Customs procedure for Travelers to and out of Ethiopia

This section of our website has two parts. The first part provides information about customs formalities for travelers to Ethiopia and the second part for those departing from Ethiopia. Before proceeding to describe the customs procedure to travelers, this article would like to comment on what actually the Ethiopian Customs Authority (ECuA) does, and provide the key to the acronyms in the list of restricted goods and definitions of some terms.

A. Key to the acronyms

B. Definitions

The term ‘non-frequent passenger’ in this context is used to refer airline crew members, free ticket users, and those Ethiopian residents who had from 2 and above return trips within a period of 3 continuous months or from 4 and above return trips within a period of 12 continuous months. The term ‘accompanied baggage’ is defined by Ethiopian customs law as personal and household goods that the passenger brought together with him. These goods must be designed only to the use and possession of the traveler and it is forbidden to sell or utilize them with the intention to make profit. The term ‘personal effects’ is used to refer portable, used or brand new goods which lasts for short or long period of time time and are designated to the use and possession of the traveler. Goods that have commercial quantity and nature or goods designated to make profit can not be considered as personal effects.

C. Comment on What the ECuA is like and what it does.

The ECuA is a government agency entrusted with a responsibility of protecting the community from the potential risks arising from international trade and travel while facilitating the legitimate movement of people and goods across the border. ECuA, as gatekeeper, protects the community by apprehending contraband, checking travelers and their baggage, cargo and mail, and enforcing import export restrictions and prohibitions. The ECuA uses intelligence and risk assessment to target its physical checks of containers and travelers. It also conducts investigations and audits, and prosecutes offenders.

A. Part One

1.1. Customs procedure for arrivals to Ethiopia.

After you passed through immigration and have collected your baggage, you may report directly to ECuA where you must, on arrival, declare the goods in your possession. Failures to make a written declaration of the goods or the currency you have acquired from abroad or the production of false declaration can result in criminal prosecution or the imposition of sever penalties based on customs law. In case you have any difficulty in lodging customs declaration, please feel free to consult the nearby customs officers who are equipped with name - plates or badge for identification purposes.

1.2. Customs Procedure for Duty-free allowance, Duties and Taxes

Incoming travelers may be entitled to have a duty free privilege for the following goods as personal effects, 2 liters of alcoholic beverage, 0.5 liter of perfume, 250 gm. of tobacco or 200 cigarettes, portable DVD And VCD, tape recorder with a single CD player, 600 gm. of jewelry (for non-frequent passengers). If your bringing exceed the amount specified in the duty free allowance above or contains goods other than those mentioned above or has goods that do not qualify for the foregoing concession you must contact the airport customs service and lodge customs declaration for the due payment of the related duties and taxes.

Notes:
-There is no duty-free allowance for alcoholic beverage and tobacco products for those under 18 years old.

1.3. CURRENCY FOR PAYMENT OF DUTY

Customs duty and other taxes are payable in the Ethiopian Currency i.e. Birr. To make your payment with Birr, You can convert your foreign currency at the authorized bank in the terminal.

1.4. Calculation of Customs Charges

Customs duty and taxes payable on traveler’s goods are calculated based on the list that provides aggregate rates on goods commonly imported as accompanied baggage.

1.5. Information on temporarily imported goods

The travelers or tourists may also import various goods on a temporary basis. However for goods to be temporarily imported, customs may require a cash deposit to cover the duty and taxes normally payable. The deposit will be refunded provided the goods are exported within the period of time stipulated in the provisions on temporary entry. Temporary entry is normally granted for 180 days or six months. Customs may allow extension provided a request for such extension is made in the proper time. Goods may be allowed to be temporarily imported provided that these goods are not prohibited, restricted and commercial goods. Restricted goods may be temporarily imported if they are accompanied by the appropriate permit.

1.6. Prohibited and Restricted Goods

Screening out prohibited or restricted goods deemed to be harmful to the society is an important boarder function. Hence, the importation, exportation or the transit of any goods prohibited by laws or international agreements to which Ethiopia is a party shall be seized and legal action shall be taken in accordance with customs law.

1.7. What do we mean by prohibited or restricted goods?

1.7.1. Definition of prohibited Goods

According to sub article 31 of article 2 of the proclamation No. 368/2003 (Amendment) Prohibited goods shall mean any goods the importation, exportation or transit of which is prohibited by laws or international agreement. Some examples of the prohibited goods are:
• Habit - Forming drugs in any form,
• Military weapons, explosives and fireworks
• Poison and other toxic substances
• Pornographic materials and so on

1.7.2. Restricted Goods

According to sub article 32 of article 2 of the foregoing proclamation restricted goods shall mean any goods the importation or exportation or transit of which is prohibited unless it is permitted by legal procedure, condition or permission provided by law. Restricted goods may be admitted if they are accompanied by the permit within 30 days beginning from the first date of entry. Following is the list of restricted goods and the authorized bodies whom you may approach to have the permit necessary to import restricted goods into Ethiopia

1.8. To Resolve Misunderstandings

Should you have any enquires regarding customs charges or any other complain that may arise in your dealings with a customs official, please feel free to lodge the matter to a senior customs officer in charge at airport customs.

1.9. WARNINGS

Travelers can be easy targets for the professional drug traffickers. Drug traffickers may ask you by saying "Take this bag or item to Ethiopia for me"

We would like to advise you not to do it, unless you are sure the packages or baggage contains no drugs or other prohibited goods. Don't forget that it is safer not to carry anyone's package or baggage.

The drug traffickers may try to persuade you by saying "Customs will never search you - you are not the type they go for." but don't trust them. All types of people apart from the VIPs who passed through the lounge at the airport, are searched by customs authorities. If you get caught you could face a criminal prosecution which may result long period of imprisonment.

1.10. Reporting suspicions

If you have information regarding the importation of drugs or suspect that drugs are being imported, please contact or inform customs officers with the following address: office tel. 011-6-650482

1.11. Traveler's goods to be deposited in customs warehouse

Traveler's goods may be deposited in customs warehouse on condition that the traveler is unable to pay on the spot the duty and tax imposed on his/her goods; or until the traveler brings permit for restricted goods. Contraband, abandoned and commercial goods will also be kept in customs warehouse until they are disposed of.

1.12. Arrivals to Ethiopia and Border cash report

1.12.1. Customs control and clearance procedures

for the importation of foreign currency.  

One of the responsibilities of the EcuA is to control the conveyance of cash assets, both local and foreign currencies, by travelers from or to Ethiopia. Under the mandate from the Ethiopian National Bank, EcuA controls the movement of foreign and local currency across the customs border of Ethiopia.

1.12.2. Customs control and clearance procedure regarding cash carried by Arrivals to Ethiopia.

Any traveler to Ethiopia is allowed to bring with him/her any amount of legal foreign currency. There are no any quantitative restrictions on importation of legal foreign currency into Ethiopia. However as part of entry or clearance procedure, any traveler arriving to Ethiopia must declare the actual amount of the foreign currency in his/her possession or must complete a border cash report form provided to him/her by the customs officers at the border.

Arrivals to Ethiopia are required to convert their currency in an authorized Bank or establishment whenever they want to have local currency (Birr) necessary to buy the goods and services in the country.

During the conversion for local currency, the traveler is advised to collect his/her receipts from the bank. The traveler is advised to do so because during his/her return to abroad EcuA, as a gatekeeper of the country at the border, may request the traveler to show his/her receipt to check that conversion of currency is done in an authorized bank.

The exportation of the foreign currencies you have brought from abroad is not restricted if their previous importation are acknowledged by relevant customs declarations.

1.13. Ethiopian Resident and Foreign Exchange Holding Time.

No Ethiopian resident shall hold foreign currency for more than 45(forty five) days since the date of acquisition, and has the duty to convert the currency in possession in an authorized bank or establishment. Any person violating the foregoing article shall be punishable in accordance with the penal code of Ethiopia without prejudice to confiscation.

B Part Two

2.1 Information for travelers Departing From Ethiopia

Travelers departing from Ethiopia may take the following goods into other countries with the permit of commercial Bank Of Ethiopia:-

1. Gift items; goods for replacement, maintenance, for exhibition
2. souvenir with a value not more than 500 dollar
3. Household goods, personal effects
4. Coffee not exceeding 2 k.g.

2.2. Quantitative restrictions imposed on the exportation of local and foreign currency.

According to "the operation of Foreign Exchange Bureau Directive No. FXD/33/2007"of the National Bank of Ethiopia the Birr holding limit for travelers exiting Ethiopia is determined to be a maximum of Birr 200. Concerning foreign currency, it is declared that the cash note payment limit for holiday travel allowance, business and government travel allowance, Medical travel expenses and educational travel expenses is decided to be USD 1000 (one thousand) as of 14th may, 2007. The traveler who acquired such an allowance has to carry bank permit with him/her so that customs at the border would let the traveler have smooth border crossing.

2.3. Foreign Currency Holding Limit for Non-resident Ethiopians and Non-resident foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin.

These travelers from Ethiopia may with draw travel allowance of their requirements in cash note or any other instruments upon presentation of valid travel documents from their non-resident account. All that the Ethiopian Customs Authority at the border requires from such traveler is a bank permit.

2.4 Holders of non-resident foreign currency accounts, non-resident transferable Birr accounts and non-resident non-transferable birr accounts.

The foregoing travelers from Ethiopia may with draw travel allowance of their requirements in cash notes or any other instruments from their accounts upon presentation of valid travel documents from their non-resident account. All that the Ethiopian Customs Authority at the border requires from such traveler is a bank permit.

2.5 Penalty

Any person violating the decrees specified in the directive No. FXD/33/2007 issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia shall be punishable in accordance with the penal code of Ethiopia without the prejudice to confiscation.

1. The Operation of Foreign exchange Bureaus Directive No.FXD/33/2007and Directive No. FXD/34/2007 issued by National Bank of Ethiopia
2. Yossef Endayehu, Passenger Section Head, Addis Ababa Airport Customs;
3. Tsion Admassu, Legal Section Head, Addis Ababa Airport customs;
   ? Directive No. 8/2004 and Directive No. 25/2005, issued by Ethiopian Ministry of Revenue.