Somalia Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in somalia, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Import Requirements and Documentation
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While there are slight differences in the import documentation based on products, country of origin, and point of entry, the states in the South, Puntland, and Somaliland require importers to produce the following documentation:

  • Certificate of incorporation provided by MOCI, which must have a license to import
  • Certificate of origin, mandatory for all imports
  • Original bill of lading
  • Bill of lading/airway bill, issued by the shipping company
  • Packing list that covers description of items imported
  • Import permit, applies to all restricted goods and may be issued in advance by sector regulatory agencies
  • A commercial invoice showing products and value
  • Phytosanitary certificate for agricultural produce or health certification
  • A tax certificate is required for registered companies
  • Insurance certificate
  • A pre-shipment inspection certificate has been introduced.  Bureau Veritas has been contracted to issue this certificate.

Depending on the nature of the goods, additional documentation may be required.  Once the documentary inspection process is completed, goods are inspected by relevant agencies, after which they are released.  It is advisable to consult local clearing agents who may advise importers on the documentation and procedures.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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