What are Personal Effects?

The Customs Office use the term "personal effects" to refer to goods a traveller may bring to Ethiopia for his/her personal use while in Ethiopia.

Example of personal effects include furniture, electronic devices, tableware, cookware, books, medicines, medical devices, laundry items, cosmotics, clothes, artwork and other usual household items which are used for personal purpose and not intended for sale.

In most cases travellers bring their personal effects through airports.

But travellers can also bring their personal effects using land transport.

Is there Customs Duty on Import of Personal Effects?

No custom duty is levied on the import of personal effects so long as it doesn't exceed the maximum allowable limit.

If the amount of personal effects exceeds the limit, the person will be allowed to import paying customs duty for the excess amount so long as the excess quantity is not commercial quantity.

However, when the imported quantity is considered commercial quantity, the person is required to pay twice the amount of import taxes payable on such items. If not willing to pay, the items will be confiscated by the customs office.

Can I Bring my Personal Effects as Unaccompanied Baggage?

It is possible to have unaccompanied baggages.

Customs officers want to know that the unaccompanied baggages are yours.

The unaccompanied baggages can be brought before or after your arrival.

Who is Allowed to Import Personal Effects?

In addition to tourists and Ethiopian returnee diplomats, the following are allowed to import personal effects:

• Passenger
• Ethiopian Returnee Diaspora
• Ethiopian Refugee Returnee
• Expatriate
• Ethiopian Professional Living Abroad
• Diaspora Investor
• Foreign Investor
• Ethiopian Returnee Student
• Ethiopian Returnee Professional

Check Below the Travellers Categories and the Allowable Imports of Personal Effects

Generally, the allowable limit for passengers is less than that of other travellers

Passenger

For the purpose of imports of personal effects, a passenger is a person who comes to Ethiopia via Ethiopian international airport or crossing the Ethiopian border.

A passenger usually includes an Ethiopian or foreigner who returns to Ethiopia after a visit or travel outside Ethiopia.

It also includes an Ethiopian living abroad or foreigner who comes to Ethiopia for family visit, meeting, business purpose and the like.

Ethiopian Returnee Diaspora

For the purpose of imports of personal effects, an Ethiopian returnee diaspora is an Ethiopian diasapora (including an Ethiopian by birth) who permanently returns to Ethiopia after living in a foreign country holding residence or work permit.

Ethiopian Returnee Refugee

For the purpose of imports of personal effects, an Ethiopian returnee refugee is an Ethiopian refugee who returns to Ethiopia after living in a foreign country without holding residence or work permit.

The person returns to Ethiopia willingly or with government consent or after forced by the foreign country to leave the country.

A Diaspora Investor

For the purpose of imports of personal effects, a diaspora investor is an Ethiopian (includes an Ethiopian by birth) who comes to Ethiopia having invested in Ethiopia.

A Foreign Investor

For the purpose of imports of personal effects, a foreign investor is a foreigner who has invested in Ethiopia as per the country's investment requirements.

A Ethiopian Returnee Professional

For the purpose of imports of personal effects, an Ethiopian returnee profesional is a person who returns to Ethiopia after being outside Ethiopia for personal work or foreign employment for at least one year.