Part III.   Privileges to Import Personal Effects to Ethiopia

      Ministry of Revenue has issued a regulation on how to import personal effects for Ethiopians who have been abroad for different reasons and returning home permanently. Important parts of the regulations, which include classification of returnees, conditions of import, and the list of goods to be imported duty and tax free and upon payment of duty and taxes for personal use, are released in the Ministry’s website. Details of information can be accessed by logging onto (http://www.mor.gov.et) and click "Returnee"in the section that is designated to Ethiopian custom Authority.

      Please note that this privilege,with the exception of investors,is good only for one year starting from the day the applicant is returned to Ethiopia.

      The privilege given to applicants vary depending on the classification made by the Ministry according to the length of stay abroad, whether or not an applicant have diplomatic status, or the applicant is a returnee or a refugee the definition of which are as follows:

Definitions of Terms (Amended as of 16/12/02) is as follows:

Returnee: those who exited from Ethiopia legally and reside abroad with legal resident permit and returning home permanently. OR
Those who exited Ethiopia legally or illegally and got Ethiopian passport from Ethiopian Embassy missions abroad, a residential permit from the host Country and returning home permanently
Refugee: those who went out of Ethiopia for various reasons and lived as refugee and returning home without passport and willingly or otherwise or based on an agreement between the host and the Ethiopian government. OR
Those who exited Ethiopia legally or illegally and didn't get asylum in the host country and hence returning home on obligation.
Automobile: a vehicle with no more than ten seats including four-wheel drive and that may not serve for commercial activities.
Family: includes marriage partner (Spouse) and children.

Conditions Regarding import of Automobile

 Returnees: based on the above definition, those returnees with five and more years stay abroad can bring automobile with out paying any duty and tax; but those who stayed abroad for more than a year but less than five years will pay the necessary duty and tax.  However, those returnees with less than one year stay can not bring even by paying duty and tax.

Refugee: based on the above definition, those who have been refugee for one or more years can bring personal automobile by paying the necessary duty and tax

Please Note the Following Points:

·        Special privileges:  Those who stay abroad for more than a year and who can produce Legal Marriage Certificate are entitled to import one additional automobile by paying duty and taxes within one year of their arrival home.

·        Any person who wants to make use of this privilege has to first submit to the Embassy the list of items that he intends to take to Ethiopia and get the supporting letter from the Embassy.

·        The beneficiaries are entitled to use their right only once.

·        The privileged person, if found guilty of using the duty free imported goods for other than his own or his family use, legal measure shall be taken according to the law.

Requirements to be fulfilled to get supporting letter from the Embassy.

Applicants, depending on the situation, may present the following documents:

• If an applicant was employed, resignation paper from the employer.
• If the applicant retired from duty, and if retirement allowance is paid, paper that shows the transfer of payment to Ethiopian bank should be presented.
• If the applicant is a licensed investor, he/she should produce a paper from regional or federal Investment office in Ethiopia that shows the status of his project to be entitled to such privileges. However unlike others, investors can enjoy their right of importing personal effect even after a year.
• If the applicant is a student, he/she should produce paper from the institution he/she has attended.