How to get Pokemon cards graded by PSA depends first on where you live, because the United States and Japan run separate order routes and price lists, and EU collectors can use the Frankfurt facility.
PSA published its current service levels on its pricing pages and in a September 9, 2026 announcement of the new Standard tier and the Frankfurt facility. The Japanese site, PSA Japan, lists its own yen prices and its own lead times.
We sell Japanese sealed product and graded singles from Tokyo. Where our own prices appear they use the ¥154/USD basis; every PSA price is copied in the currency PSA prints it.
Getting a card graded by PSA is an online order on the route you qualify for: PSA US for US customers, PSA Japan for residents of Japan, Frankfurt for EU collectors. Standard is $59.99 per card in the US and ¥9,980 per card in Japan. If you would rather skip the wait, a graded card can be ordered instead — for example the PSA 10 Charmander AR SV2a 168/165 back order at ¥14,606 (~$95).
As of September 29, 2026 the US and Japan price lists include the Standard tier, the Value tiers remain paused, and PSA’s Backlog Tracker gives about 9 million units in the active global backlog (entry of September 22, 2026).
What PSA Does to a Card
PSA’s pricing page describes the process in three parts: authentication first, then grading on a 1-10 scale, then encapsulation in a “sonically sealed, tamper-evident case” with the grade and certification number on the PSA LightHouse label.
PSA’s Gem Mint 10 standard reads: “A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss.” The same page limits front centering to approximately 55/45 and rear centering to approximately 75/25, and it lets the grader allow a small variance at the grader’s sole discretion.
PSA Japan FAQ A-04 says the standards do not differ by country or facility: PSA Japan grades to the standard set by the US headquarters. That matters when you pick a route, because the choice between countries is about price, lead time and eligibility rather than a different grade scale. For what a PSA 10 means once a card is in the slab, see our explainer on what PSA 10 means on a Pokemon card.
The Steps, in Order
The order of a PSA submission is the same whichever country route you use.
| Step | What you do | What PSA says |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm which route you qualify for | The route table in the next section sets out the routes and their status |
| 2 | Pick a service level by declared value | Each level has a maximum insured value (US) or declared-value cap (Japan) |
| 3 | Create the order online | PSA Japan orders go through the web or app; the Lounge FAQ says people who created an order online still need a reservation to visit |
| 4 | Send or hand in the cards | At PSA Lounge Tokyo, PSA covers outbound shipping (Lounge FAQ) |
| 5 | Wait for the notices | PSA Japan sends a package arrival notice and later an order number notice |
| 6 | Wait for grading | Each service level has an estimated lead time; PSA labels all timing as an estimate |
| 7 | Authentication, grading, encapsulation | Grade and cert number appear on the LightHouse label |
| 8 | Verify the cert | PSA points customers to the online Certification Verification page and the PSA app |
Step 2 deserves care. The declared value you enter decides which levels are open to a card, and the cheaper levels are also the slowest.
Which Route Applies to You
PSA states that it has six global grading facilities. Its Backlog Tracker entry of July 28, 2026 calls Plano, Texas its fifth full grading facility.
| Where you live | Route | What the official page says | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | PSA US (psacard.com) | Price list and turnaround on the services page | Official |
| Japan | PSA Japan (psacard.com/ja-JP) | The Japan order route; eligibility is in the residency section | Official (FAQ D-08) |
| EU countries | Frankfurt facility | Open to EU collectors from September 15, 2026, 12:01 AM CET | Official (PSA News, September 9, 2026) |
| Japan residents asking about PSA US | PSA US | FAQ D-09: PSA US stopped accepting grading submissions from customers outside the US, so PSA Vault and similar US-routed services are temporarily restricted for Japan residents | Official |
| UK, EU, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand | Ace Grading (a different company) | Ace’s home page says it accepts submissions from those countries | Company statement; not PSA |
If you want PSA grading near you, the answer is decided by that table before it is decided by distance. In Japan, PSA Lounge Tokyo is an in-person drop-off point, covered in its own section.
Our separate guide to Japanese Pokemon card grading with PSA, BGS and CGC compares the companies.
PSA US Service Levels
These are the US prices and estimates as printed on PSA’s services page as of September 29, 2026. PSA describes turnaround times as “estimates only and not guaranteed”, counted from when the order is entered into the grading system.
| Service level | Price per card | Max insured value | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59.99 | $1,000 | 90 – 100 business days |
| Priority | $79.99 | $1,500 | 70 – 80 business days |
| Express | $199.00 | $2,500 | 20 – 30 business days |
| Super Express | $349.00 | $5,000 | 10 – 15 business days |
| Premier | $599.00 | $10,000 | 7 – 10 business days |
| Premium 1 | $999.00 | $25,000 or less | 5 – 7 business days |
| Premium 2 | $1,999.00 | $50,000 or less | 5 – 7 business days |
| Premium 3 | $2,999.00 | $100,000 or less | 5 – 7 business days |
| Premium 5 | $4,999.00 | $250,000 or less | 5 – 7 business days |
| Premium 10 | $9,999.00+ | $250,001 or higher | 5 – 7 business days |
Value Bulk and Value show “Value Services Are Temporarily Paused” and “Currently Unavailable” on the same page, each with a $500 maximum insured value. The September 9, 2026 announcement says Standard is “not a replacement for our Value tiers”, which remain paused, and that Standard orders will be processed following existing Value and Bulk orders.
PSA Japan Service Levels
PSA Japan prices are per card in yen, tax included, and each level has a declared-value cap. The lead time in business days counts from the package arrival email, so it is not directly comparable with the US clock. Figures are as of September 29, 2026 on the PSA Japan services page.
| Service level (JP name) | Price per card | Declared value cap | Estimated lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (スタンダード) | ¥9,980 | ¥150,000 or less | 100 business days |
| Priority (プライオリティ) | ¥11,980 | ¥250,000 or less | 80 business days |
| Express (エクスプレス) | ¥29,980 | ¥400,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Super Express (スーパー・エクスプレス) | ¥44,980 | ¥750,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Premier (プレミア) | ¥89,980 | ¥1,500,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Premium 1 | ¥149,980 | ¥4,000,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Premium 2 | ¥299,980 | ¥8,000,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Premium 3 | ¥449,980 | ¥15,000,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Premium 5 | ¥749,980 | ¥35,000,000 or less | 25 business days |
| Premium 10 | ¥1,499,980 | ¥35,000,001 or more | 15 business days |
Value Bulk and Value (declared value up to ¥80,000) show “reception suspended” on the Japan page. The two countries’ numbers differ even for the same level name: Japan Express lists 25 business days, while US Express lists 20 – 30. Quote each site’s own figure and do not convert one price list into the other.
Two Japan-side updates are dated by PSA Japan. The Express price moved from ¥22,980 to ¥29,980 per card for orders from September 10, 2026, and the Standard tier at ¥9,980, 100 business days and a declared value up to ¥150,000 opened on September 15, 2026 at 7:00 AM. From September 15, 2026 the old Regular level is called Priority and Walk-Through is called Premier.
Arrival Notice and Order Number Timing
| Stage | What PSA Japan says |
|---|---|
| Package arrival notice | Comes within about 2-3 business days |
| Estimated lead time starts | From the arrival email |
| Order number notice | About 2 months to 2.5 months after the arrival notice |
| Graded cards returned | Mailed to the registered address; the Lounge cannot hand them back |
PSA labels all timing as an estimate that may change without notice, so keep the date next to any figure you quote.
PSA Lounge Tokyo: Drop-Off in Person
PSA Lounge Tokyo is at 1-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, on the fifth floor of the building shared with the SNKRDUNK trading card store in Akihabara.
| Detail | Lounge rule |
|---|---|
| Reception | Reservation only since April 2, including people who already created an order on the web or app |
| Hours | 11:00-14:00 (reception closes 13:30) and 15:00-19:00 (reception closes 18:30) |
| Closed | Tuesday and Wednesday |
| Levels accepted | Standard, Priority, Express, Super Express, plus Reholder 30 and Reholder 75 |
| Outbound shipping | Covered by PSA when you submit at the Lounge |
| Return of graded items | Not collected at the Lounge; mailed to the registered address |
| Age | Users must be adults |
Other Premium options are not accepted at the Lounge. It is not a walk-in counter and it does not return finished cards on site, so it removes only the shipping step of the process.
Residency Rules for PSA Japan and PSA US
Two PSA Japan FAQ entries decide who can use which site. D-08 says PSA Japan accepts grading orders only from people who live in Japan. D-09 says PSA US has stopped accepting submissions from customers outside the US, so PSA Vault and similar US-routed services are temporarily restricted for Japan residents. PSA’s support page “How do I submit in Japan?”, dated July 18, 2025, repeats that the Japan branch currently accepts submissions only from residents of Japan.
The practical reading for a collector outside Japan is that the Tokyo route is not open to you. If you live in an EU country, the Frankfurt route applies; if you live in the US, PSA US applies. If neither describes you, a company such as Ace Grading states a wider list of accepted countries, though its grades are a different product.
What Changed in 2026
Because PSA changes prices and pauses tiers often, a dated timeline is the clearest way to read any older advice you find.
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| February 10, 2026 | US fee update: Value Bulk $21.99 to $24.99, Value $27.99 to $32.99, Value Plus $44.99 to $49.99, Value Max $59.99 to $64.99, Regular $74.99 to $79.99; PSA Japan revised its prices and turnaround the same day | PSA News; PSA Japan notice |
| May 14, 2026 | PSA announced a $200 million infrastructure investment over 18 months; Super Express price moved from $299 to $349 | PSA News |
| June 2, 2026 | Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus and Value Max closed to new submissions | PSA News, May 28, 2026 |
| July 28, 2026 | Fifth grading facility in Plano, Texas opened as a full grading facility; backlog entry 12.4 million | PSA Backlog Tracker |
| September 9, 2026 | Standard tier announced at $59.99; Regular renamed Priority; Express raised to $199.00; Frankfurt opens to EU collectors from September 15 | PSA News |
| September 10, 2026 | PSA Japan Express raised from ¥22,980 to ¥29,980 for new orders | PSA Japan notice |
| September 15, 2026 | PSA Japan Standard opens at ¥9,980 | PSA Japan notice |
| September 22, 2026 | Active global backlog about 9 million units, down from 9.9 million on September 8 | PSA Backlog Tracker |
Do not read September 2026 as an across-the-board price rise. Only Express changed price; Regular and Walk-Through were renamed. The backlog figure is PSA’s own and the tracker updates every two weeks, so a later entry will replace the one quoted here. PSA has said the Value tiers will reopen “in phases” without giving a date.
What PSA Will Not Grade
Knowing what gets rejected saves a submission fee. PSA Japan FAQ F-05 defines “Authentic” as meaning only that the card is genuine, with no statement about condition. “Authentic Altered” is a genuine card with alteration such as trimming, re-coloring or cleaning; such a card cannot be graded and only authentication is possible. FAQ B-02 says a suspected counterfeit is returned ungraded in a card saver.
| Item | PSA’s stated position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trimmed, re-colored or restored cards | Not graded; PSA’s standards page says it will not grade cards bearing such evidence | PSA grading standards |
| Suspected counterfeit | Returned ungraded in a card saver | PSA Japan FAQ B-02 |
| Pokemon TCG coins | Coin grading no longer accepted at PSA Japan | PSA Japan FAQ B-08 |
| Manga | Manga grading not accepted at PSA Japan | PSA Japan FAQ B-09 |
PSA’s 2025 Fraud Report frames why authentication comes first. It lists Pokemon as the top counterfeited category, gives counterfeit Pokemon cards up 125 percent year over year, and calls its “$200M+” figure of intercepted collectibles “projected”. Those counts come from PSA’s own submissions and are not a market-wide rate. For the buyer’s side of the same problem, see how to spot fake Japanese Pokemon cards.
After grading, the cert number can be checked, and PSA’s population report (the 鑑定分布データ tool on the Japan site) shows per-grade counts by series and year. The population pages need a sign-in, so check the counts on PSA’s own site rather than from a second-hand quote.
Or Buy a PSA 10 from Tokyo
Grading is a long wait with an uncertain grade: the US Standard estimate is 90 – 100 business days and the Japan estimate is 100 business days from the arrival email. If the card you want already exists as a PSA 10, ordering the graded copy replaces the whole process with a single purchase.
The PSA 10 cards linked here are offered as back orders, sourced to order from Japan. Each product page shows the current terms, and the PSA 10 back orders page explains how the process works.
| Card | Set | Back-order listing |
|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 Charmander AR 168/165 | Pokemon Card 151 (SV2a) | ¥14,606 (~$95) |
| PSA 10 Squirtle AR 170/165 | Pokemon Card 151 (SV2a) | ¥13,178 (~$86) |
| PSA 10 Pikachu SV-P 242 | Illustration Contest 2024 promo | ¥11,884 (~$77) |
| PSA 10 Feraligatr SV-P 241 | Illustration Contest 2024 promo | ¥6,834 (~$44) |
| PSA 10 Worker SR 111/098 | Paradigm Trigger (s12) | ¥6,528 (~$42) |
| PSA 10 Toxtricity ex SV-P 243 | Illustration Contest 2024 promo | ¥5,406 (~$35) |
Buying a slab does not remove the grading question, only your part in it. Our article on PSA Japan labels and what “graded in Japan” means and the comparison of PSA 9 and PSA 10 for Japanese cards cover how to read what you receive.
Where to Buy PSA 10 Cards from Japan
Three routes cover most cases: browse the PSA 10 card list for graded cards by set, open a single product such as the PSA 10 Charizard VSTAR HR S9 118/100 back order at ¥20,716 (~$135), or use Quick Order to request a card that is not listed.
For the wider process of importing cards, our guide to buying Japanese Pokemon cards from Japan covers what to expect from an order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get Pokemon cards graded by PSA?
Create an order on the PSA site for the route you qualify for, choose a service level by declared value, and send or hand in the cards. PSA authenticates, grades on a 1-10 scale and seals the card in a tamper-evident case with a LightHouse label showing the grade and cert number.
How much does PSA grading cost per card?
As of September 29, 2026 the US Standard tier is $59.99 per card and PSA Japan Standard is ¥9,980 per card, tax included. Priority is $79.99 in the US and ¥11,980 in Japan. Each site prices in its own currency and the two lists are not interchangeable.
How long does PSA Japan take before the order number arrives?
PSA Japan says the package arrival notice comes within about 2-3 business days, and the order number notice follows about 2 months to 2.5 months after that. The estimated lead time for each service level counts from the arrival email, and PSA calls all such times estimates.
Can I submit to PSA Japan if I live outside Japan?
No. PSA Japan FAQ D-08 says it accepts grading orders only from residents of Japan, and PSA’s support page dated July 18, 2025 says the same. FAQ D-09 adds that PSA US has stopped accepting submissions from customers outside the US, so Japan residents cannot use US-routed services either.
Where can I drop cards off in person in Tokyo?
PSA Lounge Tokyo, on the fifth floor of the SNKRDUNK trading card store building in Akihabara. Since April 2 it takes reservations only, with Tuesday and Wednesday closed. It accepts Standard through Super Express plus Reholder 30 and 75, and graded cards are mailed back rather than handed over.
Does PSA Japan grade differently from PSA US?
No. PSA Japan FAQ A-04 says PSA Japan grades to the standard set by the US headquarters, and that standards do not differ by country or facility. The differences between the sites are price lists, lead times, declared-value caps and who is eligible to submit.
How many grading facilities does PSA have?
PSA said on September 9, 2026 that it has six global grading facilities, with Frankfurt open to EU collectors. Its July 28, 2026 Backlog Tracker entry calls Plano, Texas its fifth full grading facility. PSA Japan keeps its own price list, lead times and eligibility rules, so the facility count does not change which route a collector can use.
How do I buy a PSA 10 from Japan instead of grading?
Open a listing on the PSA 10 card list or use Quick Order for a card that is not listed. The PSA 10 cards linked here are offered as back orders, sourced to order from Japan, and each product page shows the current terms. The PSA 10 back orders page explains the process.
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