Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Customs Department  

Website: http://customs.gov.tc  

Address: 67 Airport Road, Downtown, Providenciales, PO BOX 206  

Phone: + 1-649-338-5493  

Fax: + 1-649-946-4453  

The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of 40 islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited. The islands are located 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, just below the Bahamas chain and just to the east of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti.)  

The Turks and Caicos Customs Department is responsible for Customs regulations in the country. In addition to this, this department has the following responsibilities:

- Collecting and protecting revenue;

- Preventing and interdicting illegal drugs and other prohibited and restricted goods;

- Facilitating legitimate trade and international travel through the use of modern business systems.

Tariffs

Live animals – duty rate is 0%;

Meat and meat products - duty rate is 0%;

Fish, molluscs and other sea food – duty rate is 15 – 40 %;

Dairy products (eggs, milk, natural honey and others) -  duty rate is 10 – 15%;

Products of animal origin (hair, skins, bones, coral materials) -   duty rate is 30 – 40%;

Vegetables -  duty rate is 10%;

Fruits and nuts - duty rate is 0%;

Coffee, tea -  duty rate is 15%;

Cereals - duty rate is 0%;

Milling products - duty rate is 0%;

Seeds and beans -  duty rate is 30%;

Prepared foodstuff -   duty rate is 15%;

Sugar - duty rate is 15%;

Cocoa - duty rate is 15%.

Documentation

Commercial Invoice

Two copies of the freight invoices in English are required.  No specific form is required, but all invoices must contain the names of the exporter and consignee, number and types of packages, marks and numbers on the packages, net and gross weights, CIF value, terms of sale, and a thorough description of the merchandise.  Note that the importer will usually need a signed duplicate invoice to speed the release of the imported goods from customs. 

Certificate of Origin

Every importer or exporter has to prove the origin of the products buy preparing a Certificate of Origin. Two certified copies are required.

Packing List

A packing list is not legally required, but such lists are usually considered essential in accelerating the time required for customs clearance.

Bill of Lading (Air Waybill)

There are no regulations specifying content of a bill of lading.  Importers should include clear marks of identification and the name and address of the consignee of the goods.  Shipping marks on the goods must correspond exactly to numbers on bills of lading/invoices.

Pro-forma Invoice

Persons wishing to import goods are required to attach six copies of this invoice to the application for an import license and/or the intent to import.  A pro-forma invoice may also be required when presenting an application to Turks and Caicos Islands authorities to ship bonded goods through the country.

Prohibited Products

- Banned weapons (including firearms and “Hawaiian slings”);

- Controlled drugs and narcotics, including (but not limited to) marijuana;

- Pornography and "obscene publications"

Sources 

http://customs.gov.tc/currdoc/CustomTariffs%20(2010).pdf  

https://www.visittci.com/travel-info/importing-animal-and-plant-products