Customs AIA Arrivals

Baggage Exemptions

The personal effects of a passenger, carried in his/her baggage or on his/her person which he/she might reasonably be expected to carry with him/her for his/her own regular and private use, which are so declared and passed as such by the proper officer and in which in the case of the personal effects of a passenger eighteen years old and over may include:

• Wines or spirits not exceeding 40 ozs in all, and
• Tobacco, not exceeding half a pound; or
• Cigars, not exceeding fifty in number; or
• Cigarettes, not exceeding two hundred in number;
• Goods to the aggregate value of US$250.00 belonging to a passenger, including a passenger under eighteen years old (18) which accompanies that passenger, and were acquired abroad by him/her for his personal or household use or as souvenirs or gifts and which the Comptroller is satisfied are not for sale.

Provided that:

• A passenger shall not be entitled to the exemption granted in respect of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products in excess of the quantities specified above;
• A passenger may only claim the allowance once a year.

Exemption under this item shall not apply to arms and ammunition, except service weapons carried by a member of an armed force entitled to carry such arms on his person.

Prohibited Imports

Prohibited imports are those items considered detrimental to the country's general welfare. Customs will immediately seize such imports, and the importer may be liable to severe penalties.

 
List of prohibited imports:

• Counterfeit currency and coins.

• Food unfit for human consumption.

• Indecent or obscene prints, paintings, photographs, books, cards, lithographic or other engravings, pornographic records, videos or any other indecent articles or matter.

• Matches which contain white or yellow phosphorus.

• Prepared opium and pipes or other utensils for use in connection with the smoking of opium or other narcotic drugs.

• Opium, morphine, cocaine, LSD, marijuana and other narcotic drugs.

• Preparations of opium or other narcotic drugs for smoking.

• Any pistol or apparatus in the form of a stylographic pen or pencil capable of firing any shot cartridge whatsoever therefrom; and any cartridge containing gas.

• Fictitious stamps and any die, paint instrument or materials capable of making any such stamps.

• Flick knives and blades, night sticks, ratchet knives and other similar and familiar knives with flying blades.

• All publications, articles or other matter associated with black magic, secret magic obeah, witchcraft or other magical arts and occultism.
• Goods the importation of which is prohibited by any other enactment of the State.

Restrictions on Imports and Exports

Restricted Imports

• Arms and ammunition, except with the written permission of the Commissioner of Police.

• Explosives; except with the written permission of the Commissioner of Police.

• Handcuffs of any type except with the written permission of the Commissioner of Police.

• Radio and television transmitting equipment, including walkie talkies except under licence of the Minister of Telecommunications .

• Cannabis sativa, including parts of the plant, cannabis indica, choras, ganja or any preparation or mixture thereof, except under licence of the Chief medical Officer.

• Other narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances including controlled drugs except under licence of the Chief Medical Officer.

• Motor vehicles fitted with left hand driving control, that is to say, having the steering wheel placed so as to be controlled from the left hand side of the motor vehicle except under special permit issued by Cabinet.

• Tear gas and any ingredient which may produce what is commonly known as tear gas or tear smoke except with the written authority of the Minister.

• Any goods whatsoever which bear the Coat of Arms or the Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or any facsilile, imitation or representation thereof, except with the approval of the Minister.

• Rare or threatened species of animals or plants, their products and derivatives, whose international trade is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) unless such goods are accompanied by the appropriate permits signed by the CITES authorities in the country of exportation or importation.

• Chain saws, except under licence from the Ministry of Agriculture.

• Nightscope binoculars and similar night vision instruments or apparatus of a kind ,generally used by the armed forces, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies, except with the written permission of the Commissioner of Police