Went to the post office today to post a parcel, but they inform me that you need to apply electronically. Fair enough, and they dug out an English copy of the instructions, which were professionally translated, and easy to follow on the rather well-done web app. I registered OK, entered the destination address, all the customs info, then pressed the Request Label button that emails a URL to a QR Code that will print the label, only the email didn’t come.
After 5 minutes wait, I went back to the counter, did a bit of troubleshooting, but nothing. Next, another member of staff comes along with an iPad with an English app that does a one-off label. I re-entered all my info, pressed the Done button, which rather than fire off their label printer or give a QR Code, outputs a 16 alphanumeric code. They printed that off, I signed all the declarations (5 if I remember correctly), paid up, then…
…my phone buzzes to say there’s an email from the post office with the QR Code I requested about half an hour ago.
3 comments
Not sure why you’re asking about a hanko, but no, you don’t need one. You can prepare the labels at home if you have a printer (and the app or can access the website), but you can also just enter the data and show them the QR code, and they’ll suck up your data and print the labels.
That’ll happen on occasion with the EMS email, haven’t found any rhyme or reason as to why. You thankfully don’t need a hanko. As for the 16-digit code, it’ll give you that if you’re sending more than three distinct items, otherwise it’ll give you the QR code to print off at their label printer. In either case, it should normally give you the email immediately, unless the app just decides it doesn’t feel like working that day haha (in which case I’ve found the fastest thing is to just re-do everything, as much of a pain that is)
I had a similar situation and just kept refreshing until the QR code appeared.
I did miss the days of not needing to wave/check a phone every minute sometimes 😞.