Gabon may only have 2.1 million inhabitants, but it has a rich history of folklore and mythology, and is known worldwide for its use of elegant masks during ceremonies celebrating births, marriages, and deaths.
However, less well known to most, is the amount of protected parklands this west African nation has created - about 10% of its landmass. And this provides a safe home to many varied creatures such as forest elephants, buffaloes, sitatungas, chimpanzees, and gorillas.
For its region, Gabon is a leader in e-commerce. Its internet service is reliable and affordable, which has readied 38% of its population for online shopping. With French as Gabon's official language, it's a perfect time for Canadians to sell and ship goods to the Gabonese.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Gabon through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Gabon. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking information to Gabon
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Oct 6, 2023
8:49 am
Moanda , MO, GA
Delivered
Oct 5, 2023
7:18 am
Franceville , FR, GA
In transit
Oct 4, 2023
9:03 pm
Port-Gentil , PG, GA
International Clearance
Oct 4, 2023
8:14 am
Libreville , LI, GA
In transit
Oct 4, 2023
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Oct 3, 2023
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Disclaimer!
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Gabon before shipping any goods.
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will require different
paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
Gift parcels shipped to Gabon from Canada will incur duty and taxes if they are valued at greater than $35 USD (about $45 CAD).
Shipments from Individual-to-Individual
Gift shipments from an individual in Canada to an individual in Gabon will be exempt from duties and taxes provided the shipment is no more than $35 USD (about $45 CAD).
Shipments from Business-to-Business
Gift shipments with a value of $35 USD or less will be exempt from taxes and duties.
Shipments from Business-to-Individual
The general policy of Gabonese customs is to accept gift shipments duty and tax free if the parcel's value is no more than $35 USD (about $45 CAD).
Gift Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time
(see sample)
List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Personal Shipment / Gift Shipment
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift Shipment: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$79.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $79.99
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Multiple Gifts in One Shipment
If your shipment contains multiple gifts, be sure to wrap and tag each one separately.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Unsolicited Gift: Consolidated Gift Package
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift - Roger: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$39.99
1 Each
Gift - Erica: Handwoven French Canadian Catalogne Blanket
CA
$49.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $89.98
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Sample Commercial Invoice for Food, Chocolate, Candies
Ship To
Invoice
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Food Shipment - Assorted chocolate bars in their original manufacturer's packaging
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Box
Nestle Chocolate Bars in original packaging expiring May 2021 (shelf life of 6 months or longer)
CA
$20.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent / Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $20.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Samples
Commercial samples are shipped to solicit sales and promote products; they are NOT intended to be sold.
Provided samples have no commercial value, they may enter Gabon exempt from duty charges.
NOTE: commercial samples may also be shipped to Gabon by using an ATA Carnet, which allows them an expedited customs clearance and a duty-free entry to the country.
Commercial Sample Checklist
A Commercial Invoice must be included with your shipment
Clearly indicate 'Commercial Samples' on the commercial invoice in the General Description & Detailed Description of Goods (see sample)
The item shipped has tearing, perforation, slashing, defacing, or has permanent marking clearing indicating the item as commercial sample
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Machinery and equipment shipped to Canada for repair may re-enter Gabon exempt from duty fees provided the work was done at no charge under a warranty.
Items Under Warranty
Provided items are covered by a warranty, they may be repaired in Canada at no charge and returned to Gabon without incurring duty.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
Equipment and machinery that are no longer under warranty will incur duty fees on the repair work done in Canada when they are returned to Gabon.
Sending Product for Repair to Gabon
There is no information at this time concerning sending items to Gabon from Canada for repair.
Returning Repaired Product to Gabon
If goods have been repaired in Canada at no charge due to a warranty obligation, they will be exempt from duties upon re-entry into Gabon.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return
(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Gabon or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Goods imported into Gabon for a temporary stay may do so exempt from taxes and duties provided:
They are destined for display at a trade fair or similar exhibition
They are returned to Canada within one year of their arrival in Gabon
They are accompanied by a bank guarantee in the amount of fees owed
ATA Carnets
Gabonese authorities only accept ATA Carnets for commercial samples
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods.
(see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2020
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
As there is no threshold (de minimis value) on shipments sent to Gabon, all sold goods entering the country will incur duty and taxes regardless of their value.
Occasional Shipper
Even if you only ship sold goods occasionally to Gabon, the recipient will be liable to pay duty and taxes on the shipment.
Regular shipper
Regular shippers of sold goods to Gabon are strongly recommended to consult a licenced Gabonese customs broker for their shipment. This is to ensure that consignments have the necessary certificates to clear customs.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Galaktioni Tabidze 8 Gia Chanturia St. Tbilisi 0108 Gabon
Phone: +995 32 299 86 67
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 3 Oct 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This process alone can be confusing and time-consuming.
So we’ve narrowed down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.). Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels).
These are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a controlled good
and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Gabon. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Gabon, it will incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters of credit for the goods. Otherwise,
it is generally your choice whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process and
ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties and taxes.
No specific form required, but generally includes information regarding:
The exporter, importer and transport company
Date of issue
Number of freight invoice
Type and number of packages
Contents of each package
Marks and numbers
Net weight, gross weight and measurements of each package
Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Goods deemed prohibited by Gabonese customs will not be allowed entry to the country while restricted goods may enter; however, they may be restricted in quantity or require a permit.
Prohibited Items
Amulets and talismans known
as 'gris-gris' or 'fetishes'
Any object or material with pornographic images
Psychotropic substances,
narcotic drugs
Relics and antiquities of any type
Restricted Items
Perishables - fruit and plants
Medications (for both veterinarians and medical practitioners)
Gabonese authorities calculate the amount of duty and taxes owed on a shipment entering the country by using its CIF Value. The CIF Value is the sum of the customs value plus insurance amount plus freight costs.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
If you were to calculate the CIF Value of your shipment to Gabon, you will have an estimate of the duty and tax (VAT) the recipient will have to pay.
Thresholds
All imports of sold goods entering Gabon will incur duty and VAT regardless of their value. There are no thresholds (also called de minimis values) below which no fees are incurred.
Currency
CFA franc XAF
Duty Exemption (De minimis Value)
N/A
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
18%
Tax Exemption
(De minimis Value)
N/A
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
Excise Duties
Luxury goods entering Gabon will incur excise duties. The following items are considered luxury goods: tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, perfumes, salmon, and caviar.
Details of specific duty rates for the above products can be found
here.
You can purchase
insurance
through Secureship and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment our system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable, if it doesn’t meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Gabon from Canada can take between 3-5 business days through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform.
More economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2 months to complete the delivery.
