CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

Dogs and cats may be introduced into Tuvalu from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Fiji, New South Wales, Victoria Tasmania, and South Australia. They should be accompanied by:

• A statutory declaration by the importer setting forth the kind, number, sex, marks or brands thereof and certifying:
• That the animal has been free from disease during the six months prior to departure; and
• That it has not been in contact with any animal suffering from disease during the six months prior to departure and giving the name of the district in which it has been during that time.
• A certificate by an official veterinarian stating:
• That they have examined the animal within seven days of the date of departure and found it to be free from disease and vermin; and
• That it has been dipped or thoroughly sprayed within 36 hours of shipment with a standard anti-tick solution, including the name of the solution to be given.
• And an endorsement by such official veterinarian on the importer's declaration that, after due inquiry, they have no reason to doubt the correctness of such declaration.

For more information, please visit the Tuvalu Biosecurity Regulations.

Free to Import

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

• 200 cigarettes.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

• 1 litre of spirits or wine.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Counterfeit currency.
• Food unfit for consumption.
• Indecent or obscene media.
• Infected animals and their derivative products.
• Matches containing white or yellow phosphorus.
• Products with misleading or incorrect country of origin labels.
• Opium and utensils intended for the preparation and consumption of opium.
• Goods bearing the Royal Arms of Great Britain without His Majesty's authority to use them.
• Shaving brushes manufactured or exported from Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Ceylon, or the Philippines, and all goods packed in the same inner container as such shaving brushes.
• Fictitious stamps and any instrument or materials capable of making fictitious stamps.
• Knives with a spring blade, and solid contraptions made to be gripped in a fist or fitted to or over fingers made or adapted for injuring a person.
• Imitation firearms calculated to deceive.
• Gaming machines.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Arms and ammunition require written permission of the proper authority.
• Brandy and whisky may only be imported if they have been matured by storage in wood for at least 3 years.
• Rum may only be imported if it has been matured by storage in wood for at least 2 years.
• Cannabis in any form may only be imported be under licence of the Senior Medical Office.
• Part worn or second-hand clothing, blankets, bedding and other fabrics for sale or distribution may only be imported on production of an autoclave certificate from the exporting country accompanying the consignment.
• Soil, clay, ashes, and similar substances may only be imported from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, or Hawaii, and must be accompanied by a certificate from the relevant authority in the country of origin confirming that the soil is free from disease.
• Tear gas weapons, instruments or appliances for firing tear gas or their containers or cartridges may only be imported with the licence of the Commissioner of Police.
• Honey and its derivative products and second-hand equipment, appliances or clothing used for beekeeping require written permission of the Agricultural Officer.

For further information, please visit the Tuvalu Customs Revenue and Border Protection Act 2014 and Timeless Tuvalu.