Buying used cameras to resell in Japan requires a secondhand dealer licence — how to apply

1. Who needs it

• Needed: buying used items to resell for profit, repeatedly (including export)
• Not needed: selling gear you used yourself, giving items away, dealing only in new goods

Operating without a licence is a criminal offence (up to 3 years imprisonment or a ¥1,000,000 fine).

2. Where and how much

• Apply at the police station with jurisdiction over your main place of business (crime-prevention / community safety section)
• Fee: ¥19,000
• Processing time: not stated officially; commonly around 40 days. Start 1–2 months before you intend to buy

3. Documents (individual)

• Application form (Form 1 of the enforcement regulations)
• Résumé (applicant and the premises manager)
• Certificate of residence showing registered domicile (honseki)
• Written pledge
• "Identity certificate" (mibun shomeisho) — not a driver's licence: a certificate issued by the municipality of your registered domicile
• Proof of authority to use a URL, if you trade through a website or marketplace page

Corporations add the articles of incorporation and a registry certificate, and the personal documents for every director.

4. After the licence

• Display the prescribed sign at the premises
• Keep a dealer ledger of purchases and sales for three years
• Verify the identity of people you buy from
• Report suspected stolen goods to the police
• File a notification for changes (name, address, premises, manager, URL). The licence itself does not expire

5. On recam

recam provides price information only and is never a party to a sale. There is no public registry we can check a licence against, so recam does not 'verify' licences.