Disaster relief is the direct responsibility of the National Disaster Committee with formal requests put through the Ministry of Finance and Economics for exemptions of customs duties. The Ministry then advises Customs that these items will require exemptions from tariffs. There are no formalised arrangements for customs clearance for relief items.
Tuvalu Red Cross has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Customs Office for exemption of tariffs fees for all relief items.
Tuvalu Customs had ratified the Revised Kyoto Convention and under this arrangement Customs will provide special treatment and full exemption for all consignments for disaster relief.
For full details on CUSTOMS REVENUE AND BORDER PROTECTION ACT 2014 please use the following link: https://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/2014/2014-0015/CustomsRevenueandBorderProtectionAct2014_1.pdf
Duties and Tax Exemption
For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below:
4.1 Tuvalu Government Contact List
Emergency Response:
The following table states 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 13/5/2019 |
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention |
Yes.13/5/2019 |
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 integr ation) |
Pacific Islands Trade Agreement |
Follow this link to a full list of Tuvalu’s treaties: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Treaties_of_Tuvalu
Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response):
All applications for exemptions should be made to Tuvalu Revenue & Customs Department Commissioner of Revenue & Customs email: steisini@gov.tv / trcd@gov.tv
Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status |
---|
United Nations Agencies |
Regional organization |
Non Governmental Organizations |
Private and individual donation |
Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:
Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure |
---|
Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation) |
1.certifiied invoice 2.Bills of Lading\Airway Bills 3.Letter from donor partner/individual |
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 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Packing Lists |
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Yes original 1 copy
|
Other Documents |
Nil |
Nil |
Permit |
Cancellation Certificate for 2nd hand cars |
Nil |
Nil |
Customs Clearance
General Information
Customs Information |
|
---|---|
Document Requirements |
Temporary import needed to clear on im6 without deposit |
Embargoes |
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 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Invoice |
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Packing Lists |
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
Phytosanitary Certificate |
Yes Original 1 copy applies to both UN and NGO
|
If requested |
If requested |
If requested |
If requested |
If requested |
Other Documents |
Freight Breakdown |
Freight Breakdown |
Freight Breakdown |
Freight Breakdown |
Freight Breakdown |
Freight Breakdown |
Additional Notes |
||||||
Tuvalu does not accept proforma invoice, need to provide cost, insurance & freight (CIF) |
Transit Regime
N/A. Tuvalu is not a transit destination. No transit regime