Kenya - Import Household Goods and Personal Effects for Foreign diplomats government or international organizations

ProcedureEdit

Diplomatic goods are not subject to inspection with the approved Pro1b form. Diplomats must be present in Kenya when shipment arrives.

Apply in personEdit

Upon reaching the port of entry in Kenya, fill in the Declaration Form which you must be present during Customs clearance. This can be done by the diplomats, international organisation representatives or their staff. However, you can nominate a representative such as a freight forwarder, customs broker, and friend or relative to act on your behalf.
Declare all goods, household goods and personal effects that you have imported at the customs point of entry. Attach a list of all goods that are declared as free entry goods.
Attach the required documents, these may include;
- Passport – Original Diplomatic Passport
- PRO IB Forms, approved by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exempts diplomat from inspection
- PRO IA Form, required if importing alcohol, approved by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Comprehensive inventory, all high-tech equipment, computers, electronics, stereos etc.
- PIN certificate
- Port Release Order & Customs Release
- Original Bills of Lading
- Original Export Certificate/Logbook
- Port Release Order & Customs Release
- A valid work permit
- Documents from Ministry of Foreign
- Letters endorsed by governmental umbrella, addressed to: Customs Director, Shipping Agency & Bonded Warehouse
Submit the declaration form and required documents to the customs office.
After submission the Customs Office will verify the documents and declaration form.
The importer/agent will then pay taxes and duties (if any) at the Cashier Division, and then contact the Customs to release goods;
Finally the Customs Office will inspects the imported household effects against the declaration. If there is no discrepancy between the declaration made and the goods inspected, all goods will be released.

Required DocumentsEdit

Passport – Original Diplomatic Passport
PRO IB Forms, approved by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exempts diplomat from inspection
PRO IA Form, required if importing alcohol, approved by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Comprehensive inventory, all high-tech equipment, computers, electronics, stereos etc.
PIN certificate
Port Release Order & Customs Release
Original Bills of Lading
Original Export Certificate/Logbook
Port Release Order & Customs Release
A valid work permit
Documents from Ministry of Foreign
3 letters endorsed by governmental umbrella, addressed to: Customs Director, Shipping Agency & Bonded Warehouse

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Customs Services Department Head Office,
Forodha House, JKIA,
P.O. Box 00501-19070
JKIA, Kenya
Tel: +254 206 822 854/7/8 / +254 711 099 999
Email : [email protected] / [email protected]

Kenya Revenue Authority- Head Office
Times Tower, 19th Floor,
Haile Selassie Avenue
P.O. Box 30742
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel. 310900, 2813068 , 2813160 , 2812011.
Fax: 253532,240929 ,315987
Email: [email protected]
Website: Kenya Revenue Authority website

KRA Desk - Huduma Center Huduma Center Locations

i - Tax Protal i-Tax Portal

EligibilityEdit

The following persons are eligible

Foreign government diplomats,
international organizations and
Their entitled staff arriving from a place outside Kenya.

Full diplomatic shipments are not subject to inspection, however international members of the organization and Government members are subject to inspection.

FeesEdit

No fees is charged for importation. Household goods and personal effects are duty free.

ValidityEdit

The validity period of 30 days from the time of entry into Kenya.

Documents to UseEdit

Importation documents are provided at the customs office at the port entry in Kenya
Importation forms are also available at any Kenyan Embassy and Kenya Revenue Authority and from your customs broker,
The forms are available in a number of foreign languages, however they must be completed in English or Swahili.

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Maximum processing time is seven days.

InstructionsEdit

Your household goods and personal effects should be imported within 3 months of arrival.
Diplomats must be present in Kenya when shipment arrives.

Required InformationEdit

Full name and contact details of the Applicant
Sex
Date of Birth
Nationality
Purpose of visit;
Details and contact address o where the applicant shall be staying in Kenya

Need for the DocumentEdit

This allows foreign diplomats governments or international organisations to import their household goods and personal effects into Kenya duty free.

Information which might helpEdit

In accordance with section 117(2) of the Customs and Excise Act no duty shall be charged on -Goods imported by diplomatic missions, international organizations and their entitled staff under the Agreements or Law governing Foreign diplomats, members of government or international organizations are granted tax and duty free entry of their personal effects and household items either new or used.
Goods imported under these privileges are relieved from taxes and duties, irrespective of their normal classification or normal liability, provided that they are imported in specified circumstances and for specific purpose.
Full diplomatic shipments are not subject to inspection.
A local Agent should prepare the Diplomatic Card and exemption papers with the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs no less than 3-4 weeks from date of arrival of diplomat into Kenya.
Diplomatic goods are not subject to inspection with the approved Pro1b form. Diplomat must be present in Kenya when shipment arrives.

External LinksEdit

Importing Household Goods and Personal Effects into Kenya

OthersEdit

The following category of people are privileged to import Duty free goods in Kenya

The President Goods for use by the President.
The Kenya Armed Forces All goods, including materials, supplies, equipment, machinery and motor vehicles for the official use of the Kenya Armed Forces.
Commonwealth and Other Governments.
- Goods consigned to officers or men on board a naval vessel belonging to another Commonwealth Government for their personal use or for consumption on board such vessel.
- Goods for the use of any of the Armed Forces of any allied power.
Diplomatic Privileges.
- Household and personal effects of any kind imported by entitled personnel or their dependents including one motor vehicle imported or purchased by them prior to clearance through customs within ninety days of their first arrival in Kenya, or such longer period not exceeding three hundred and sixty days from the date of his arrival, as may be approved by the Treasury in specific cases, where the entitled personnel have not been granted an exemption under item 7(3) of Part A, or item 8(3) of Part B of this Schedule:
.Aid Agencies.
- Household and personal effects of any kind imported by entitled personnel or their dependents, including one motor vehicle imported or purchased by them prior to clearance through Customs, within ninety days of their first arrival in Kenya or such longer period, not exceeding three hundred and sixty days from the date of arrival, as may be approved by the Treasury in specific cases, where the entitled personnel have not been granted an exemption under item 7(3) of Part A, or item 8(3) of Part B of the Schedule:
The East African Development Bank
- Goods and equipment imported by the East African Development Bank for its official use.