It is important to know about customs regulations before traveling to Tuvalu to avoid legal issues and potential fines. As you know, customs regulations widely depend on the country. Before traveling to (or from) Tuvalu make sure to check the allowance and limits for the next things:
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Currency
- Medicines (especially those containing drugs)
- Animals
- Cultural artifacts
- Plants, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products
Check the information below to be sure that you are complying with Tuvalu customs regulations.
Import regulations in Tuvalu
Duty-free allowance
Tobacco limit
- Restricted to travellers 18 years and over;
- 200 cigarettes.
Bringing alcohol
- Restricted to travellers 18 years and over;
- 1 litre of spirits or wine.
Prohibited items
The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country:
- Counterfeit currency.
- Food unfit for consumption.
- Indecent or obscene media.
- Infected animals and their derivative products.
- Matches containing white or yellow phosphorus.
- Products with misleading or incorrect country of origin labels.
- Opium and utensils intended for the preparation and consumption of opium.
- Goods bearing the Royal Arms of Great Britain without Her Majesty's authority to use them.
- Shaving brushes manufactured or exported from Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Ceylon, or the Philippines, and all goods packed in the same inner container as such shaving brushes.
- Fictitious stamps and any instrument or materials capable of making fictitious stamps.
- Knives with a spring blade, and solid contraptions made to be gripped in a fist or fitted over fingers made or adapted for injuring a person.
- Imitation firearms calculated to deceive.
- Gaming machines.
Restricted items
These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival:
- Arms and ammunition require written permission of the proper authority.
- Brandy and whisky may only be imported if they have been matured by storage in wood for not less than 3 years.
- Rum may only be imported if it has been matured by storage in wood for not less than 2 years.
- Cannabis in any form may only be imported be under licence of the Senior Medical Office.
- Soil, clay, and similar substances may only be imported from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, or Hawaii, and must be accompanied by a certificate from the relevant authority in the country of origin confirming that the soil is free from disease.
- Tear gas and instruments for firing tear gas may only be imported with the licence of the Commissioner of Police.
- Honey and its derivative products require written permission of the Agricultural Officer.
For further information, please visit the Tuvalu Customs Revenue and Border Protection Act 2014 and Timeless Tuvalu.
Information has been updated: .