Shipping From Canada
to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Documents Only

The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines allows the following items entry as document shipments:

• Advertising literature, brochures, and pamphlets
• Annual reports
• Bids and proposals
• Blueprints
• Calendars
• Cash letters, negotiable bonds, and drafts
• Catalogues and price lists
• Cheques
• Computer print-outs
• Credit cards
• Drawings (including sepia drawings)
• Driver's licence
• Graphs
• Greeting cards and invitations
• Intercompany mail
• Magazines, newspapers, and periodicals
• Manuscripts
• Maps and charts
• Mylars
• Passports
• Photographs
• Seismic data
• Specifications sheets
• Visa applications

Customs officials of St. Vincent and the Grenadines consider the items below to be a document if they abide by the accompanying restriction.

Sources:
https://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_CA

Shipping Gifts

All shipments of gifts entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines will incur duties and taxes even if the gift is of low value.

Shipments from Individual-to-Individual

A gift shipment from an individual in Canada to an individual in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be liable to duty and tax fees. This applies regardless of the value of the gift.

Shipments from Business-to-Business

Should your business in Canada send a gift to a business in St. Vincent, be advised that the contents will be charged tax and duty no matter the value of the gift.

Shipments from Business-to-Individual

If a business in Canada ships a gift parcel to an individual in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the recipient will incur taxes and duties

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.

Multiple Gifts in One Shipment

If your shipment contains multiple gifts, be sure to wrap and tag each one separately.

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Shipping Personal Effects

Persons who move to St. Vincent will receive a duty exemption for their personal effects if:

• The goods have been in use by the claimant for a minimum of 1 year
• It is clear they are not part of a commercial shipment
• The goods arrive from 3 months before until no more than 3 months after the arrival of the individual

Concerning St. Vincent nationals who are returning to the country for permanent re-settlement, their personal effects may enter duty-free as long as:

• The individual or family has lived outside of St. Vincent for a minimum of 10 years (and they can provide proof)
• Only one item or set of items is in the shipment (details of allowable quantities of goods may be accessed here)
• For the first 4 years in St. Vincent, the shipment's goods are not rented, lent out, or sold to anyone

Moving Temporarily

Students

No information is available at this time regarding students moving temporarily and shipping their personal effects to St. Vincent for their studies.

Non-students

Non-students who move temporarily to St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be allowed a duty-free concession on their new or used personal effects under the following conditions:

• The quantity of goods is reasonable for the size of the household entering the country
• Items for use in a profession, trade, or occupation are allowed if the claimant owns them and have been used by him or her

Moving Permanently

Citizens of St. Vincent who are returning to the islands to live permanently will be allowed a duty-free entry of their personal effects provided:

• They have lived overseas for 10 or more years (must provide proof)
• The goods will not be sold, lent out, or bartered for 4 years after arrival
• The shipment has only one item or set of goods for the household*

*Specific details of the quantity of allowable items in the shipment can be found here.

Personal Effects Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided
• For returning St. Vincentians moving permanently, proof of having lived abroad for at least 10 years

Sources:
http://asycudaw.svgcustoms.net/downloads/exemptions-concessions.pdf
http://asycudaw.svgcustoms.net/downloads/returning-natl-application.pdf

Food, Chocolate, Candies

Most foodstuffs will be allowed entry into St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Be advised that powdered food may only enter as a sample.

You May Ship

• Candy
• Chocolate

Do Not Ship

• Perishable goods - fruits and vegetables, meat

Food, Chocolate, Candies Checklist

• Clearly indicate 'Food' on the commercial invoice in the General Description or Remarks section (see sample)
• Ensure that your food, chocolate, or candies may be imported into the country
• You are not shipping commercial quantities (for any duty & tax exemption)
• Check with your carrier that they will accept food shipments

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Samples

Commercial samples are shipped abroad to advertise goods and encourage sales; they are not meant to be sold.

Samples will be allowed to enter St. Vincent exempt from duties if they have been rendered unsellable through mutilation.

NOTE:
Samples of food must only be in powdered form

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

Sources:
http://asycudaw.svgcustoms.net/downloads/exemptions-concessions.pdf
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Advertising Material

As long as advertising materials have no commercial value, i.e. they cannot be sold, they will be allowed a duty-free entry into St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Advertising Material Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Promotional Material - Not for Resale' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided

Sources:
http://asycudaw.svgcustoms.net/downloads/exemptions-concessions.pdf

Repairs

Temporary importation of goods into St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not available; therefore goods for repair cannot be sent to the islands.

Items Under Warranty

Repair services for goods in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not possible because the country does not have a temporary importation service

Items No Longer Under Warranty

As St. Vincent and the Grenadines do not allow the temporary importation of goods, it is impossible to ship items for repair to the islands.

Sending Product for Repair to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

It is not possible to send machinery and equipment to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for repair because customs does not accept the temporary importation of goods.

Returning Repaired Product to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

No information is available at this time concerning machinery and equipment repaired in Canada and returned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Temporary Imports

The temporary importation of goods is generally not allowed by customs regulations of St. Vincent and the Grenadines with the exception of those for personal use. (They will be allowed a duty-free entry if accompanied by a security deposit, which will be refunded when the goods leave the country.)

ATA Carnets

Customs authorities of St. Vincent and the Grenadines do not accept ATA Carnets for the temporary importation of goods.

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

Sources:
http://asycudaw.svgcustoms.net/faqs.php
https://www.atacarnet.com/carnet-countries
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Permanent/Sold Goods

All sold goods that enter St. Vincent and the Grenadines will incur duties and taxes whether they are of low value or an occasional occurrence.

Occasional Shipper

As there is no de minimis value (also known as a threshold) on sold goods entering St. Vincent, even occasional shipments will incur duties and VAT no matter their value.

Regular shipper

If you are a regular shipper of sold goods to St. Vincent, we advise you to employ the services of a licenced Vicentianne customs broker. This will ensure that all necessary paperwork accompanies your goods. For example, they may require a certificate of origin (COO) or import licences or permits.

Sources:
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/s299-05_e.pdf