Visiting and Customs

Restricted and Prohibited Items

Some products need to prevented from entering Yata. These are those that would injure community health, public safety, or domestic plant and animal life. Before you leave for your trip to Yata, you might want to contact the local Yatanese Customs Office about the items you plan to bring with you to be sure they are not restricted or prohibited.

Alcohol and Spirits

Any Alcohol or Spirit that contains more than 20% ABV (Alcohol by Volume) content is prohibited. A list of products with pre-defined ABV are given below :

The maximum volume of Alcohols and Spirits allowed is 2 L per category, with the total volume not exceeding 6 L. Amount exceeding that of the maximum is chargeable as the following :

The maximum volume of Alcohols and Spirits allowed is 2 L per category, with the total volume not exceeding 6 L. Amount exceeding that of the maximum is chargeable as the following :

Tobacco

Refer to the following table :

If one is carrying more than one kind of cigarette products, the total amount should not exceed that of 250 g.

Automobiles

Automobiles brought into Yata by non-residents for a minimum of three years are free from restrictions. However, if a person plans to bring a vehicle and sell it in Yata, a permit is required. Any automobile that is 15 year old, from the year it was manufactured cannot be sold inside Yata. A 25% amount of the total amount received after selling the automobile will be chargeable by customs. Other taxes may apply.

Biologicals

A permit needs to be taken from the Yatanese Ministry for Agriculture, Forestries and Fisheries, to permit to import of biological specimens including bacterial cultures, culture medium, excretions ,fungi, arthropods, molluscs, tissues of livestock, birds, plants, viruses, and vectors for research, biological or pharmaceutical use. 

Cultural Artifacts

Most countries have laws that protect their cultural property: art/artifacts/antiquities; archaeological and ethnological material are also terms that are used. Such laws include export controls and/or national ownership of cultural property. Even if purchased from a business in the country of origin or in another country, legal ownership of such artifacts may be questionable if brought into Yata. Therefore, a permit is required to bring such items in.

Animal Fur

It is illegal to bring any kind of Animal Furs and hides in Yata. It is also illegal in Yata to import, export, distribute, transport, manufacture, or sell products containing animal furs and hides in Yata.

This includes animals like : Beavers, Chinchillias, Dogs, Cats, Foxes, Minks, Rabbits, Raccoons, Seals, Bears, Tigers, Lions, or any other animals that may not be listed here.

Drugs

It is illegal to bring drug paraphernalia into Yata unless they have been prescribed for authentic medical conditions. A permit is needed for Drugs that may be used for use in manufacturing or compounding.

Firearms and Weapons

All firearms and weapons like : flick and gravity knives, butterfly knives, push daggers, belt-buckle knives, death stars, swordsticks, stealth (non-metallic) knives, knives disguised as everyday objects, knuckledusters, blowpipes, truncheons, and some martial arts equipment. Other weapons Self-defense sprays and electric shock devices such as stun guns are prohibited.

Samurai swords are an exception, however a permit is still needed for their import and use in martial arts or religious ceremonies.

Wildlife

Certain wildlife, and products derived from them, are subject to import restrictions, prohibitions, permits, and quarantine requirements. 

• We recommend that you contact the Customs Service before you depart if you plan to bring any of the following into Yata: Wild Birds, Land or Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Fish, Shellfish, Molluscs, or invertebrates. 

• Any part or product of the above, such as eggs. Animal hides, fur, tusks and bones are prohibited.

• Products or articles manufactured from endangered wildlife. Endangered species, and products made from them, generally may not be imported. 

• Import of all types of ivory is prohibited.

Food Products (Cooked or Raw)

Many prepared foods are admissible. You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into Yata. Condiments such as vinegars, oils, packaged spices (processed), honey, coffee and tea are admissible. Rice is prohibited, unless specially being imported for a religious ceremonies, in which case, a permit is required. Foods in packaging that appears unsafe or contaminated may be refused entry.

All kinds of fruits and vegetables are prohibited.

Gold

Gold coins, medals, and bullion, may be brought into Yata. However, under regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, such items originating in or brought from Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Macau, Palestine, Taiwan are prohibited entry but are negotiable. Articles originated or brought from Afghanistan and North Korea are prohibited and non-negotiable.

Meats, Livestock and Poultry

Fresh, Dried, or Canned Meats or Meat Products from most foreign countries are prohibited. The same applied for food products that have been prepared with meat. The regulations on importing meat and meat products change frequently because they are based on disease outbreaks.

Medication

• Bring only the medicines you will need, no more, no less.

•  If you need medicines that contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics (e.g., some cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, or stimulants), the following must be done: 

  • Declare all drugs, medicines, and similar products to the appropriate Customs official. 

  • Carry drugs, medicines and similar products in their original containers.

  • Carry only the quantity of such substances that a person with that condition (e.g., chronic pain) would normally carry for his/her personal use.

Merchandise from Partially Recognized/ Unrecognized Countries

Generally, you may not bring in any goods from the following: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Macau, Palestine, Taiwan. The Yatanese Ministry of Trade and Economy enforces this ban. If you want to bring in merchandise from any of these countries, you will first need a specific license from the Yatanese Customs. 

Merchandise from Afghanistan and North Korea require a letter of approval.

Monetary Assets

You may bring into or take out of the country, including by mail, as much money as you wish. However, if it is more than YAT 10,000, you will need to report it to Yatanese Customs. Families traveling together should declare currency if the total combined amount is over YAT 10,000. The penalties for non-compliance can be severe. “Money” means monetary instruments and includes Yatanese or foreign coins currently in circulation, currency, travelers’ checks in any form, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form.

Pets

Exotic Animals as pets are not allowed. All pets should have a letter of cleareance issued by the Yatanese Customs, and a minimum quarantine for fourteen days, starting from the day of arrival in Yata.

Plants and Seeds

Every plant or plant product, including handicraft items made with straw, must be declared to the a Customs Officer and must be presented for Customs inspection, no matter how free of pests it appears to be.

Soil

Soil is prohibited entry unless accompanied by an import permit. Soil must be declared and the permit must be verified. 

Textiles and Clothing

In general, there is no limit to how much fabric and clothing you can bring into Yata as long as it is for your personal use or as gifts. If you have exceeded your personal exemption, you may have to pay duty on the items. Textiles in any quantity are considered to be commercial.

Any clothing or textile items that use Animal Fur or Hides are prohibited.

Articles

The Yatanese Customs enforces laws relating to the protection of trademarks and copyrights. Articles that infringe a nationally registered trademark or copyright or copyright protected by the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works are subject to detention and/or seizure.

Articles bearing marks that are counterfeit or inappropriately using a nationally registered trademark are subject to seizure, forfeiture and destroyal. The import of articles intended for sale or public distribution bearing counterfeit marks may subject an individual to a civil fine if the registered trademark has also been recorded with Customs.

Any religious literature except that belonging to Buddhism and Shintoism are subject to seizure, if not registered with the Customs and indicated as personal use articles.

Indecent and Obscene Materials

All kinds of indecent and obscene materials such as books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software are strictly prohibited.