🇰🇪 Kenya
AFRICA
Kenya Revenue Authority — Customs & Border Control
16%
Duty-Free Allowances
| Category | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 1L |
| Cigarettes | 250 |
| Personal goods value | US$500 |
| Travelers 18+ may bring up to 1 L of spirits, wine or beer and 250 g of tobacco (or 250 cigarettes, 50 cigars). Personal-effects exemption is USD 500 equivalent. Goods above the allowance attract import duty (from EAC Common External Tariff), 2% Import Declaration Fee, 1.5% Railway Development Levy and 16% VAT. | |
Travelers 18+ may bring up to 1 L of spirits, wine or beer and 250 g of tobacco (or 250 cigarettes, 50 cigars). Personal-effects exemption is USD 500 equivalent. Goods above the allowance attract import duty (from EAC Common External Tariff), 2% Import Declaration Fee, 1.5% Railway Development Levy and 16% VAT.
Cash Declaration Threshold
US$10,000
Local currency equivalent: USD
Travelers carrying cash, traveler's cheques, or negotiable instruments above this threshold must declare them at customs on arrival.
Special Notes
- 01Kenya enforces a nationwide ban on the import, manufacture and use of single-use plastic bags. Travelers should remove any plastic shopping bags from luggage before arrival — bags at the airport are confiscated.
- 02Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) applies to transit consignments through Kenya.
- 03iTax and KRA's TIMS system now integrate customs with VAT; commercial consignees must have a PIN.
- 04Plastic-bag ban: Kenya enforces a nationwide ban on the import, manufacture and use of single-use plastic carrier bags under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) Cap 387. Travelers should remove any single-use plastic shopping bags from luggage before arrival; bags found at JKIA are confiscated and a fine up to KES 4 million is theoretically possible (rarely enforced on tourists).
- 05Used-electronics restriction: imports of used / second-hand mobile phones, laptops, and other electronics are restricted under the Communications Authority of Kenya rules; type-approval certification (CA mark) is required for sale; personal-use single-unit travelers are unaffected.
- 06Alcohol excise stamps: locally-distributed alcohol must bear the EGMS (Excisable Goods Management System) stamp; tourist-import duty-free allowances (1 L spirits + 250 g tobacco) clear without stamps.