Customs regulations and required documents
Personal effects import regulations
Yemen
Customs regulations
Import regulations:
Free import by adults only of:
- 600 cigarettes or 60 cigars or 1 lb. of tobacco.
- 1 bottle of perfume or perfumed water or Eau de Cologne.
- Gifts of non-commercial character, not exceeding the value of YER 100,000. – per adult passenger.
- Gold ornaments (women passengers only) weighing up to 350 grams.
Valuable items of commercial character intended for re-export should be declared.
Used Household Goods and Personal Effects
Documents Required
- Passport
- Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB) (a bank endorsement is required for commercial shipments)
- Detailed inventory
- Work permit
- Letter of guarantee
- Tax card (commercial shipments)
- Import license (commercial shipments)
- Sales tax certificate (commercial shipments)
- Customs deal card (commercial shipments)
- Bank form 11 (commercial shipments)
- Invoice (bank endorsement is required) (commercial shipments)
- Receipt for expenses from bank (commercial shipments)
- Certificate of origin, legalized (commercial shipments)
- Radiation certificate (commercial shipments)
Specific Information
Diplomats, embassy personnel and persons with a bank letter of guarantee may import shipments duty free.
The letter of guarantee must cover duties, or a cash payment as determined by Customs is required.
Letter of guarantee shipments are 100% reimbursable when the goods are re-exported.
Commercial shipments are subject to duty payments, sales tax, and service fees.
Restricted/Dutiable Items
- Videotapes, cassettes, records and CDs (are subject to inspection)
- Printers and scanners (authorization by the Ministry of the Interior is required; the operation manual must accompany the item)
- Fax machines (authorization from the Ministry of Telecommunications is required)
- Books and paintings (are subject to inspection by the Ministry of Culture prior to clearance)
- Firearms (a special license is required)
- Food Products:
- Food items are subject to inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture prior to Customs clearance.
- Approval from the Ministry of Health and Atomic Energy is required for import.
- If the items are shipped for commercial purposes, the following must be identified on each carton:
• Product name and expiration
• Manufacturing date
• Name of the owner of the goods
The application for a duties and taxes exemption may be obtained by an exemption clearing agent and it is issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The procedure is as follows:
1. Receive the shipment’s Original Bill of Lading, attached with Original Supporting Documents.
2. Complete the provided exemption forms.
There are two different sets of forms, depending on the type of import:
- The first set, which is for aid consignments. This is filled by the implementing partner and goes to Ministry of Planning and International. Cooperation for further processing (continue from step 3).
- The second set of forms, which is for office equipment and employee personal effects. This goes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a covering letter from the particular agency. Afterwards, it is sent to the custom office for the finalization of the procedures and is returned after approximately one week. Then the approval is sent to the seaport or airport and the goods are cleared.
3. From the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the forms are sent to the ministry relevant to the type of goods and the project.
4. From the relevant ministry, the forms go to the Ministry of Finance. From here, it is the Minister who sends an exemption letter to the customs authority.
For a Health and Education projects the exemption clearance is processed through the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. The total process takes approximately 1-2 week
- Tax and Duties exemption application form
- Airway bill / Bill of Lading
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
- Fumigation Certificate
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Radiation Certificate
Prohibited Items
- Alcohol
- Drugs and narcotics
- Pornographic materials
- Subversive literature
- Ink jet printers or workstations
Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)
Motor Vehicles
Documents Required
- Certificate of origin
- OBL / AWB
- Certificate of manufacturing (must show date of manufacture)
- Customs deal card (for projects and companies)
Specific Information
- Only vehicles less than 4 years old may be imported.
- Diplomats and persons guaranteed by a Yemen Ministry may import vehicles duty free; otherwise, Customs duties must be paid.
- Letter of guarantees are not accepted for vehicle imports.
- Vehicles with “trip tickets” can enter only on tourist basis and for not more than 3 months.
- An extension may be applied for an additional 3 months.
Pets
Documents Required
- Vaccination record
- Veterinary health certificate
- Import permit from the Veterinary Office, Department of Agriculture, Yemen
Specific Information
- The import of birds (live or bird products) requires approval from the local authorities.
- Contact the destination agent for specific information.
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Do not travel unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so. In England, from 8 March you must complete a declaration form for international travel (except for travel to Ireland).
Check our advice for all the countries you will visit or transit through. Some countries have closed borders, and any country may further restrict travel or bring in new rules with little warning.
To enter or return to the UK from abroad (except from Ireland), you must follow all the rules for entering the UK. These include providing your journey and contact details, and evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before you travel. When you arrive, you must quarantine and take additional COVID-19 tests. This will take place in a managed quarantine hotel if you enter England from a red list travel ban country, or enter Scotland.
Entry to Yemen
The Yemeni authorities have announced entry restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. The majority of land, sea and airports are closed until further notice, with only very limited international flights taking place. Exemptions are in place for humanitarian relief and essential goods.
Quarantine requirements
All travelers arriving into Yemen are required to enter quarantine facilities for 14 days.
Regular entry requirements
Visas
You will need a visa to enter Yemen. You must get a visa from the Yemeni Embassy in London. If you’re staying for more than 14 days you’ll need to register your passport after arrival in country with the Yemen immigration authorities.
Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.
Do not travel to Yemen due to COVID-19, terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines.
Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Yemen due to COVID-19.
The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a suspended its operations in February 2015, and the U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Yemen.
Terrorist groups continue to plot and conduct attacks in Yemen. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting public sites, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Additionally, there is a continuing threat of kidnapping/detention by terrorists, criminal elements, and/or non-government actors. Employees of western organizations may be targeted for attack or kidnapping.
Military conflict has caused significant destruction of infrastructure, housing, medical facilities, schools, and power and water utilities. This limits the availability of electricity, clean water, and medical care. This instability often hampers the ability of humanitarian organizations to deliver critically needed food, medicine, and water. Critical levels of violence, to include armed conflict, artillery shelling, and air strikes, persist throughout the country. There are also reports of landmines throughout Yemen.
Cholera is present throughout Yemen. There is a limited availability of medicine and medical supplies, and adequate medical treatment is unavailable.
There is a very high risk of kidnapping, and detention of U.S. citizens in Yemen, particularly dual national Yemeni-Americans. Rebel groups in Sana’a have detained U.S. citizens, including dual Yemeni-American citizens. U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, have faced difficulty – including lengthy delays – when attempting to depart Yemen.
Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Yemen, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page.
If you decide to travel to Yemen:
- Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.
- Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
- Consult the Centers for Disease Control’s webpage on Health Information for Travelers to Yemen.
- Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
- Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
- Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs, if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
- Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization, or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
- Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first, and how they should share the information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
- Review the Crime and Safety Report for Yemen.
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information.
