Libya

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Copy of passport (identification pages and passport translation page in Arabic)
• Packing list
• Entrance visa / work permit (foreigners, diplomats)
• Original Bill of Lading (OBL) / Telex release / air waybill (AWB)
• Letter of employment (foreigners)
• Statistics code (provided by Libyan employer) (foreigners)
• Letter from the Libyan Consulate / letter of employment (returning citizens)
• Diplomatic franchise from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomats)

 

Specific Regulations

• The Customs clearance procedures can last from 7-10 days (foreigners) / 10-14 days (diplomats).
• The owner of the goods does not need to be present for Customs clearance.
• A letter from the Libyan Consulate is required for returning citizens, detailing the owner of the goods’ organization abroad; however, if the entity employing the owner of the goods has a branch in Libya, a letter from the employing branch is acceptable for re-entry.
• The owner of the goods’ import documents should be ready prior to shipment arrival at the port / airport of entry to minimize port charges.
• Duties of approximately 10% may apply on shipments above the Customs estimate; however, diplomats are exempt.

 

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• OBL
• Purchase invoice

 

Specific Regulations

• Returning citizens cannot import vehicles older than 5 years of manufacture.
• For returning citizens 10% duty is applicable after the Customs estimation process.
• For foreigners, 25% of the value of the vehicle is paid as a deposit and a temporary regime is applied.
  • The deposit is refunded after the foreigner’s final departure.

 

Pets

Documents Required

• Vaccination record
• Veterinary health certificate (2 copies)

 

Specific Regulations

• The documents must accompany pets entering Libya.

 

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Plants and plant products (a plant quarantine certificate is required)
• Insecticides (a permit obtained from the Secretariat of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform’s Plant Protection Department is required)

 

Prohibited Items

• Narcotics
• Pornographic materials
• Counterfeit items
• Explosive materials
• Alcohol and spirits
• Guns

 

Consignment Instructions

Recommended:  Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.