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Specialist professionals not classified elsewhere

How to become a Customs Broker

Works for a customs brokerage as a specialist in import and export procedures, checking the customs documents submitted to customs under the law.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

To become a customs broker you must pass the customs broker exam run by the national government (the Ministry of Finance and Customs). People with work experience are exempt from part of the exam, so many people join a customs brokerage and study through company training, courses run by customs broker associations or distance learning to gain the qualification. There are no limits on education, age, background or nationality for sitting the exam. The exam requires a thorough knowledge of the related laws, such as the Customs Business Act, the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff Act and the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, and good knowledge of preparing customs documents such as export and import declarations and import (tax) declarations. You also need a good understanding of supporting documents such as invoices, packing lists, import and export approvals and certificates of origin. The documents used in customs work are written in English, so you also need English skills. People who pass the exam can work as customs brokers in any customs district, wherever they sat the exam.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Customs Broker?

To become a customs broker you must pass the customs broker exam run by the national government (the Ministry of Finance and Customs). People with work experience are exempt from part of the exam, so many people join a customs brokerage and study through company training, courses run by customs broker associations or distance learning to gain the qualification. There are no limits on education, age, background or nationality for sitting the exam. The exam requires a thorough knowledge of the related laws, such as the Customs Business Act, the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff Act and the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, and good knowledge of preparing customs documents such as export and import declarations and import (tax) declarations. You also need a good understanding of supporting documents such as invoices, packing lists, import and export approvals and certificates of origin. The documents used in customs work are written in English, so you also need English skills. People who pass the exam can work as customs brokers in any customs district, wherever they sat the exam.

How much does a Customs Broker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,833,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Specialist professionals not classified elsewhere, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Customs Broker?

Usually. In this job's census occupation group, 67% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Customs Broker?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026