Country-Specific Guide
How to Import a Japanese Used Car to Bangladesh
Bangladesh is RHD with a 5-year manufacture cap (age from 1 January of the year after manufacture). NBR tax stacks are high. JAAI certificate and Chittagong are the usual path.
Who this guide is for
Importers bringing a right-hand-drive Japanese used car into Bangladesh through Chittagong (Chattogram). This is not an open East-Africa-style market: commercial used-car import is tightly controlled, NBR tax can be several times CIF, and banks often require a letter of credit.
Eligibility
- RHD only. LHD passenger cars are not for normal import.
- Within 5 years at shipment, age from 1 January of the year after manufacture (Bangladesh Customs National Enquiry Point on Import Policy Order 2015–2018 Annexure 1 — later IPOs have kept the five-year frame; re-read the current Order).
- JAAI certificate (or recognised association equivalent) stating age, model, and chassis — required for Japan-origin used cars.
- NRB / transfer-of-residence channels often use a shorter age cap (commonly 3 years) plus ownership tests. Do not mix commercial and NRB paperwork.
Documents
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Japanese export certificate | Identity and year. NBR/customs also use chassis-book age. |
| JAAI / PSI certificate | Age and identity for customs. |
| L/C (if required) | Bank routing for many vehicle imports. |
| Bill of lading, invoice, packing list | Chittagong entry. |
| IRC / NRB papers | Your legal import channel. |
NBR tax is not 25%
Customs duty, regulatory duty, supplementary duty by CC (often the largest line), 15% VAT, and advance income tax stack on a customs value that may follow the Japanese Yellow Book rather than the invoice. Small-CC cars pay less SD than 2000cc+ units. Do not quote a single percentage.
Official starting points: National Board of Revenue and Bangladesh Customs enquiry on used-vehicle age.
Typical order of work
- Confirm importer channel (commercial vs NRB) and the age cap that applies.
- Check manufacture year against the IPO age method, including sailing date.
- Arrange JAAI/PSI and L/C if required.
- Ship to Chittagong (Mongla as alternative).
- NBR duties; then BRTA registration.
Mistakes
- Shipping a 6-year car because a draft IPO “might allow it”.
- Using EAC 25% duty as a Bangladesh estimate.
- Skipping JAAI because the auction sheet looks complete.
Bangladesh import FAQs
Ready to import from Japan?
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