» Declarations
» Baggage Exemptions
» Restricted Imports
» Prohibited Imports
» Restricted Exports
» Prohibited Exports
» Returning Nationals
» Unaccompanied Baggage
» Commercial Goods
» Offences
Declarations
All persons entering the country are required by law to declare to Customs anything contained in their baggage, or carried with them, which has been obtained outside of St. Lucia. Passengers are also required to answer all questions asked by the Customs officer relating to their travels, baggage, its contents and other items being imported.
Customs declaration forms are distributed at ports of entry and exit, airline and ship's agent offices. It is advisable to fill out your declaration in advance of arrival in order to expedite your Customs/Immigration clearance. Completion of the form requires a listing of items brought with you (whether purchased or not) and their prices. This includes gifts for other persons, articles carried for other persons, articles for sale, and commercial samples. This does not include your personal effects. The purchase price of articles may be declared in the currency of the country of purchase. For duty purposes the value to be used will be the price paid or payable for the article. The officer will convert the amount to EC dollars and will give you an indication of the amount of duty payable. Misinformation can result in delays and penalties. Articles imported in excess of your exemption are subject to applicable duties.
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Baggage Exemptions
Personal Effects
Wearing apparel, toilet articles and items for your personal use that are in your possession upon arrival into St. Lucia are exempt from duty.
Alcoholic Drinks
A passenger 18 years and older is entitled to a duty free allowance of 40 fl ozs. of spirits however, any excess quantity up to 4 gallons is dutiable. There is no restriction on the size of the bottle.
Tobacco Products
A passenger 18 years and older can import free of duty 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 2 kilograms of smoking tobacco.
Household Effects
Household effects are those items that are normally required in the home in order to facilitate a comfortable living environment. Household effects imported by a passenger are exempted from the payment of Import Duty and Consumption Tax, provided that such items were in his/her possession and use for at least one year.
Note: 5% service charge and 1.5% environmental levy are payable. In the case of the importation of personal and household effects as cargo in larger quantities, a different clearance procedure is to be followed. For more information please contact our help desk at Customs House, Castries or call (758) 468 4801.
Tools and Equipment
A passenger can import free of Import Duty and Consumption Tax, tools of trade, musical instruments and equipment normally used in the pursuit of the declared profession or trade provided that the passenger is a returning national.
A returning national is a citizen of St. Lucia by birth, of eighteen years and above, returning to St. Lucia to settle after a minimum of ten years residence abroad.
A passenger could also enjoy similar exemptions, provided that the tools and equipment are imported under the same conditions stated in item #4, for household effects imported by a passenger.
Note: 5% Service Charge and 1.5% Environmental levy are payable in both cases.
Gifts & Souvenirs
Gifts and souvenirs imported by a passenger of a value not exceeding EC $270.00 are exempted from any duty or other charges imposed by Customs. This allowance can only be claimed once a year and does not apply to alcoholic drinks, cigarettes or commercial goods.
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Restricted Imports
Prohibited Imports
Prohibited imports are those items that are considered detrimental to the general welfare of the country. Prohibited imports will be immediately seized by Customs and the importer may be liable to severe penalties.
- 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 other apparatus in the form of a stylographic pen or pencil capable of firing any kind of shot cartridge whatsoever there from; and any cartridge containing gas.
- Fictitious stamps and any die, paint instrument or materials capable of making any such stamps.
- Condoms manufactured by MONKOK LATIX of South Korea.
- Flick knives and blades, night sticks, ratchet knives and other similar and familiar knives with flying blades.
- Shaving brushes made in or exported from Japan.
- 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.
Restricted Exports
- Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances except under license of the Chief Medical officer.
- Ginger and dry coconuts except under license from the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Any goods which bear the coat of Arms or the Flag of St. Lucia or any other facsimile imitation, or representation thereof, except with the approval of the Prime Minister's Office.
- Rare or threatened species of animals or plants, their products and derivatives except such goods which are accompanied by the appropriate permits issued by the CITES authorities.
- Foreign currency exceeding the prescribed amount unaccompanied by exchange control permission.
- Goods the exportation of which is regulated by any other enactment except in accordance with such enactment.
Prohibited Exports
Goods the exportation of which is prohibited by any other enactment.
Returning Nationals
A Returning national is
- A citizen of Saint Lucia by birth, of eighteen years and above, returning to Saint Lucia to settle after a minimum of ten years residence abroad;
- A citizen of Saint Lucia by descent who is eighteen years and above who is coming to Saint Lucia to settle, after a minimum of ten years residence abroad; or
- An alien spouse of a citizen of Saint Lucia by birth or descent, coming to Saint Lucia to settle, after a minimum of ten years residence abroad;
A returning national may import one motor vehicle whether new or used with a CIF value of not more than US$30,000.00 or EC$81,507.00 free of customs duty provided the returning national arrives accompanied by the motor vehicle or the vehicle arrives within three months before or after the arrival of the returning national or is purchased in Saint Lucia by the returning national within three months of his or her return to saint Lucia.
If the CIF value of a motor vehicle imported under this concession exceeds US$30,000.00 or EC$81,507.00, the full customs duties will be payable on the excess amount.
A returning national may import free of customs duty, tools of trade, instruments and pieces of equipment normally used in the pursuit of the declared profession or trade of the returning national. Tools of trade does not include plant, machinery and heavy duty vehicles.
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The following is a list of items and quantities that can be imported by a returning national (whether new or used) to adequately furnish his or her family residence.:
Quantity Description
Living Room
- 1 Couch
- 2 Television Sets
- 1 Video Recorder
- 1 Component Set including Compact Disc Player
- 3 Portable Radios/Tape recorders
- 4 Telephones
- 1 Telephone answering machine
- 1 Video camera/camcorder
- 1 Living room suite
- 3 Lamps
Dining Room
- 1 Dining room set (table and chairs)
- 1 Liquor trolley
- 4 End tables
- 1 Coffee table
- 1 Curio display cabinet
Kitchen
- 1 Microwave oven
- 1 Stove (gas or electric)
- 1 Dishwasher
- 1 Refrigerator
- 1 Washing machine
- 1 Dryer
- 1 Kitchen table
- 6 Stools/chairs
- 1 Deep fridge/freezer
- Kitchen ladder (step ladder)
- Kitchen cabinets
- Pots and pans
- Electric kettle
- Stove top kettle
- Cutlery
- Chinaware
- Crystal
- 1 Electric can opener
- 1 Kitchen scale
- 1 Electric knife
- 1 Electric juicer
- 1 Electric kitchen saw
- 1 Toaster
- 1 Toaster oven
- 1 Pressure cooker
- 1 Blender
- 1 Food processor
- 1 Coffee maker
- 1 Percolator
- 1 Canister set
- 2 Canister sets
- 1 Hot plate
- Other small electrical appliances for domestic use
Bedroom
- 4 Beds/mattresses
- 4 Dressers
- 4 Chest of drawers
- 4 Bedside tables
- 8 Bedroom chairs
- 4 Wardrobes
- 4 Lamps for bedside tables
- 4 Lamps for dressers
- 1 Sofa bed
- 1 Baby crib
- 1 Play pen
- 4 Clothes hampers
- 2 Shelf units (bathroom)
- 2 Bathroom scales
Other Items
- 1 Patio set
- 6 Verandah chairs
- 4 Lounge chairs
- 4 Wall clocks
- 2 Ironing boards
- 1 Sewing machine
- Surge protectors
- 2 Desks
- 2 Chairs
- 4 Book cases
- 1 Typewriter and stand
- 1 Safes
- 2 Personal computers and computer stands
- 2 Printers and printer stands
- 2 Recliners
- 1 Fax machine
- 1 Lawn mower
- 1 Generator
- 1 Barbeque grill
- 1 water pump
- 1 Ladder
- Exercise equipment for home use
- Garden tools
- Household repair tools
- Weed wacker
- Carpets and carpet under layer
- Drapes
- Blinds
- Household linen
- Musical instruments
- 1 Floor polishes
- 2 Vacuum cleaners
- 6 Fans
- 6 Mirrors
- 6 Rugs
- All Wall paintings
- 2 Chandelier
- 1 High chair
- 2 Rocking chairs
- 1 Aquarium
- 2 Clothes iron
- 1 Hair dryer (with hood)
- 2 Blow dryers (hand held)
- 1 Water tank
- 1 Laptop computer
Unaccompanied Baggage
The category of baggage called unaccompanied baggage becomes the responsibility of the carrier’s agent once it arrives in St. Lucia. The agent will be required to contact the owner of the item and refer such persons to the Customs Officer for subsequent processing.
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Commercial Goods
Commercial goods are any quantity or description of goods, which in the opinion of the Officer is being imported for resale or to be used in trade. Consequently traveller exemptions do not extend to this category of goods. The Customs Officer on duty pending proper entry declaration will detain commercial goods that are imported as baggage. Be sure to produce copies of all relevant documents especially invoices, as it will assist Customs in the verification of your entry declaration.
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Offences
Frequent Offences
- Making a false declaration to the Baggage Officer.
- Verbally abusing Customs staff
- Claiming baggage that does not belong to you
- Concealment of prohibited and restricted items.
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