Kuwait
1.3 Kuwait Customs Information

Kuwait Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

4.1 Kuwait Government Contact List

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

Yes

Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention

No but ongoing ratification processs since Oct10

OCHA Model Agreement

No

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

Yes, 13Jun02 

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

Yes, Gulf Cooperation Council (see more information below)

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) is a regional organisation consisting of six Gulf countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The GCC was created in May 1981. Its main objectives are to enhance coordination, integration and inter-connection among its Member States in different spheres. All the GCC member states are also members of the Arab League and Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are the prominent members of OPEC. For more information on the GCC, see: Website of the European Union on the GCC and: Website of the GCC

For additional information on emergency response, please select the following document:

Kuwait Customs Information Additional Information

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.).]

National legislation
All humanitarian goods are exempted from duties and taxes and should only be used for approved purpose.
References
Kuwait Customs Law , Article # 104

Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status

United Nations Agencies

  • Officially registered with one of two authorized government ministries (Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, or Public Authority for Youth and Sport).
  • For International Humanitarian Organisations go through MoFA.
  • Activities related to humanitarian support only
  • Non-profit organization
  • Not related to any political activities
  • Officially registered with Ministry of Commerce as importer
  • All shipping document are issued with the agency name

Non Governmental Organizations

  • Officially registered with one of two authorized government ministries (Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor or Public Authority for Youth and Sport)
  • Activities related to humanitarian support only
  • Non-profit organization
  • Not related to any political activities
  • Officially registered with Ministry of Commerce as importer
  • All shipping document are issued with the agency name

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure

Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure

Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation)

  • Official request letter
  • Commercial Invoice
  • AWB/BoL
  • Certificate of Origin
  • Packing List

Process to be followed (step by step or flowchart)

  1. Collect approval for each shipment from one of authorized ministries (above two) using official letter
  2. Collect approval for each shipment from customs managing director
  3. Approach normal customs authorities for clearance and release process

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity)

 

Food

NFI

(Shelter, WASH, Education)

Medicines

Vehicles

&

Spare Parts

Staff

& Office Supplies

Telecoms Equipment

Invoice

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Packing Lists

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Other Documents

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Yes, Original, applies to UN and NGOs

Additional Notes

  • Deposit can be approached for missing documents as per law
  • In land port shipping bills may be not required
  • Either invoice or AWB/BL is required to get the exemption certificate letter

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Information

Document Requirements

INSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY IMPORT MUST BE INDICATED IN THE INVOICE (?)

Embargoes

None

Prohibited Items

Alcoholic products, Pork and meat products, drugs, goods of Israeli origin.

General Restrictions

None

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity)

 

Food

NFI

(Shelter, WASH, Education)

Medicines

Vehicles

&

Spare Parts

Staff

& Office Supplies

Telecoms Equipment

D&T Exemption Certificate

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Invoice

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates

-

-

-

-

-

-

Packing Lists

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Phytosanitary Certificate

-

-

-

-

-

-

Other Documents

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Yes, Original, applies to both UN and NGO

Additional Notes

 

For further information on customs clearance, please select the following document:

Kuwait Customs Information Additional Information

Transit Regime

  • Transit procedure is in place for Land and Sea freight.
  • Transit of Air freight is very rare.
  • For goods in transit there is no need for registration of organization in Kuwait.
  • A Fast Track System is in place for the GCC countries. Ex. Dubai – Saudi Arabia - Kuwait – Iraq, the shipment is sealed at point of origin, when entering Kuwait another seal is added and shipment will have to leave Kuwait within 24h.

For further information on Focal Points and on Customs Information by Entry Points, please select the following document:

Kuwait Customs Information Additional Information


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