Based on Shipment Type - Requirements 
AIR SHIPMENT IMPORT TO QATAR
- The owner of the goods must be in Qatar during arrival of the shipment and customs clearance as air shipment can be cleared with the options below only.
- Normal customs clearance takes approximately 3 to 5 working days for Air shipment
- Airport is giving a complementary period of 72 hours from shipment arrival only.
- Airport storage fee for days 4 and 5 is QAR 1.00 per kilo per day and QAR 2.00 per kg per day onwards.
- All shipments are X-ray inspected by the customs. In case the shipment is too large to go through the scanner, a physical inspection will occur. Update Feb 2020: For all air import shipments, upon arrival, the shipment will undergo customs scanning. Doha Customs will then decide (their discretion) if the cargo requires “green or red stamp” for clearance. The same is reflected in the cargo arrival notice.
- If RED STAMP (as of today about 75% of the shipments), it means the shipment will go through an additional physical inspection with cartons being opened. After that, our customs clearance representative will directly prepare the customs documents and clear the shipment with the authorization letter, original QID / passport of the assignee. Delivery will take place pursuant to this process.
- For the GREEN STAMP (no physical inspection of the cargo), the assignee will have to come to the airport and meet up with Doha customs for the clearance approval. Our Move Management team can liaise with the assignee to arrange a customs visit (accompanied & assisted there by one of our customs clearance representatives) either in the morning or afternoon. The assignee will have to bring authorization letter & original QID / passport to be presented at the counter. Destination agent will also provide detailed instructions on how to reach the cargo area at the airport. Same as above, upon completion of this process, we can then proceed with the delivery of the cargo.
- All prohibited articles confiscated and detained by customs may be destroyed without consignee's consent.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Documents must be completed and submitted to our office at least 1 working day prior the shipment arrival.
- Airwaybill
- Clear copy of Packing list
- Completed and signed personal air NOC-form will be given
- Original Passport or Original Qatar ID
- Clear copy of Qatar ID, front and back
- QID
SEA SHIPMENT IMPORT TO QATAR (LCL & FCL):
- The owner of the goods must be in Qatar during Customs clearance.
- Qatar residence ID must be obtained prior to arrival of the shipment.
- All sea shipments are subject to customs duties at 5% of the declared and/or Customs assessed value.
- The final evaluation will be performed by the Customs Officer
- As per Qatar Customs rule, Customs Audit Department has the right to check for any duties/taxes discrepancy within 5 years from the date of import. Additional customs duties invoice will be raised if they think the duties were undervalued initially
- Customs legalization of shipping documents such as declared invoice and packing list applies as per bracket below.
- If the client is not able to submit the invoices/ bills for all the goods imported then a penalty of QAR 500.00/Shipment will be applicable apart from the Duty and legalization charges
- Normal customs clearance takes approximately 7 to 10 working days for sea shipments (FCL & LCL) Port is giving:
- All shipments are physically inspected by customs. Time frame for import clearance is unpredictable.
- Due to congestion at inspection, a daily trailer detention charge usually incurs at QAR 800.00.
- Travel bags, packages and safe boxes must remain unlocked for customs inspection.
Documents must be completed and submitted to us at least 3 working days prior the shipment arrival.
- Clear copy of passport photo page and signature
- Clear copy of passport page with first entry stamped and with white bar-code like sticker
- Clear copy of Qatar ID front and back
- QID
- Express BL
- Clear copy of Packing list
- Lump sum value declaration printed on letterhead paper from Origin agent and signed by the transferee. (Template will be provided)
- Original Transferee Personal NOC (Non Objection Certificate) in Arabic (Template will be provided)
- Original Company NOC (Non Objection Certificate) from the transferee sponsor in Qatar, printed on company letterhead, stamped and signed by the authorized signatory (Template will be provided)
- Copy of company ID/Computer Card to verify stamped and signature on Company NOC
- Additional Documents for Diplomatic shipment
ALL CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
- The owner of the goods must be in Qatar during Customs clearance.
- The residence visa must be obtained prior to arrival of the shipment.
- All prohibited articles detained by Customs may be destroyed without consignee's consent.
- All printed matter, records, films, books, pictures, tapes, slides, movies, videos, compact discs, computer software, etc. are subject to censorship and confiscation (must be packed separately for easy access) if caught with any of these items, customer will be subject to severe penalties and a possible jail term.
- ALL LOOSE ITEMS and all sea shipments need to be loaded on pallets in order to clear customs.
MOTOR VEHICLES
- Autos must be no older than five years old
- For motorbike, there is no age restriction. However the consignee must get the approval from
Ministry of Environment Quality Department after the motorbike arrived in Qatar and before he can
register the motorbike at the traffic department.
- Owner of the vehicle must be a resident in Qatar prior to registration of the vehicle
- 5% customs duty is charged on vehicles being imported for personal use
- Vehicles must be Gulf standard and left-hand drive.
- No items allowed inside the vehicle, except for the basic tools and normal spare tire.
- Vehicle is subject to thorough physical inspection and K9 Customs unit will search the car twice.
Special inspection charges will occur for this process
- Vehicle might be offloaded inside the port yard during inspection and would attract handling and
recovery vehicle charges in that case. Charges will be supported by receipt.
- For vehicles imported from GCC under MAQASA and loaded in one container along with personal
effects, two separate Bill of lading (one for Vehicle and one for personal effects) are required. Car
and goods will be cleared separately. Charges for Delivery Order and other port charges will be
invoiced separately for each shipment.
Documents must be completed and submitted to agent for clearance at least 3 days prior to the shipment arrival:
- Clear copy of passport photo page and signature
- Clear copy of passport page with first entry stamped and with white bar-code like sticker
- Clear copy of Qatar ID front and back
- Express BL’S – with clear indication of make, model, year, color, VIN and Engine number
- Clear copy of Packing list
- Lump sum value declaration printed on letterhead paper from Origin agent and signed by the
transferee. (Template will be provided)
- Original Transferee Personal NOC (Non Objection Certificate) in Arabic (Template will be provided)
- Original Company NOC (Non Objection Certificate) from the transferee sponsor in Qatar, printed
on company letterhead, stamped and signed by the authorized signatory (Template will be
provided)
- Copy of company ID/Computer Card to verify stamped and signature on Company NOC
- Proof of ownership at origin
- Original vehicle de-registration certificate or vehicle export certificate if vehicle is
imported from a GCC countries
- Original Certificate of Ownership/Title if vehicle is imported from other countries
- Vehicle Insurance copy from origin
- Completed vehicle declaration (Template will be provided)
- MAQASA Bayan copy - If shipment is from GCC and needs to be cleared under MAQAZA
and if the vehicle was bought at origin less than a year ago
- Copy of purchase invoice
PETS
- Health Certificate issued by a government approved veterinarian clinic at origin, confirming the animal is good health, and that vaccinations are up to date
- Health Certificate must be dated no earlier than two weeks prior to date of animal’s arrival in Qatar
DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS
- New furniture (Certificate of Origin and invoices required)
- Computer equipment may require a separate clearance procedure
- Cigarettes (free import up to 400)
- Personal items and gifts (free import up to QAR 3,000.-.)
PROHIBITED ITEMS
- Food stuff can be imported in limited quantity (Maximum one medium box in total),
- Food must be in its original packaging and must not contain any ingredients offensive to Islamic
faith.
- Pork meat is STRICTLY PROHIBITED
- Alcoholic beverages are STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
- Cigarettes and tobacco products / e-cigarettes / vape
- Narcotics and drugs (including seemingly innocent dried poppy flower arrangements) can lead to
very severe legal action and even long prison terms. (Prescribed drugs allowed in reasonable
quantities, but remain subject to analysis).
- Firearms, weapons and ammunition (even decorative items of this nature and toy guns are subject
to confiscation)
- Explosives, fireworks
- Statues/figurines, idols, made of any metal/clay/glass, etc., defined offensive to Islamic teachings
and principles (subject to Customs appreciation)
- Nude pictures or paintings or art work.
- Articles dealing with endangered animals and any items made from ivory
- Animal skin and bones
- Wireless transmitters and communications equipment, walkie-talkie-hand-held, portable, two-way
radio transceiver
- Drones, Binoculars
- Items of Extraordinary Value: ( e.g. Jewelry, precious stones, legal documents, stamps, coin
collections, money, securities, bonds, notes etc.)
- False and counterfeit money and products
- Gambling items & toys
- Pornographic or obscene materials, political and religious material which might be deemed offensive
to the Qatari Government and Islamic faith.
- All items manufactured by Israeli and/or with Israeli origin
- All printed materials, records, films, books, pictures, tapes, slides, movies, videos, compact discs,
computer software, etc. are subject to censorship and confiscation (must be packed separately for
easy access) if caught with any of these items, customer will be subject to severe penalties and a
possible jail term.
- All prohibited articles confiscated and detained by customs may be destroyed without consignee's
consent.
- All shipments subject to physical inspection.