These are taxes levied on goods imported into Kenya. They include Import duty, Value Added Tax, Excise Duty and other levies as guided by various Government legislations

Yes.

Passengers have a concession of USD. 500 applicable only to goods for personal and/or household use. Passengers are also exempt from taxes on their used personal effects. 

The following goods shall not be exempted: -

1. Alcoholic beverages of all kinds, perfumes, spirits and tobacco and manufactures thereof, subject to the following allowable limits: -

• Spirits (including liquors) or wine, not exceeding one litre or wine not exceeding two litres;
• Perfume and toilet water not exceeding in all one half litre, of which not more than a quarter may be perfume;
• Cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff not exceeding in all 250 grammes in weight;

2. Fabrics in piece;

3. Motor vehicles except one motor vehicle that the passenger has owned and used outside a partner State for at least twelve months;

4. Any trade goods or goods for sale or disposal to other persons

 1.Items you purchased and is your accompanied baggage upon return to Kenya exceeding USD. 500 Except;

• Goods that are the property of and accompanying the passenger.
• Goods for personal and household use of the passenger.
• Goods of such kinds and in such quantities as the proper officer may allow.

2.Items you inherited while abroad (need to present certificate of grant/will)

3. Items you bought at duty-free shops on the ship, or on the plane e.g. Spirits, including liquors exceeding one litre or wine exceeding two litres. Perfumes and toiletries exceeding in total one litre; The perfume should be more than a quarter (250ml). Cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff exceeding 250 grams in;

4.Repairs or alterations to any items you took abroad and then brought back, even if the repairs/alterations were performed free of charge.

5. Items you brought for someone else including gifts.

6.Items you intend to sell or use in your business, including business merchandise that you took out of Kenya on your trip.

7.Currency of USD. 10,000 and above or its equivalent.

8.All goods importation of which is for the time being regulated under EACCMA, 2004 or by any written law for the time being in force in the East African Community Partner State.

NOTE: It is an offence under the EACCMA 2004 to give false information to a Customs Officer.

All passengers arriving into the country are supposed to make declarations using the prescribed Passenger Declaration Form (s) (Form F88).

Section 45 of EACCMA (2004) provides for a dual channel clearance system; Green Channel and Red Channel:

1. Green Channel is meant for passengers who have nothing to declare and are carrying dutiable goods within the prescribed duty free allowance limit. The passengers are allowed to pass through the Green Channel with their baggage on the basis of their Oral declaration/declaration on their Passenger Declaration (Category A & B  of Passengers)
2. Red Channel for passengers carrying dutiable or restricted goods: All crew members of vessels or aircrafts should also use the Red Channel.

Note: Any passenger found to have not declared or mis-declared goods contravenes Section 203 of EACCMA 2004 and is liable on conviction to strict penal action. The goods are also liable to seizure/confiscation.

Yes, Section 155 of the EACCMA, 2004 permits Customs Officers to examine passengers’ luggage and conduct body searches when it is deemed necessary.

NB: There are passengers exempt from luggage examination and body searches like Diplomats and other privileged persons.

Duties are assessed based on the Customs Value of the item and Tariff Classification as provided for under the East African Community Common External Tariff, 2022. The rates are provided for under the East African Community Customs Management       Act (EACCMA) 2004, VAT Act 2013, Excise Duty Act 2015, Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act 2016 and any other fees/levies imposed by Government legislation. Customs Valuation is based on the price  actually paid or payable for the imported goods.

(C. V=Customs value). All customs officials are obligated to provide any clarifications or information sought by customers.

NB: - It is important to note that all passengers need to declare the actual transaction price of the item.

Customs Officers at the ports of entry verify imported goods, assess the payable taxes and collect the customs duties payable on behalf of the Kenyan Government

Customs Officers at the ports of entry verify imported goods, assess the payable taxes and collect the customs duties payable on behalf of the Kenyan Government

Customs duties are paid at the appointed banks or through mobile banking platform, after the generation of an Electronic Payment Slip. Banks are located within the terminals.

Note: - The online payment slip once generated by the Customs Officer will be visible and available at the bank for ease of payment.

Yes, unless expressly provided for under legislation

No.

The goods however should be used personal effects which are not for re-sale and have been the property of the deceased person and have been inherited by or bequeathed to the person/passenger to whom they are consigned.

Film equipment may be allowed into the country on a temporary basis. However, the importer must make an application to the Commissioner of Customs for permission to enter the equipment on temporary importation and;

1. Undertake to export the equipment within such period not exceeding twelve months from the date of importation. This period may be extended on application by the Commissioner of Customs.
2. Pay a non-refundable fee of 1% of the value of the goods or Kshs. 30,000 whichever is lower

Yes, pets are among the restricted items that require production of applicable permits before clearance

Yes, they are taxable when disposed of into the country.

The provisions setting out restricted items for import/export are set out in the 2nd and 3rd Schedule of the EACCMA 2004. Restricted items include but are not limited to: -

1. Unworked precious metals or precious stones
2. Arms and ammunition
3. Worked or unworked Ivory
4. Spent cartridges
5. Historical artefacts.
6. Drones
7. Medicaments
8. Plants and Plant material

The provisions setting out prohibited items for import/export are set out in the 2nd and 3rd Schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act. Prohibited items  include but are not limited to: -

1. Fake money
2. Pornographic materials in all kinds of media, indecent or obscene printed paintings, books, cards, lithographs or other engravings, and any other indecent or obscene articles.
3. Narcotic drugs
4. Used tyres for light commercial vehicles
5. Shisha and shisha flavours
6. Skin lightening/ lightening creams
7. Toy guns
8. Worn underwear garments of any types
9. Counterfeit goods of all kinds

All goods the importation of which is for the time being prohibited under this Act or by any written law for the time being in force in the East African Community Partner State.

Visit the Customs Office at the Passenger Terminal where the item was deposited with the Original Deposit Slip (F89) having met the conditions that were subject to the issuance of the F89

All restricted goods imported into the country need authorization by relevant Government Institutions through the provision of necessary licenses and permits before Customs processing and release. An importer of restricted items need to visit the relevant institution, obtain the necessary permit or licence and present it to the Customs Officer.

All passenger baggage undergoes non-intrusive inspection. All bags identified to be carrying taxable goods or any other goods for Customs Processing are flagged and physically marked through a Risk Profiling Process. All marked bags are physically verified to ascertain the contents