ministry of Interior

The following goods may be granted temporary Entry:

1. Heavy equipment and machinery for the completion of projects or to conduct field or scientific experiments related to those projects,
2. Foreign goods imported for completion of manufacturing,
3. Temporarily imported articles for playgrounds, theatres, exhibitions and the like,
4. Equipment and machinery imported into the country for repair purposes,
5. Imported containers and packaging for filling,
6. Animals entering the country for grazing,
7. Commercial samples for display,
8. Other cases requiring temporary entry.
    

Controls:

1. For the project to benefit from temporary importation, it shall be completed for the interest of GCC States, or one of the projects the completion of which requires importation of necessary equipment and machinery that are not available in the local markets,
2. Heavy equipment and machinery that are not available in the local market to be used for the completion of investment projects, or for conducting field or scientific experiments related to those projects, may be granted temporary entry for a period of six months that is renewable for similar periods not to exceed three years in total, unless the time required for the completion of the project requires a longer period,
3. Temporary entry shall be granted to foreign goods imported for completion of manufacturing (paragraph "2") for a period not to exceed one year (365 days) in total, from the date of temporary importation,
4. An applicant shall submit to Bahrain Customs a letter listing the items to be imported for the completion of manufacturing and then re-exported, along with specifying the form of the end product and quantity thereto,
5. Period of temporary entry must not exceed six months (180 days) renewable for similar periods, but not to exceed one year (365 days) in total, for the cases stipulated in (paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8),
6. The customs office may take the necessary steps and measures utilizing the appropriate means (e.g. photos, electronic barcoding, sampling, sample sealing, etc.) to enable the customs office identify those goods when re-exported,
7. The temporary entry process is deemed complete upon re-exportation of the goods outside GCC States, storage of the same at free zones and customs warehouses, or posit them for local consumption upon payment of the applicable customs taxes/ duties and presentation of the certificate of origin thereof,
8. Goods imported under temporary entry may not be used or disposed of for purposes other than those for which they were originally imported,
9. Catalogues of temporarily imported goods and color pictures of precious goods, and goods that do not bear serial numbers, which are difficult for the customs office to identify, shall be submitted to customs at re-exportation for verification,
10. A copy of the contract or agreement made with the government agency or investment agency for the account of which the project is being completed must be submitted in the event of temporary entry of heavy equipment and machinery for the completion of projects, or for conducting field or scientific experiments related to those projects,
11. In the event temporary enty is requested at the first point of entry, an applicant shall seek approval of the customs administration of the country of destination in the GCC State as per the hereunder:
    • An applicant must obtain the approval of the customs administration of the country of destination in the GCC State for temporary entry, subject to the conditions and controls set forth in the temporary entry procedures,
    • The customs administration of the country of destination must forward its approval to the customs administration in the country of first point of entry, electronically, if possible.
12. The period of temporary entry may be extended, provided a request for extension is submitted to the customs administration of the country of destination in the GCC State. Such an approval must be later submitted to the customs administration of the country of first point of entry prior to expiry of the granted extension,
13. Any shortage in the goods that have been released under temporary entry procedure shall be subject to the customs taxes/ duties applicable at the time of temporary entry,
14. The type and description of equipment and machinery under temporarily entry may not be changed unless after obtaining approval of the customs administration,
15. Spare parts, tires, batteries and other project consumables may not be granted temporary entry,
16. Goods subject to local or international ban/ prohibition, or subject to applicable international agreements or conventions, or local regulations, as well as counterfeited goods or goods in breach of the approved standards or intellectual property rights, may not be granted temporary entry,
17. Submission of the required approvals and permits by the competent authorities concerning restricted the goods.
     

Documents to be attached with the unified customs declaration:

1. Original invoice stating the country of origin.
    

Documents required:

1. Bill of Lading (for air or sea importation),
    

Procedures:

1. The customs/ import declaration shall be electronically completed by the goods owner, his representative or the (authorized) customs broker,
2. All documents requirements shall be submitted to the customs office,
3. Submission of a cash or bank guarantee in an amount equivalent to the amount of customs taxes/ duties applicable to goods, as well as payment of other applicable charges and duties, or a written undertaking by the government agency or the guaranteeing agency to cover the goods exempted under the GCC Unified Customs Tariff,
4. The goods are subject to inspection, examination and verification based on the risk assessment criteria. The customs/ import declaration shall be electronically printed according to the automated clearance system applicable at the customs office,
5. Issuance of the exit order and release of goods.