Jordan
1.3 Jordan Customs Information

Jordan Customs Information

For information on Jordan Customs contact details, please see the following links: 

4.2 Jordan Humanitarian Agency Contact List

4.1 Jordan Government Contact List

Jordan Customs 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.]

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones

Agreements / Conventions Description

Ratified by Country?

(Yes / No)

WCO (World Customs Organization) member

n/a 

Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention

n/a  

OCHA Model Agreement

Yes

Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations)

n/a 

Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration)

n/a 

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.).]

 

In the normal situation, all UN imported items are generally exempted from customs, Import duties and other taxes.provided that it is for the use of the UN and its staff. for staff working in Jordan they are allowed to import a vehicle free of customs dues and also their personal furniture and belongings. Country Directors and representatives are give a card to which allow them to purchase different personal items free of tax. Other international staff they have to pay the taxes which reach up to 17% on the normal purchases form the Jordanian market.

Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status

United Nations Agencies

 All UN agency working in Jordan, needs to have an official registration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to be able to operate in the country. For each Agency there is a counter part eg: WHO to be in direct contact with Ministry of Health who will provide all the necessary clearances such as Entry Visa, Stay permits for International staff, approach Ministry of Finance for the necessary tax and custo0ms exemptions.  . WFP  works with Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Education who are responsible for all official permits and all kind of exemptions for their projects inputs. Also WFP works as a liason office for Iraq country office and facilitate all Correspondences with the Government of Jordan for the exemption of the commodities in transit to Iraq as well as for the Entry visa and stay permits for the international staff and their families.

There is a big mission for Iraq working form Jordan and facilitate the move of various UN staff move into Iraq(UNAMI)

Non Governmental Organizations

 Prior to  import or receive donations from donor countries, the NGO should be registered with Ministry of Social welfare and a certificate or permission is issued. All official documents and related certificate are required prior to start the clearance. Exemptions are based on the agreement with the government at the initial stage of registration which define which items to be exempted.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure

1/ Original Shipping documents (invoice, Bill of lading or Airway bill, Certificate of origin,
Fumigation certificate in case of food, Lap test certificate and Packing list)
2/ A covering letter form the counter part ministry stating the reason for requesting all type of dues exemptions to be addressed to Ministry of Finance
3/ Authorized clearing agent to handle the process with the customs authorities

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Food Shelter,Wash and education Medicines Vehicles and Spare parts Staff and office supplies Telecoms equiment
Invoice
Must
Must
Must
Must
only for office supplies
Must
AWB, BoL, or Other Transport Documents
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Donation Non-Commercial Certificate
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Packing List
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Other Documents
 n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a
Health Certificate
Must
  n/a
Must
  n/a   n/a   n/a
Fumigation
Must
  n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a   n/a
Certificate of Origin
Must
  n/a
Must
  n/a   n/a   n/a

NOTE:

UN Agencies should obtain all exemptions prior to the arrival of their consignment
In case of telecommunications, equipments have to be checked by the telecommunication department prior to installation or use y the Agency. Approval to import telecommunication is obtained from ministry of telecommunication
Import of Medicine during emergency to be coordinated and approved by ministry of Health

Customs Clearance

General Information

Clearance should be done through appointed agent with valid clearance license.
Upon presentation of all necessary documents such as Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Exemption of Import Duties and Tax exemption, a clearance order will be issued and the consignment will be released to the clearance agent.

Customs Information

Document Requirements

Invoice is a must and other related documents depends on the type of good imported

Embargoes

Drugs, Weapons (all type) and related emunitions

Prohibited Items

Drugs, Weapons (all type) and related emunitions

General Restrictions

limitation of pesonal usage of Alcohol, cigar, cigarettes

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Upon clearing any commodity, even when exempted from duties and taxes, a customs declaration shall be presented to the customs house, such declaration shall be organized:-

  • In writing.
  • By using information or data processing method whenever such method is required and in accordance with directives issued by the Director. The provisions applied to the written declaration shall apply to this kind of declaration as well.


The Director shall specify the forms of declarations and the media for their submission, in addition to the number and princes of copies, the information they must contain, the documents which shall be attached to the declarations as well as the information contained in such documents.
The detailed customs declaration should only contain the goods mentioned in one manifest only except in cases determined by the Director.

The declaration should not mention several sealed packages or packages assembled in any way to look as if they form one unit. The directives issued by the Director with regard to the containers, pallets and trailers shall be observed.

The declarant, upon his request, is allowed to amend one or more of the items of the declaration after being accepted by Customs, provided that such amendment shall not result in making the declaration apply to goods other than that originally covered therein. However, the amendment shall not be allowed if the request was submitted after customs authorities have already carried out any of these formalities:

  • 1. Informing the declarant that they intend to examine the goods.
  • 2. Decided that the items or details in question are incorrect.
  • 3. Released the goods.

Goods entering the Kingdom shall be admitted under any of the following customs procedures:-

1. Free circulation
2. Transit
3. Warehousing
4. Deposit in free zones.
5. Temporary admission
6. Admission for processing purposes.

Goods may be transferred from a certain customs procedure to another upon the Departments approval and in accordance with procedures determined by the Director.

The customs authorities may cancel the registered declaration of which the due duties and taxes are not paid or those not completed, after the elapse of 15 days from the date of registration, due to reasons connected with the person who submitted them.

The Department may agree to the cancellation of the declarations upon a request from the person who submitted them as long as due duties and taxes have not been paid. In case of a violation, cancellation shall not be allowed until such violation has been settled, however, amending the rates of duties and taxes or changing the exchange price of foreign currencies shall not result in refusing the cancellation application.
In all these cases, the Department shall have the right to request inspection of the commodity in the presence or absence of the declarant after duly advising him with the date of such inspection.
The declarants or their representatives may examine their goods before presenting the declaration. They can also take samples of the goods when necessary after obtaining the Department's permission and provided that this is carried out under the Department's supervision. Those samples shall be subject to due duties and taxes. People other than the declarants or their representatives shall not be allowed to examine the declaration with the exemption of competent judicial and official authorities.

Food Shelter,Wash and education Medicines Vehicles and Spare parts Staff and office supplies Telecoms equiment
Invoice
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
AWB, BoL, or Other Transport Documents
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Donation Non-Commercial Certificate
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Packing List
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Other Documents
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Must
Health Crtificate
Must
 n/a
Must
 n/a  n/a  n/a
Certificate of Origin
Must
Must
Must
Must
 n/a
Must
Fumigation Certificate
Must
Must
 n/a  n/a  n/a  n/a

Transit Regime

  • Goods of foreign origin may be transported according to transit status by crossing one border to exit across another. Such transit status shall end when producing copies of the declarations duly signed from the first customs house in the neighboring country or producing a certificate of arrival from the country of destination or by any other evidence accepted by the Department.
  • Delay periods needed for transport according to transit status and the documents necessary for releasing and discharging the declarations shall be specified by directives issued by the Department.

Transit operations shall not be carried out except at authorized customs houses. The transit goods according to transit status shall not be subject to restriction or prohibition unless the Laws and regulations in effect provide otherwise.

  • It shall not be permitted to store transit goods except in free zones. The Director, may for justified reasons and within the terms and guarantees which he determines, allow the storing of the transit goods in a public store for a period of ninety days. If the goods were not withdrawn after the expiry of this period and the Director did not agree to an extension, the Director may take the necessary measures to sell the goods in a public auction and the remaining sum , after deducting the due fees, duties and costs as well as the fines due by the Law and which should not exceed 10 % of the value of the goods , shall be deposited in trust account. The remaining sum, shall not be refunded if it was not claimed within three years from the date of the sale.
  • It shall be permitted to release the transit goods for local consumption by a decision from the Director and after consulting the authority concerned.

Ordinary Transit:

Goods may be transported under ordinary transit status on the designated routes by all transportation means under the responsibility of the undertaking signatory.
Provisions of the customs declaration and examination prescribed in this Law shall apply to the goods maintained in the previous Article.
Goods transported under ordinary transit status shall be subject to all the terms set out by the Director concerning the sealing of packages and containers and means of transportation and the submission of guarantees and other obligations.

Private Transit:

  • Transport of private transit goods shall be carried out through railway agencies and vehicles and aircraft transport companies licensed or by any other means by a decision from the Director. The responsibility of this shall be borne by these agencies and companies.
  • The Director shall issue licenses for the agencies and corporations provided for in paragraph (A) of this Article. Those licenses shall include the guarantees which should be presented as well as all the other terms. The Director may suspend the license for a limited period or cancel it when a violation of the specified terms and regulations occurs or when the private transit is misused through committing acts of smuggling by the licensed transport means.

The routes and tracks through which the transportation of private transit goods may be carried out and the terms of this kind of transportation shall be determined by a decision from the Director subject to compliance with the agreements concluded with other countries.

Provisions of procedures relating to the customs declaration and inspection shall not apply to the goods transported under private transit. It shall be sufficient for such goods to present a brief manifest and carry out a general inspection unless the Department deems it necessary to carry out a detailed examination.

Provisions of private transit prescribed in this Law for the implementation of the agreements including regulations for transit shall be applicable unless prescribed otherwise in these agreements.

Transit by International Documents:

Companies and agencies licensed by the Director may carry out transportation under transit status by international documents after presenting the required guarantees. This transportation shall be carried out by international booklets and documents and on vehicles of certain specifications and conditions accepted by the Director.

Transport of Goods from One Customs House to Another:

Goods may be transported from one customs house to another, provided that such transportation shall be subject to the same provisions applied to transport according to transit status.

  1. Packing List
  2. Commercial Invoice
  3. Production and Expiry Certificates
  4. Health Certificate
  5. None GEMO Certificate
  6. Inspection Certificate
  7. Customs Declaration clearly specifying the purpose of entry to country
  8. Other docs depending on the nature of Cargo.

For information on Jordan Customs contact details, please see the following links: 

4.2 Jordan Humanitarian Agency Contact List

4.1 Jordan Government Contact List

Jordan Customs Website

For information on Jordan Customs additional information, please see the following document: 

Jordan Customs Additional Information

WFP Projects with the Government of Jordan

Jordan adminstrative dvisions

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

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