Djibouti Customs Information
Duties and Tax Exemption
For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below:
4.1 Djibouti Government Contact List
For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please see the following link:
Djibouti Customs Department Website
Emergency Response:
[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to 'crisis' times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government. When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]
Agreements / Conventions Description |
Ratified by Country? (Yes / No) |
---|---|
WCO (World Customs Organization) member |
Yes - 31 May 1995 |
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention |
Yes - 12 Mar 2002 |
OCHA Model Agreement |
No |
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations) |
No |
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration) |
|
Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response):
[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]
OPERATIONS EFFECTUEES A DIVERS TITRES.
ART.28.12.01
- Les envois dépourvus de tout caractère commercial, notamment :
les marchandises expédiées a titre de dons ou acquises par des organismes à caractère humanitaire ou œuvres de bienfaisance et destinées à être distribuées gratuitement à des nécessiteux sinistrés handicapés et autres catégories de personnes dignes d’être secourues.
- Non Commercial commodities, especially :
Commodities received by known humanitarian agencies/organismes within the country should be freely distributed to recognized needy people such as people with disabilities, vulnerable groups and/or all other category of individuals who require assistance.
- Consolidation of custom regulations is not yet updated (work ongoing) and printed for public circulation.
- General compilation of regulations, tariffs, publications, contacts can be obtained at custom website www.douanes.dj (not updated regularly)
- Main advice from market operators is to request custom written confirmation prior shipment specially when not dealing with common deliveries through a reliable C&F agent.
Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status |
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United Nations Agencies |
For illustration, principal and major articles related to exemption extracted from MOU signed by WFP and GOD for guidance ”to whom it may concern”, please see the following documents: Djibouti Customs Article Premier The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations Extract |
Non Governmental Organizations |
|
Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:
Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure |
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Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation) |
|
Process to be followed (step by step or flowchart) |
|
Exemption Certificate Document Requirements
Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Food |
NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education) |
Medicines |
Vehicle & Spare Parts |
Staff & Office Supplies |
Telecoms Equipment |
Invoice |
Yes, Original |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process may require President office authorization |
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
Yes, Original |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
Yes, Original |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Packing Lists |
Yes, Original |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Other Documents |
Agency Letter & Note verbal signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Finance respectively authorizing exemption of taxes. |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Additional Notes |
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|
Customs Clearance
General Information
Customs Information |
|
---|---|
Document Requirements |
Original B/L, certificate of origin, health, phytosanitary, packing list and commercial invoice. |
Embargoes |
Custom refuses entry/export in case of contamination that can be hazardous to human and agriculture/animal. Custom requires a cargo fitness certificate from relevant Authorities to avoid destruction/incineration. |
Prohibited Items |
Djibouti being member of CITES (Convention International Trade Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flore). Also items such as: psychotropic substances Law n°17/AN/81 uranium, nuclear bomb, narcotic drugs etc… are restricted. |
General Restrictions |
No restrictions |
Customs Clearance Document Requirements
Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Food |
NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education) |
Medicines |
Vehicles |
Staff & |
Telecoms Equipment |
D&T Exemption Certificate |
Yes, Original, 1 copy No difference |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process & President office authorization |
Invoice |
Yes, Original, 1 copy No difference |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
Yes, Original, 1 copy No difference |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
Yes, Original, 1 copy No difference |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Packing Lists |
Yes, Original, 1 copy No difference |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Phytosanitary Certificate |
Yes, Original, 1 copy No difference |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Other Documents |
A cover letter plus endorsed B/L to the C&F agent |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Same process |
Additional Notes |
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For sensitive telecoms equipment normally requires and additional request letter addressed to the President office. |
Transit Regime
FOR ETHIOPIA:
- Custom clearance is first performed by Addis-Ababa/Ethiopia customs authority which requires presentation of original shipping documentation, for customs to provide their release sign/stamp documentation.
- Thereafter all documentation, Ethiopia Customs documentation & original shipping documents are submitted to Ethiopia custom office based in Djibouti Port for verification of waybills against the permit release form issued by Addis-Ababa and if all are in order authorization to dispatch and/or cross border is given.
- Djibouti custom authorization provides final checking of documentation & cargo released for dispatch and/or border crossing.
FOR OTHER DESTINATIONS:
- Since no other country have customs representation in Djibouti is only require Djibouti customs office intervention & authorization.