In a significant development, citizens and expatriates bringing personal belongings and used household items from abroad to Saudi Arabia will now enjoy customs duty exemptions. The governor of the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority has approved new regulations, heralding a positive change in customs procedures.

As per the approved regulations, the exemption applies to personal belongings and used household items brought by citizens and expatriates within six months of their arrival in the Kingdom. This privilege extends to expatriates relocating to Saudi Arabia for the first time.

The items eligible for exemption must be for personal use and imported from the individual's place of residence. Transportation means are excluded from the category of personal belongings. Expatriates are required to provide proof of their initial residence in the Kingdom to qualify for the exemption.

The regulations outline that goods arriving at land customs ports will be referred to customs departments within the Kingdom if no technical authority is present. In cases requiring inspections at another port, containers and trailers must remain tightly closed, with seals or locks only removable with permission from the authority.

Furthermore, the regulations emphasize that a single consignment arriving under one policy and owner cannot be split, except for specific cases such as incomplete goods due to source country reasons or size-related splits when received in the name of a registered shipping broker.

Article 32 of the regulations introduces an exemption for customs duty on commercial samples imported into the Kingdom, provided their customs value does not exceed SR5000, aligning with principles for determining value.

Importantly, the required documents for importing goods include the invoice, bill of lading, or export statement (for goods arriving through land ports), a certificate of origin, or a certificate of proof of origin for goods challenging to confirm their origin. Additionally, submission of necessary certificates and documents upon request by competent government authorities is mandated based on the nature of the imported goods.