#Q&A What do you need for tax-free shopping in… Answer ↓

What do you need for tax-free shopping in Japan? Passport, entry stamp and the November 2026 refund rules

By BestJapanBuy editorial teamUpdated 2026-10-267 sources

Bring your original passport when you shop: the tax-free store has to confirm you hold an eligible status such as Temporary Visitor and entered Japan less than 6 months ago (Japan Tourism Agency list of documents for purchases from November 1, 2026). If you came through an automated or facial recognition gate and have no entry stamp, the Immigration Services Agency says you can ask the staff behind the gate for a stamp after passing it and before the customs inspection. For purchases from November 1, 2026, you also register a refund method (such as a credit card) as the store instructs, leave Japan within 90 days with all the goods, and get customs confirmation at the airport before checking your bags.

Getting ready for tax-free shopping: 4 steps

Make sure your passport shows your entryTax-free stores must confirm you entered Japan less than 6 months ago. If you used an automated or facial recognition gate and got no stamp, the Immigration Services Agency says you can request one from the staff behind the gate or at the inspection office after passing the gate and before the customs inspection; requests after that aren't accepted.
Show your original passport when you buyShow your passport at the tax-free store, which uses it to confirm your status and entry date. You need at least JP¥5,000 before tax at one store on one day. Some stores can scan the tax-free QR code in Visit Japan Web instead of typing in your passport details; showing your passport still works.
Register your refund method as the store instructsFrom November 1, 2026 you pay the tax-included price. The store decides the refund method (credit card, app, airport cash, etc.); register it as instructed when you buy and ask on the spot if anything is unclear.
Leave Japan with the goods and your passportWithin 90 days of purchase, before checking your bags at the airport, take every item on each receipt to a tax-free kiosk, scan your passport and get customs confirmation.

The short version (as of October 26, 2026)

Must bring: your original passport. Show it when you buy, and scan it at the airport kiosk when you leave.
Entry stamp: stores need to confirm you entered less than 6 months ago. If an automated or facial recognition gate left you without a stamp, ask the staff behind the gate before the customs inspection.
Two extra steps from November 1: register a refund method when you buy, and get customs confirmation before checking your bags. Full rules: Japan's November 2026 tax-free changes.

Who can shop tax-free

From the Japan Tourism Agency's list of eligible buyers (purchases from November 1, 2026):

You are	Conditions	Show
A foreign visitor	Status of Temporary Visitor, Diplomat or Official; entered less than 6 months ago	Passport
A foreign national on shore, transit or similar landing permission	Entered less than 6 months ago	Passport; for cruise shore excursions and similar, also the matching permit
A Japanese national living abroad	Lived outside Japan for 2+ years; returned less than 6 months ago	Passport plus a family register supplement copy, certificate of residence abroad or My Number Card

People in Japan as students, workers or under other statuses can't shop tax-free.

No entry stamp? What to do

Why it matters: the Japan Tourism Agency requires tax-free stores to confirm the buyer entered (or returned to) Japan less than 6 months ago.
When you won't get one: the Immigration Services Agency says passports aren't stamped when you use facial recognition or automated gates at Japanese airports, and lists tax-free procedures for non-residents as one case where you may need a record of entry.
What to do: if you want a stamp, ask the staff behind the facial recognition gate or at the inspection office after passing the gate and before the customs inspection on arrival. Requests after customs aren't accepted.
Already left the airport: the Immigration Services Agency says that if you urgently need proof of entry, contact the regional immigration bureau where you went through immigration. Whether and how fast it can help is up to the bureau.

What changes on November 1, 2026

	Bought by October 31, 2026	Bought from November 1, 2026
At checkout	Tax-free price (tax removed)	Pay the tax-included price and register a refund method
When leaving	Customs check after security	Scan your passport at a kiosk before checking your bags
Refund	None needed (tax already removed)	Paid by the store or its refund provider after customs confirmation

Also note:

Consumables: the special sealed packaging is gone, but anything eaten or used in Japan isn't refunded, and if one item on a receipt is missing, nothing on that receipt is refunded.
Deadline: leave Japan within 90 days of purchase.
Minimum: JP¥5,000 before tax at one store on one day.
How much you get back: estimate it with the tax refund calculator; store refund methods, fees and counters are in Tax refund policies by store; for the airport, see Getting your tax refund at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

Is a photocopy or a photo of my passport on my phone OK?

The Japan Tourism Agency's list of eligible buyers says foreign visitors present their passport. Copies and photos aren't on the list. From November 1, 2026 you also scan your passport at the airport kiosk when you leave, so keep it with you.

If I use the Visit Japan Web QR code, can I leave my passport at the hotel?

We don't recommend it. The Japan Tourism Agency's briefing on the 2022 tax reform says tax-free stores can read the tax-free QR code shown in Visit Japan Web to get your passport details, with identity checked against the photo shown with the code, and that showing your passport still works. Whether a store accepts the QR code is up to the store, and the customs check at departure scans your passport, so carry the original.

I'm a Japanese citizen living abroad. Can I shop tax-free?

The Japan Tourism Agency says Japanese nationals who have lived outside Japan continuously for 2 years or more can, if they can prove it with a copy of the family register supplement (戸籍の附票), a certificate of residence abroad (zairyu shomei), or a My Number Card showing they moved abroad; you also need to show you returned less than 6 months ago. If you came back through a facial recognition gate without a stamp, ask for one behind the gate as above.

I bought something over JP¥1 million. What should I bring when I leave?

The Japan Tourism Agency's English leaflet says that for items of JP¥1 million or more before tax, customs may ask to see certificates of authenticity or warranties along with the goods; having them ready helps you clear customs smoothly.

Sources

Updated 2026-10-26Prices are for reference only; check in store.Markdown