Kenya

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

• Original passport (for returning residents, a passport used for the last 2 years)
• Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Original work permit
• Detailed packing list
• Valued and detailed inventory
• Form C-18 declaration, signed by owner of the goods (baggage claim form)
• Personal identification number / taxpayer registration certificate
• PRO-1B (diplomats)
• PRO-1A, if applicable (diplomats)

 

Specific Information

• A passport used for the previous 2 years or any previous passport other than the current passports are also required; the entry and exit stamps are used by Customs to check the compliance of the regulation.
• The owner of the goods must be present and inspected by Customs clearance.
• All shipments will be inspected by Customs.
• All cosmetics, toiletries, perfumes, alcohol, and foodstuffs will be subjected to radioactive analysis which will cost Kshs 3,000 per sample per item.
• Computers are not classified as personal effects and are subject to tax and duties.
• All wooden crates need (ISPM-15) requirements.
• Documents must be received by the agent 15 days prior to arrival in order for the owner of the goods’ employer to obtain the duty-free exemption certificate, if applicable (diplomats).
• Diplomatic goods are not subject to inspection with an approved PRO-1B in place (diplomats).
  • PRO-1A is required if importing alcohol and must be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomats)
• Diplomats must apply for exemption from duty and value added tax (VAT) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya; the diplomat must be in the country for the exemption certificate application (2 - 3 weeks) and when the shipment arrives.
• Returning residents must have lived abroad for more than 2 consecutive years and cannot have visited Kenya for a total of more than 90 days from last date of entry in Kenya for duty free import; shipment must be imported within 3 months of entry date.
  • For duty free importation of personal effects, the owner of the goods must have owned the items for at least 12 months prior to import (returning citizens).
• Expatriate does not need to be in the country to submit his work permit application (1 - 2 months).
• Expatriate must be in Kenya to have the passport endorsed with the work permit.
• Goods must be imported within 90 days from the approval of the work permit (expatriate).
• All non-diplomatic shipments are subject to Railway Development Levy (RDL) which is calculated at 1.5% of the value of the shipment.

 

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required                                          

• Original passport
• Original work permit
• Import declaration form (IDF)
• Certificate of conformity (COC)
• Personal identification number (PIN) certificate
• Original certificate of registration / logbook of the vehicle in English

 

Specific Information

• All shipment documentation must be sent to agent at least 1 month prior to shipment arrival to reduce the possibility of demurrage / storage charges.
• If the owner of the goods wants to pay duties on the car, the following documents will be required:
  • Owner of the goods’ PIN certificate
  • Import declaration form (IDF) plus IDF charges to be paid (EUR 50)
  • Purchase invoice in English
  • PRO-1B form approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomats)
• Left-hand drive vehicles cannot be imported.
• Vehicles older than 8 years cannot be imported.
• The owner of the goods must not have visited Kenya for a total of more than 90 days in the last 2 years prior to the last date of arrival in the Kenya.
• Motor vehicles must be imported within 90 days after the last date of arrival of the owner of the goods.
• The OBL and AWB must show the details of the motor vehicle (e.g., chassis and engine numbers, make, model, color, etc.)
• A fee of EUR 120 for processing must be paid to Kenyan Customs.
• All owners of the goods must pay motor vehicle processing fees (currently USD 145 per motor vehicle).
• Only one duty-free car per returning resident in a lifetime is permitted.
• If the vehicle is older than 12 months, there is no tax provided that the vehicle is registered in the name of the person moving.
• Vehicles imported duty free are not transferrable for a period of 12 months.
• The owner of the goods must have owned the vehicle for at least 12 months for duty-free import or approximately 61% of taxes will be charged.
• If the IDF is not available, a penalty of 15% of the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of the car will be charged by the Kenyan Bureau of Standards (non-diplomats and expatriates).
• The certificate of road worthiness must be provided by the owner of the vehicle to the Kenya Bureau of Standards agent (JEVIC); it is required for a pre-inspection at origin to obtain the certificate of conformity (COC) for cars coming from Japan / Dubai / Singapore / South Africa / United Kingdom (cars from origins other than these can be inspected in Kenya by KBS for a fee of EUR 150).
• A guaranty deposit can be requested by Customs of the value of the duties while waiting for confirmation of any exemption.
• Taxes on vehicles are based on a percentage of the local value for a similar vehicle (approximately 55%) and the vehicle must not have a seating capacity of more than 13 people.
• Diplomats are allowed to import 1 vehicle or motor cycle per shipment; additional vehicles or motorcycles will be subject to duties and taxes at the rate of 45% + value added tax (VAT) at 16%.

 

Pets

Documents Required

• Vaccination record (must include rabies certificate)
• Veterinary health certificate
• Original owner of the goods / owner of the goods’ passport
• Import permit

 

Specific Information

• Documents are required prior to import (issued at point of origin).
• The animal’s rabies vaccination must be given within 12 months and 1 month prior to import.
• Import permit and rabies certificate must be presented upon entry.
• The import permit takes approximately 30 days from the time of application to obtain.
• The fee per animal is KES 500.
• A duty of 25% and VAT of 16% are required upon arrival.

 

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Weapons, including firearms (firearm certificate issued by the Kenyan Firearms Office is required)
• Wild flora and fauna (plant import permit is required)
• Birds and their products (sanitary import permit issued by the Director of Veterinary Services is required for the import of birds from countries affected by bird flu)
• The following items may qualify for free import with the limits indicated by persons 16 years and older:
  • Cigarettes (200), cigars (50)
  • Tobacco (1/2 pound)
  • Alcoholic beverages (1 bottle)
  • Perfume (1 pint)

 

Prohibited Items

• Game trophies
• Drugs
• Fruit
• Explosives
• Counterfeit currency
• Gambling machines
• Pornographic or obscene literature (books, articles, videos, etc.)
• Animal traps
• Imitation firearms
• Alcohol and other spirits
• Precious metals and stones

 

Consignment Instructions

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