GABON
Documents required for Gabon customs clearance as follows:
- Original Commercial Invoice (French or Spanish)
- Packing List
- Certificate of Conformity for regulated products (Check with your importer).
Your commercial invoice must include the currency of the values listed. It should also include unit value and number of units sold. Identifying the HTS code on the invoice is also helpful in classifying the item properly with the local customs office.
An Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) or equivalent BESC/BSC/FERI/CTN filing is required for all Ocean shipments arriving or transiting through the country. The tracking note must be obtained and paid for before the shipment arrives. Failure to present a valid Cargo Tracking Note or providing incorrect information can result in fines, delays, storage charges, or even cargo being refused clearance. The responsibility for obtaining the Cargo Tracking Note lies with the shipper in coordination with the consignee. If you do not have a Valid Cargo Tracking Note and require assistance, please contact our customer service team and provide the commercial invoice, packing list and contact details of the consignee. We will coordinate with our destination agent and the consignee to assist with filing a Cargo Tracking Note, additional fees for assisting with filing will apply. Exfreight must be notified of the requirement before cargo is schedule or picked up, or additional storage and/or roll fees may incur while the cargo is held at origin while waiting for the Cargo Tracking Note. If you or your consignee need help getting the ECTN registered locally we recommend using the GetCTN service.
A schedule B # or HTS code is required for every shipment prior to export.
If the value exceeds $2500 value, please also provide a completed SLI to ExFreight or complete the export declaration on the ExFreight website.
If your booking is Full Container (FCL), a VGM form must be completed before documentation cutoff date.
Please provide a scanned copy of the documents to ExFreight prior to freight departure.
Shipments to a military base may require additional fees and paperwork if the base requires an exclusive truck for delivery or bonded delivery.
Gabon belongs to the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). CEMAC member countries also include Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon. Gabon's standards of trade duplicate French standards, which are sometimes not well adapted to the local market.
The following commodities may require additional paperwork and or special import licenses:
- Medicines
- Food
- Cosmetics
- Tobacco products
- Medical devices
- Human drugs or medicines
- Veterinary products or medicines
- Alcohol
- Electronics
- Chemicals
- Products made of wood
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Vehicles & trailers (including RVs)
- Plants
Prohibited items:
- Counterfeit items, currency etc.
- Pornography
- Uniforms (Military)
Important: Exercise independent care before relying on information contained herein. Although we strive to ensure all information is correct and current, ExFreight assumes no liability for detrimental reliance on this information. Trade requirements may change with little or no prior notification, de-facto requirements in certain countries vary from official regulations, and particular shipments and/or importers may have special destination customs arrangements. We encourage you to check with the importer or its customs agent in the destination country for specific importation requirements for specific products and circumstances.
Additional resource www.trade.gov
