Importing Personal Effects into Martinique: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2026 · Download the Martinique Import Guide (PDF)

Personal effects

• Information form on which arrival contact details must appear, as well as the date of arrival in Martinique.
• Detailed, valued, dated and signed inventory for used effects, in Euros, in French, on which the address at destination must appear.
• Statement regarding prohibited articles to be returned to your local agent, dated and signed.
• Imperative: Civil servants or military personnel must provide a copy of the order of transfer. If not available, a change of residence certificate to be submitted to your local before shipment of effects.
• Imperative: Privately employed individuals must provide a certificate of change of residence, on which the period spent in the country of origin must appear. This document must be submitted prior to the shipment of effects. A proof of residence in Martinique must be attached to the change of residence certificate (usually a water or electricity bill although a lease or residence purchase document will be accepted). Should this document not be available, a hosting certificate with the host’s identity document and water or electricity invoices in the host’s name will be accepted. For
• clients moving from mainland France the following documents will be accepted:
• Exit inventory in France or residence sale document
• Tax transfer document indicating the address in Martinique
• Transfer letter from the Family Allowance Fund indicating the address in Martinique
• Transfer letter from Pôle Emploi (Employment Centre) indicating the address in Martinique or any other document
• Simplified customs power of attorney form, dated and signed
• Imperative: copy (in colour) of passport or ID (for EU citizens - both sides)
• Last income tax notice with the address of origin.

Prohibited Items

• List of articles prohibited by the Washington convention:
• Ivory
• Ostrich eggs
• Turtle and tortoise shells
• Corals
• Seashells
• Stuffed animals
• Animal Skins
• Or any other species regulated by the Washington convention.
• List of forbidden items as they are dangerous and /or illicit:
• Drugs and narcotics
• Counterfeits
• Ammunition
• Cigarettes
• Explosive items such as ammunition, firecrackers, fireworks, flares, etc.
• Compressed gases (gas stove, refills, sprays, aerosol, etc)
• Inflammable items (matches, lighters, solvents, paint, varnish, petrol, etc
• Corrosive or oxidizing items (acids, batteries, sodium carbonate or potassium hydroxide, mercury, fertilizer, etc)
• Toxic items (e.g. pesticides)
• Radioactive items
• Household products (bleach, whitening powders, paint, aerosols, etc)
• Lithium-Ion batteries, printer cartridges
• Gas bottles
• Diving cylinders/tanks (empty or full).
• List of regulated items (exporting them may lead to additional costs):
• Medicines are accepted subject to approval by the airline and by the authorities in the destination country. A small quantity is sometimes tolerated (provided the airline and the destination country agree) with a detailed list of the medicines and their prescriptions. We therefore ask our customers to inform us as soon as possible should they have medicines to export, to allow us to anticipate any issues
• New equipment/items purchases: kindly get in touch with us to enquire about the procedure and the documents to be submitted
• Weapons, swords and knive:s are permitted if the shipper submits the required documents for export or import and are subjected to the prior agreement of the shipping line before loading onboard the ship
• Wines and alcohol: provided that the quantities are allowed and the import conditions are checked. We do not advise wine transportation because of temperature differences and conservation.

Martinique Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Martinique Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.

• Proof of domicile from the previous country of residence (e.g., utility bill, rental contract, property sale certificate)
• Proof of residence in Martinique dated within the last 3 months
• Signed packing list
• Copy of valid passport
• Original bill of lading (no express/telex release accepted) or air waybill (AWB)
• Original inventory in French, dated, valued, and signed by the owner of the goods
• Certificate of change of residence or working contract
• Non-sale certificate
• Original customs documents
• Employer's letter of transfer (if applicable)

Specific Information

Octroi de Mer. The Octroi de Mer is a local production and import tax applied in France's overseas departments. For used personal effects that do not qualify for duty-free admission, the applicable rates are 7% Octroi de Mer plus 2.5% additional rights and transit taxes. New furniture requires an invoice and is taxed at 8.5% VAT plus 15% Octroi de Mer plus 2.5% additional rights plus transit dues.

ISPM 15. All wood packaging materials (pallets, crates, dunnage) must comply with ISPM 15 and bear the appropriate treatment mark.

Language. All inventories must be in French, dated, valued, and signed by the owner. English-language inventories are not accepted.

Martinique is part of the EU customs territory, so goods moving from mainland France or another EU member state are treated as intra-EU movements and are not subject to customs duties. However, the Octroi de Mer local tax applies regardless of origin.

Duties & Taxes

Duty-free admission for a transfer-of-residence shipment requires that the goods have been owned and used by the importer for at least 6 months prior to arrival, that the importer is genuinely transferring habitual residence to Martinique, and that the goods will not be sold or transferred for at least 12 months after import. All required documents (see above) must be presented at customs.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Narcotics and controlled substances (without authorization)
• Firearms and ammunition without prior authorization from the Prefecture de la Martinique
• Alcohol in quantities beyond permitted limits without proper declaration and duty payment
• Species protected under CITES without valid permits
• Wolf hybrids, Savannah cats, and Bengal cats unless 5th generation or more removed from the wild ancestor
• Mastiff breeds, Boerboels, and their crosses (live animals)
• Counterfeit goods and pirated materials
• Material that violates EU sanctions regimes

From EU member states: Goods moving between Martinique and EU member states are not subject to customs duties. However, all goods entering Martinique are subject to the Octroi de Mer regardless of origin.

From non-EU countries (by air or sea):

• Alcohol: subject to excise duties and Octroi de Mer; quantities above personal-use thresholds are dutiable
• Tobacco products: subject to excise duties; limited quantities permitted duty-free
• New or unused goods: subject to customs duties plus 8.5% VAT plus Octroi de Mer; invoices required
• Firearms and ammunition: require prior authorization from the territorial administration (Prefecture)
• Medications: quantities beyond personal use require documentation; controlled substances require additional authorization
• Plant material and foodstuffs: subject to phytosanitary controls; some items restricted

Contact the destination agent for current Octroi de Mer rate schedules by commodity code, as rates vary significantly by product category.

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air and sea shipments.

All inventories must be submitted in French, fully valued, dated, and signed. English inventories are not accepted by French customs in Martinique.

Martinique is served primarily by air via Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF) and by sea through the port of Fort-de-France. Shipments arriving by sea may face unpredictable port handling delays; confirm current port conditions with the local agent before booking.

Storage and demurrage costs can accumulate quickly at Fort-de-France. Ensure all documentation is complete and in French before the shipment departs origin.

Special territory note: Martinique is an EU outermost region, not metropolitan France. Do not treat it as equivalent to a shipment to mainland France. Octroi de Mer applies on arrival, and all customs processing is handled locally, not through metropolitan French customs.