PHILIPPINES

• A foreigner may import household goods and personal effects into The Philippines duty free if he or she holds one of the following visas:

  Work Visa (9G)
  Treaty Traders Visa (9D/47E2)
  EPZA Export Visa (47A2)
  Special Immigrant Visa (13E/13A)
  B.O.I. Visa (E.O 226)
  Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) Visa
  Student Visa
  Diplomatic Visa (9E)
  
  
  
• All other foreigners, who do not hold one of the visas listed above, may import household goods and personal effects into The Philippines, but they will be subject to duty. The duty amount varies and is often subject to negotiation with the customs department. JVK will work with the shipper and his/her company to minimize any duty liability.
  
  
• Returning Filipino nationals, who have stayed abroad for a continuous 6 months are exempt for only the first PhP 10,000.00 value of their shipment. Again, JVK will work with the shipper to minimize any duty liability.
  
  
• As the original passport is required for customs clearance, the shipper must be in the Philippines at the time the shipment arrives.

• Goods prohibited from entering The Philippines include firearms, ammunition, pornographic material, illegal drugs, gambling machines, gold or silver, realistic toy guns.
  
  
• Goods that are regulated and for which a Government permit is required for import include acetic anhydride, rice, sodium cyanide, chlorofluorocarbon and other ozone depleting substances, penicillin, refined petroleum products, motor vehicles and vehicle parts and components.

• The importation of all vehicles is subject to payment of duties and taxes except for:
  
  
  1. Use for a Foreign Embassy
  2. Use for the Department of Foreign Affairs
  3. Use for the Asian Development Bank
  4. Returning Filipino nationals who have stayed abroad for one continuous year and have prior approval from BIS
  5. Special Immigrant Visa Holders (13E/13A) who have prior approval from BIS (Bureau of Import Service)
  
  
• If the vehicle is not duty free, the duty can range from 65% to 150% of the new value of the car (as determined by Philippine Customs).
  
  
• All autos must be left-hand drive.

• Most pets, including dogs, cats, and birds, can be brought into The Philippines with no quarantine period. The documents necessary at the time of import are a current health certificate (not more than 7 days old), a current vaccination card, and an import permit issued from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). This latter will be applied for by JVK on behalf of the shipper.
  
  
• Pets are subject to duty and tax at the rate of 30% of the original value of the pet (as determined by Philippine Customs). JVK will work with the shipper to minimize the duty liability.