Cote Divoire - Import Goods

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Procedure

1.A trader should start by finding out what is required in order for him / her to import the kind of goods he / she wishes to. The trader at this stage is advised to also find a Customs Commission Agents (Commissionaire en Douanes) who shall be assisting in the clearing process;

2.Thereafter, with the assistance of the customs agent, the importer goes ahead to prepare the required documents and obtain any other necessary documents like licenses, permits or certificates as may be required depending on the type of goods to be imported;

3.When shipment of good arrived at the entry port, the agent proceeds with customs declaration. In this case, a customs declaration form is filled and the agent enters all necessary information for the customs declaration form into the SYDAM system and in this case, the agent must also distinguish the type of entry made by indicating a relevant customs procedure code.

4.The import after entering data into the system, he / she must go ahead and verify the data and thereafter prints four (4) copies of the customs declaration. This declaration should be printed on already printed and availed declaration form;

5.Thereafter the printed declaration together with the other required / necessary documents are submitted to the documentation section at the customs and when documents are received at the, receipt is acknowledged by putting an acknowledgement stamp;

6.Further at the documentation section, the documents are stamped with a stamp DPOD, they are then reviewed and duties are then assessed and listed on a payment assessment with is issued to the importer or his / her agent;

7.When the assessment is received, the importer then arranges to make payment. At this stage, the trader is assigned to a channel through which he / she is supposed to clear the duties. Here submitted documents are verified and a recevabilite stamp is inserted on the customs declaration to certify that the submitted documents meet the customs clearance requirement. The three (3) channels of which one is assigned are

i)The White Channel: This is assigned to an importer who has been approved on the basis of economic criteria like the importers past behavior and turnover and value of importation. Under this channel, permission for delivery is given after validation of the declaration form and issuance of a payment receipt against paid duties is after verification of all other documents;

ii)The Green Channel: Under this channel, permission for delivery and payment receipt against paid duties are given after control and validation of all import documents; and

iii)The Red Channel: Under this channel, all import documents plus the declaration form are first controlled and inspected to find out if there are any errors or omissions. In cases of errors and omission, changes to the assessed duties should be settled before a payment receipt is issued.

8.After payments have been made and a payment receipt has been received by the importer, is taken to the Customs Collector for stamping;

9.Thereafter, the Customs Officer finally certifies clearance of goods. He / she does this by fixing his / her personal seal on the Customs Declaration Form. The goods can now be moved into the country;

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Required Documents

1.Registration certificate of importer / trader

2.Identification documents of trader

3.Commercial invoice (from supplier)

4.Bill of lading

5.Cargo tracking note (BSC)

6.Certificate of origin

7.Cargo release order

8.Inspection report (BIVAC)

9.Standard / health certificate

10.Import license

11.Packing list

12.Tax clearance certificate

13.Clean reports of finding (attestation de verification)

14.Insurance certificate

Office Locations & Contacts

The Direction generale des Douanes de Cote dIvoire

BP V 25 Abidjan Plateau

Place de la republique

Telephone No.: 20 251 500 / 20 251 526

Fax: 20 251 514 / 20 220 568

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.douanes.ci

Direction Generale d Imports

One Stop Centre for Business Registration (CEPICI)

Abidjan Plateau

Immeuble Eellerive

16ieme etage

Telephone No.: (225) 20311400 / 20 30 23 85

Min. of Trade & Commerce

Mr.Youssouf SOUMAHORO

Ministry for Industry and the Promotion of the Private Sector

Directeur gnral / Director General: Mr. Denis Loukou Bohoussou

B.P. V 65

Abidjan

Immeuble de l'Industrie

Rue Lecoeur, Plateau

01 BP 2337 Abidjan 01

Telephone.

• (225) 22 41 16 65
• (225) 22 41 16 53
• (225) 22 41 10 87
• (225) 22 33 53 43

Telefax.

• (225) 22 33 53 45
• (225) 22 41 11 81

E-mail address.

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Eligibility

Any trader who meets all requirements for importation in to the country can import at any time..

Fees

Approximately US$ 2,710 as detailed below:-

1.Preparation of documents US$ 410

2.Clearing goods at the customs department and technical control US$ 300

3.Handling goods at the ports and terminal US$ 1,000

4.Inland transportation and handling US$ 1,000

Validity

As long as trader meets the requirements

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

About thirty four (34) days as divided below: -

1.Preparation of documents 19 days

2.Clearing goods at the customs department and technical control 7 days

3.Handling goods at the ports and terminal 6 days

4.Inland transportation and handling 2 days

Related Videos

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Instructions

1.Traders are advised to import goods that are not locally produced in the country;

2.They are argues to ensure that the goods to be imported meet the required standards of Cte d'Ivoire

3.Always avoid errors and omissions while preparing import documents;

4.Traders intending to import must be aware of goods that are prohibited and those that are restricted;

5.Traders must endeavor to obtain any required permits, certificates, special and any other documents as may be required basing on the goods t be imported;

6.Any person hoping to import must be willing to comply with rules and regulations of the customs authority in Cte d'Ivoire;

7.Importers who are not sure of the procedure may seek assistance from the customs department or contact a clearing agent to assist in the process;

8.In Cte d'Ivoire the customs department uses both computerized / electronic and manual / paper systems in the performance of its work;

9.Applicants are argues to always contact Customs Commission Agents (Commissionaire en Douanes) help in the customs clearance procedures;

10.Ensure that a contacted agent is authorized to do so in the country;

11.Traders importing goods with value above 500,000XOF must file declaration before goods arrive in the country;

12.Importers must know that all goods entering Ivory Coast are entitled to pre-shipment inspection; .

Required Information

1.Name and address of a trader

2.Specification of goods to be imported (type, name, quality and quantity)

3.Cost of goods

4.Manufacturer of the good to be imported

5.Country of export

Need for the Document

To Import goods involves entering goods in to a given country from foreign country. The processes of importing goods in Cte dIvoire are controlled by government through the countrys customs authority, Douanes de Cote dIvoire by use of a system known as SYDAM.

Information which might help

1.Tourist fifteen (15) years and above who come to Cote dIvoire can enter with the following imports freely:-

• 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco
• 1 bottle of wine
• 1 bottle of spirits
• litres of toilet water
• litres of perfume

Restricted Items

• Alcohol and other spirits are prohibited and should be sent separately, unless Fond de Cave (less than 30 bottles) is mentioned.
• New (less than six months old) electrical/electronic items
• New furniture
• All written materials, films, pictures

Prohibited Items

• Narcotics.
• Illegal drug.
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives and weapons.
• Pornography.
• Motor vehicles more than seven years old.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• Importation introduces new products on the local market; Number of goods on the local market is increased through Importation;
• Importation helps in reducing prices of some particular products that scarcely produced locally as the same can be imported;
• Importation is promotion of international trade;
• Revenue is received through taxes and duties imposed on imports;
• New jobs are created as foreigners set companies to import in the country.

External Links

http://www.unigrouprelocation.com/PDFStorage/UGWW/customs_restrictions_CotedIvoire.pdf

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/CI-Cote-dIvoire-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm

http://www.doingbusiness.org

https://www.guce.gouv.ci/support/faq

http://www.web.ita.doc.gov/tacgi/overseasnew.nsf/alldata/Cote%20D%27Ivoire

http://www.ustr.gov/countries-regions/africa/west-africa/cote-divoire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Ivory_cost

http://www.intracen.org/country/ivory-coast/

http://www.dfat.gov.au/sanctions/sanctions-regimes/cote-divoire.html

http://www.egypt-import-export.com/en/country-profiles/ivory-coast/selling_and_buying

http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/

Others

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