Flexibility for Your Orders! - Where both DDP and DDU are available, choose whether to pay applicable import charges upfront or through the usual customs payment process when your parcel arrives.
Whether you're purchasing a single item or shipping a larger order from Japan, our goal is to make the international shipping experience as convenient as possible.
DDP Availability and Eligible Destinations
The new DDP service is available for selected European destinations using eligible Japan Post shipping methods.
For most supported destinations, DDP is mandatory for parcels with a parcel value of €150 or less. However, customers shipping to Finland, France, and Luxembourg can choose between DDP and DDU for parcels in this value range.
For parcels valued above €150, DDP availability depends on the destination and its maximum supported parcel value. Where both options are available, you can choose whether to prepay import charges or pay them upon import.
The following table shows the destinations currently supported by ZenMarket and their DDP value limits.
| Destination |
Maximum Parcel Value for DDP |
| Denmark, Sweden |
SDR 1,000 |
| Estonia, Spain, Finland, Luxembourg |
€150 |
| Netherlands, Slovakia |
€1,000 |
| France, Monaco, French Guiana, Martinique, Italy, Malta |
No DDP value limit |
SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is an international unit of account. Its equivalent value in euros varies according to exchange rates.
For parcels exceeding the applicable DDP limit, import charges must be handled through the usual DDU customs process, provided the parcel is otherwise eligible for shipping to that destination.
Please note
DDP availability depends on the destination, parcel value, and shipment eligibility. Even when import charges are prepaid, customs authorities may still inspect parcels or request additional information. Supported destinations and value limits may also change.
What if I choose not to pay DDP?
For destinations or parcels where DDP is optional, opting out of paying DDP does not opt you out of paying duties.
Instead, your parcel will be shipped using DDU. Choosing DDU means applicable import charges will instead be handled through the destination country's customs process, and additional carrier or customs handling fees may apply.
In short, DDP enables you to pay the duties upfront at the time you pay to ship your parcel!
How to Pay Import Charges with ZenMarket
Paying import charges upfront is designed to be simple and convenient.
- Create your parcel with the items you would like to ship from Japan.
- Select an eligible Japan Post shipping method for your destination.
- Review your import charge payment options. Depending on your destination and parcel value, DDP may be required or you may be able to choose between DDP and DDU.
- Complete your shipping payment. If DDP applies, the calculated import charges and applicable service fees will be collected together with your shipping fees.
For more information about European VAT and import procedures, please refer to our guide to VAT and import rules for EU shipments.
What About Shipments to the United States?
Customers shipping from Japan to the United States can also benefit from upfront import duty payments with Japan Post!
For eligible Japan Post parcels with a parcel value of $2,500 or less, upfront payment of applicable import duties and taxes is mandatory.
For parcels valued above $2,500, DDP is not available meaning your parcel will be assessed and billed any applicable duties at the time of import.
For more information about prepaid import duties for US shipments, please refer to our guide to prepaid import duties for parcels to the United States.
We hope these new payment options make shopping from Japan even easier and give you greater flexibility when arranging international delivery with ZenMarket!