Commercial Imports

These can be any goods in quantities, which appear to be more than the normal or usual amount required by an individual for his personal use. Goods intended for business trade or other commercial activities are regarded as commercial. These goods normally require the services of a licensed Customs Broker for import clearance or for export. Goods representing a CIF value of more than United States Five Thousand Dollars (US$ 5,000.00) or the Jamaican equivalent, must be cleared by a licensed Customs Broker.

For Goods Valued Over US$3,000 and up to US$5,000 (CIF value)
01

Prepare Import Entry (Form C78), using appropriate invoices. A proper invoice should have the following information:

  • The name, address and country of the seller
  • The name, address and country of the buyer
  • An invoice number and date
  • Port of Lading
  • Means of transport e.g. sea /air
  • Country of final destination
  • Should be written in English
  • A detailed description of the item
  • Unit price and total invoice amount
  • The Quantity of item (s)
  • Delivery term i.e. CIF, FOB etc.
  • The currency of sale eg. US$, CAN$ etc
02
Take completed Import Entry Form (C87) with supporting documents (invoices, permits, licenses, bill of lading/airway bills, etc.) to the lodgment desk at Custom House for the data to be captured.
03
The Entry Form (C87) will then be forwarded to the Invoice Branch for further processing. If there are no anomalies the entry will be passed.
04
Proceed to the Customs Cashier and pay relevant duties using one of the following payment options:
(a) Electronic payment (e-payment)
(b) Over the counter payment (cash, debit/credit card, or manager’s cheque)
05
Take all the documents to the Customs Manifest Branch where the clearance documents will be stamped and returned to you.
06
Present validated Bill of Lading/Airway Bill to the warehouse keeper where your goods are stored for your goods to be located.
07
When the goods are located they will be placed in the designated examination area for inspection by a Customs Officer. The officer will check the shipment against the clearance documents presented to ensure that the items invoiced are actually imported. If there are no discrepancies then the officer will issue a Customs Release. The release along with the Bill of Lading/Airway Bill should be presented to the Gate Pass Officer who will issue a gate pass. The goods can now be removed from the warehouse.
08
If there are discrepancies, the clearance documents will be sent back to Customs House with the appropriate reports for action to be taken. This may include the payment of additional duties which would necessitate the preparation of a citation for a breach of the Customs Act (De-novo entry). and the signing of the Consent Form A.
09 If it is determined that additional duty is payable, instructions will be given to return to Customs House for additional duty to be calculated and paid. The receipt for additional duty paid should be taken back to the Releasing Officer, after which a Customs Release will be issued.
For Goods Valued Over US$5,000
NB. Goods which exceed a CIF value of US$5,000 must be cleared by a licensed Customs Broker
01

Broker submits Import Entry (Form C87) electronically.
02 Broker then takes actual document to Lodgment Desk at the Custom House for allocation to an officer.
03 Apply steps 4-9.

 

NB. For the preparation of an import entry and for the classification of goods, a Customs Act, Customs Tariff (Revision) (Amendment) Resolution, 2007 is required. This can be purchased at the Jamaica Printing Services at 77 1/2 Duke Street , Kingston . Tel: 1-876-967-2250.