Importing Personal Effects into Chad: Documents & Customs Rules

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

Household Goods/PE

• Copy of valid passport
• Copy of valued inventory in French, dated and signed by the shipper.
• Dated and signed copy of the Washington Convention
• Invoice for all electrical appliances less than 6 months old
• Resident/work permit or letter from the employer stating that the assignee is starting a new contract in Chad.
• Non-sale certificate (sworn declaration that the client will not sell his personal effects in Chad) Change of residence certificate from the city hall of the current city of residence or from the consulate of their country of origin for expatriates.

• All documents must be sent to the moving company at least 4 days before the arrival of the shipment, to apply for and be granted duty-free clearance.
• Non-diplomatic shipments will be subject to a 2% “Statistical Tax”, based on the CIF inventory value.
• Household goods shipments without an exemption or a change of residence certificate are subject to a 70% customs tax, based on the CIF inventory value.
• Please note that all shipments are opened and checked by customs.
• Important: the certificate of removal is compulsory, including for diplomats and NGO members. If this document is not provided, the effects will be taxed (70%).

Prohibited items

• Drugs
• Pornography, defamatory or obscene publications

• Alcohol: duty-free import for less than 20 bottles.
• Firearms and ammunitions are subject to authorisation from local authorities.

Chad Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-08-19 · Download the Chad Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

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

• Copy of passport
• Packing list
• Original bill of lading (OBL) -- no express release accepted / air waybill (AWB)
• Original valued inventory in French, dated and signed by the owner of the goods
• Invoices for all electrical items less than 6 months old
• Resident or work permit, or letter from the employer
• BSC (Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison) / Cargo Tracking Note (CTN)
• Non-sale certificate (déclaration sur l'honneur stating that the owner will not sell personal effects in Chad)
• Move certificate (Certificat de Déménagement) from City Hall or Police Station

Specific Information

These are assessed on the declared value of the shipment. This is a critical point for cost estimates and customer expectations.

Diplomatic shipments: A certificate of free entry may be granted by Customs for diplomatic imports if all documentation requirements are met. Documents must be provided to the destination agent prior to the shipment's arrival to obtain duty-free clearance.

Non-sale certificate: Must explicitly state that the owner of the goods will not sell his or her personal effects in Chad.

Move certificate (Certificat de Déménagement): This is a requirement specific to Chad. The certificate must be obtained from the City Hall (Mairie) or Police Station at the point of origin. This document is not always familiar to origin agents in Western countries; confirm the requirement and format with the destination agent.

BSC / CTN requirement: The Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison is compulsory for all sea shipments entering Chad. It must be obtained at the port of origin before the shipment departs.

All shipments are physically inspected by Customs.

CEMAC framework: Chad is a member of CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa), along with Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. CEMAC countries apply a Common External Tariff (CET) on imports from third countries. A Community Integration Tax (TCI) of 1% applies to imports from outside CEMAC. An ECCAS Community Integration Contribution of 0.4% and an OHADA levy of 0.05% also apply. As of January 2026, the broader CEEAC-CEMAC common external tariff harmonization (rates 0% to 40%) is being implemented across member states.

Currency: CFA Franc BEAC (XAF), pegged to the Euro at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 655.957 XAF. Currency may be freely imported if declared on arrival. Local currency export is limited to XAF 10,000.

Language: French and Arabic are the official languages. All customs documentation, inventories, and declarations must be in French.

Duties & Taxes

Non-diplomatic shipments are NOT duty-free. Unlike many countries, Chad does not provide full duty-free entry for non-diplomatic household goods shipments. Non-diplomatic shipments are subject to:

• 2% "Taxe statistique" (statistical tax)
• 20% "Droits de douane" (customs duties)

VAT rate: Chad applies a VAT rate of 18% on most imported goods.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

• Arms, ammunition, and explosives (without prior authorization) PERMIT REQUIRED
• Narcotics and illegal drugs
• Pornography, defamatory, or obscene publications
• Counterfeit goods
• Products made from endangered species without proper CITES documentation CITES

Duty-free allowances for personal imports (traveler's baggage):

• 400 cigarettes
• 125 cigars
• 500 grams of tobacco (note: VisaHQ indicates women may only import cigarettes, not cigars or loose tobacco)
• 3 bottles of wine
• 1 bottle of spirits

Alcohol within household goods shipments: Only "Fond de Cave" (wine cellar stock) is accepted within a household goods shipment, and is duty-free up to a maximum of 20 bottles. Alcohol exceeding 20 bottles or not properly labeled as Fond de Cave will be subject to full duties and may be confiscated.

Firearms and ammunition: Authorization from the territorial administration is required prior to import. These must be declared.

Consignment Instructions

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

Pre-arrival documentation is critical. All documents, especially for diplomatic shipments seeking duty-free clearance, must be provided to the destination agent before the shipment arrives. There is no retroactive application for free-entry status.

French-language inventory required: The valued inventory must be in French, dated, and signed by the owner. This is a strict requirement.

Move certificate (Certificat de Déménagement): This document from City Hall or Police Station at the origin must be included. Confirm the exact format required with the destination agent, as this is not a standard document in many countries.

BSC / CTN at origin: The Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison must be obtained at the port of origin for all sea shipments. Cannot be obtained retroactively.

Routing: Chad is landlocked. The primary shipping route for sea freight is via the port of Douala (Cameroon), with overland transport to N'Djamena. Alternative routes include transit through the port of Cotonou (Benin) and overland, or overland from Sudan, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, or the Central African Republic. Air freight arrives at N'Djamena Hassan Djamous International Airport (NDJ).

Transit challenges: Overland transit from Douala to N'Djamena is approximately 1,800 km and can take 2 to 4 weeks depending on road conditions, rainy season disruptions, and customs processing at the Cameroon-Chad border. Road infrastructure is poor. No rail service exists in Chad.

Security environment: The security situation in Chad is volatile, particularly in border regions (Libya, Sudan, Lake Chad basin). Travel advisories should be consulted. Armed escort may be required for certain routes.

Unpredictable expenses: Border delays, road conditions, security escorts, and variable port handling charges can substantially increase costs. Budget for significant contingencies.

ISPM 15 (wood packaging): All wood packaging materials must comply with ISPM 15 standards (heat treated or fumigated, with the IPPC stamp).

Cost expectation management: Because non-diplomatic shipments are subject to 2% statistical tax and 20% customs duties (in addition to CEMAC taxes and VAT), the total landed cost for a household goods shipment to Chad can be substantially higher than countries that offer duty-free entry for personal effects. Movers should communicate this clearly to customers during the quotation process.