Customs regulations and required documents
Personal effects import regulations
Angola
Regulations and customs in Angola
Import taxes and fees for products entering Angola are calculated on CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value of the product and include:
- Import duty can vary from: 2 to 50 percent
- General Customs fee: 2 percent
- Brokerage Fee: 0.5 to 2 percent average
- Port Fees: USD 90 for 20’ container and USD 153 for 40’ container
- Terminal Handling Port Fees up to the equivalent of USD 278 per 20’ container or USD 473 per 40’ container
- Stamp Duty: 1 percent
Angola’s Customs Tariff Regime was updated in August 2018. Import duties are currently on average 10.9 percent with a range from 2 to 50 percent.
A World Trade Organization (WTO) analysis of Angola’s 2014 custom tariffs shows that import duties on agriculture products doubled on average to 23.3 percent, while duties for non-agricultural products increased an average of 2 percent to 9.1 percent. Import duties on manufactured goods now average 10 percent and mining products average 14.3 percent. Highest import duties reflect the sectors where Angola is focusing on domestic production development namely: coffee (50 percent), beverages (43.7 percent), fruits and vegetables (43.3 percent), fish and fish products (25.3 percent), sugar (18.6 percent) cereals (17.3 percent), and wood (17 percent). Raw materials are the highest taxed imports at 20.5 percent on average with finished products at an import tax average of 10.5 percent.
To determine the cost-build up for import duties and related taxes in Angola for specific products, and for markets worldwide, please visit CUSTOMS Info’s website.
Import duty exemptions or reductions may be available for raw materials used in industrial production. Investors may also benefit from import duty and other tax deductions as part of their investment contract with the Angolan Government.
Sales to the Angolan government are exempted from import duties. Therefore, most sales into the oil and gas industry are exempted because these operations are owned in part by the government oil company Sonangol.
Consumption Tax: A consumption tax is imposed on all products sold in the formal economy in Angola, the majority at a rate of 2 to 30 percent. Consumption tax levels depend on the product, with most accessed at 10 percent. A lower 2 percent consumption tax rate is imposed on priority imports such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, some agricultural inputs, and industrial equipment. Consumption taxes of 30 percent are in place for some higher-end consumer goods, such as vehicles and certain agricultural products, where the government is encouraging domestic production.
Value Added Tax (VAT): A VAT is under consideration by the Angolan government tax authority (AGT-Administração Geral Tributária) within the Ministry of Finance. The government anticipates that a VAT structure could be implemented by October of 2019 once the appropriate financial and administrative infrastructure and expertise to implement such a system can be established. The Consumption Tax would be eliminated if a VAT is implemented, which could result in lower prices for consumers.
Demurrage Fees: There is no charge for demurrage costs for the first 15 days, or terminal storage fees for the first 5 days after delivery to port. After this time, rates are $40/day for demurrage and $61/day for terminal storage for a 40’ container.
Click here to view : Angola import tariffs
Free import (by passengers older than 17 years):
- 400 cigarettes or 500 grams of cigars or other tobacco products;
- 1/4 liter of eau de toilette or 0.05 liter of perfume, aftershave or similar products;
- 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of spirits;
- personal property such clothes;
- general items for personal use, gifts or souvenirs up to a total value of USD 500.
Documentation required for import into Angola includes:
- Original Air Way Bill (AWB) / Bill of Lading (BL)
- Original Commercial Invoice (listing HTS codes for each item)
- Packing List
- Angolan Loading Certificate issued in country of shipment
- Import License and/or phytosanitary certificate issued by the relevant Ministry, if required based on the product
Dutiable Items
Prohibited and restricted goods:
- medicines and foodstuffs dangerous to health or drugs or substances in any form;
- pornographic material;
- plants originating in infected areas;
- gaming machines;
- pure alcohol (denatured);
- animals, any parts of animals or animal products without the corresponding certificates;
- fiscal or postal stamps or valuables.
- Firearms, ammunition, or explosive materials are prohibited.
Items prohibited from import into Angola include:
- Animals and Plants – The Angolan Government prohibits the import of animals and animal by-products from areas affected by epizootic diseases and plants coming from areas affected by epiphytic disease.
- “Morality”-related products – Certain distilled beverages, pornography, roulette and other gambling machines, and other goods specified by law. Despite this law, several casinos operate in Luanda.
- Vehicles – Passenger vehicles more than 6 years from the manufacturing date are not permitted to be imported into Angola. Vehicles for industrial use such as trucks and those for transportation of more than 10 persons are only prohibited if older than 10 years from the manufacturing date.
- Biotechnology Products – Angola prohibits the import of viable transgenic grain or seed. The Ministry of Agriculture controls all agricultural imports and requires importers to present documentation certifying that their goods do not include biotechnology products. Transgenic food aid is permitted but must be milled. Biotechnology imports for scientific research are subject to regulations and controls established by the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Imitations of national franchise formulas.
- home-made or handmade medicines.
- Food products that do not meet the conditions established by current legislation or that are in a poor state of conservation.
- Used batteries and accumulators.
- Rethreaded or used tires.
- Counterfeit Goods
Goods requiring import licenses for specific Ministries include:
- Pharmaceutical products for human use, saccharine and saccharine-derived products (Ministry of Health)
- Radios, transmitters, receivers, and other devices (Ministry of Telecommunications);
- Weapons, ammunitions, fireworks, and explosives (Ministry of Interior)
- Plants, roots, bulbs, microbial cultures, buds, fruits, seeds, and crates and other packages containing these products (Ministry of Agriculture)
- Fiscal or postal stamps (Ministry of Post and Telecommunications)
- Poisonous and toxic substances and pharmaceuticals including animal vaccines (Ministries of Agriculture, Industry, and Health)
- Samples or other goods imported for promotion and not commercial sale (Customs).
Click here to view : Angola prohibited and restricted imports
- Narcotics/illegal drugs of any kind
- Explosives, ammunitions and weapons of any kind & body armor
- Liquor and wine – strictly prohibited and will be confiscated
- Any printed material, books, magazines etc
- Medications & medical equipment
- Pornographic material and statues
- Any subversive material, material contrary to the faith of Islam & anti-government literature
- Goods bearing words or inscriptions of religious connotation
- Videos tapes, DVD’s, any other type of film/movies
- Parlor video games or parts thereof
- Food of Pork, pork products or by-products
- Goods in commercial quantities
Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)
Wild Fauna and Flora:
The import of certain endangered species of plant, live animals and their products is prohibited or restricted under CITES.
Pets:
Cats and dogs must be accompanied by a valid Import Permit issued by the Veterinarian Authorities of Angola, as well as a veterinarian health certificate and a rabies inoculation certificate issued no more than 4 months before arrival.
Currency Export regulations:
- Local currency (Kwanza-AOA): up to AOA 50,000. – for residents and non-residents.
- Foreign currencies:
- Residents (older than 17 years): up to USD 15,000.- or equivalent;
- Residents (younger than 18 years): up to USD 5,000.- or equivalent;
- Non Residents (older than 17 years): up to USD 10,000.- or equivalent;
- Non Residents (younger than 18 years): up to USD 3,000.- or equivalent.
Exempt:
- If holding a letter (certified by B.N.A./D.O.I.) from a company or entity which took care of payment of all expenses during stay in Angola: foreign currencies up to the amount imported.
- Amounts left with receipts of bills paid or money exchange vouchers.
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Currency Import regulations:
- Local currency (Kwanza-AOA): up to AOA 50,000. – for residents and non-residents.
- Foreign currencies: up to USD 15,000. – or equivalent (residents) and up to USD 10,000. – or equivalent (non-residents).
No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.
Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at the airport of the destination in Angola.
Exempt: baggage of transit passengers with a destination outside of Angola.
Safety and security
Crime
Most international companies and organisations operating in Angola have strict security rules and regulations for their staff. If your company has such instructions you should read them in conjunction with this travel advice.
There is a high level of crime in Luanda. Muggings, particularly to steal mobile phones and other valuables, and armed robberies can occur in any area at any time of the day or night. Areas popular with foreigners are particular targets. You should be particularly careful when withdrawing money from banks and ATMs both during daytime and at night, as people doing so have been the subject of armed robberies, some of which have been fatal.
Incidents of rape have been reported in popular nightlife areas, as well as in private homes. Don’t travel alone at night.
Avoid walking around Luanda, especially after dark. Avoid wearing jewellery or watches in public places. Don’t change large sums of money in busy public areas. Avoid walking between bars and restaurants on the Ilha do Cabo, and avoid crowded places like markets. Take extra care on the Serpentine road (Nehru) between the Marginal and Miramar, and the adjacent wooded area, due to the recent increase in crimes occurring there.
Theft from stationary or slow-moving cars is common in downtown Luanda. Keep valuables out of sight and don’t use mobiles or laptops while in traffic. A high proportion of the civilian population is armed.
When driving, be very wary if another car signals you to pull over. Thieves use the pretext of a minor traffic incident to get you out of your car either to steal it or to rob you. In 2016 there were a number of kidnapping incidents involving foreign nationals (including western nationals) taken from their vehicles in Luanda by armed gangs.
The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.
Deposit valuables and cash in a hotel safe where practical. Keep copies of important documents, including your passport, in a separate place from the documents themselves.
Local travel
The FCDO advise against all but essential travel to Cabinda province (but not including Cabinda city). There are regular violent incidents including rape, murder and kidnappings involving foreigners and Angolans in the province of Cabinda. Groups claiming responsibility for these attacks have declared their intention to continue attacks against foreigners.
The FCDO advise against all but essential travel to within 1km of the border between Angola’s Lunda Norte province and the Democratic Republic of Congo, except at official border crossings and their access roads. The Angolan authorities are extremely sensitive to the presence of foreigners in this area and there is a risk of detention by the security forces. Please note that the FCDO advise against all travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo provinces of Kasaï and Kasaï Central, which border Lunda Norte province.
The Angolan authorities are sensitive to the presence of foreigners in diamond-producing areas, including the provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. You may be subject to movements restrictions or detention by the security forces. Follow the instructions of local authorities. The presence of diamonds also increases the threat of crime and banditry, particularly on roads leading to and from these areas. Armed hold-ups occur from time to time.
If you travel outside Luanda and the provincial capitals, do so in the company of persons or organisations experienced in local conditions, as conditions can be difficult. You may be asked to show your passport and Angolan visa to the local authorities. There is widespread poverty, social exclusion and disease, a shattered infrastructure and mines and items of unexploded ordnance throughout many parts of the country. Transport and accommodation are extremely limited outside Luanda, so make arrangements in advance.
Road travel
Although you can drive on a UK licence for up to 30 days from the date of your arrival in Angola, an International Driving Permit or translation of your UK licence is recommended. Make sure all vehicle documentation is available for inspection. Police check points are common.
Major roads between Luanda and the provincial capitals are improving, but driving standards and some road conditions are very poor and travel outside major towns is usually in convoys of two or more 4-wheel drive vehicles. Outside major towns, mines and unexploded ordnance remain a problem, including on roads, verges and bridges, in buildings and in the countryside. There have been incidents of mines exploding with loss of life in places previously thought to be safe. Even in ‘cleared’ areas, you should keep to well-established routes and take up-to-date advice from the United Nations or an international Non-Governmental Organisation.
During the rainy season (November-April), bridges and roads risk being washed away by sudden floods and there is an increased chance of mines becoming displaced and surfacing outside known mine fields.
There are taxis at the airport and these can also be booked through your hotel or with the company direct. Local minibus transport is unsafe. In most cases your sponsor will arrange to meet you at the airport and to provide transport throughout your trip.
Air travel
A list of recent incidents and accidents can be found on the website of the Aviation Safety network.
The FCDO can’t offer advice on the safety of individual airlines. However, the International Air Transport Association publishes a list of registered airlines that have been audited and found to meet a number of operational safety standards and recommended practices. This list is not exhaustive and the absence of an airline from this list doesn’t necessarily mean that it is unsafe.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation has carried out an audit of the level of implementation of the critical elements of safety oversight in Angola.
TAAG, the Angolan national carrier, is the only carrier regulated by the Angolan civil aviation authority permitted to operate flights to/from the EU. The European Commission maintains a list of banned airlines. UK government employees are permitted to travel with TAAG; they are not permitted to use other Angolan airlines.
Shortages
There are occasional shortages of petrol and diesel. Power and water can be cut off for days without notice. Residents should keep generator fuel stocks and water tanks topped up. Drinking water and other food supplies are not always readily available. You should keep stocks of tinned goods and drinking water.
Hotels
Hotels are expensive and of varied quality. Although availability of hotel accommodation has improved, hotels should be booked well in advance. The British Embassy is unable to book hotel rooms on your behalf.
Communications
Not all UK mobile phone companies have roaming arrangements with Angola. SMS text messages may not get through. Mobile coverage outside the main urban areas is patchy. When travelling outside Luanda carry a mobile phone with contracts to both Unitel and Movicel as coverage for each provider varies throughout the country.
