Country Guides
Bangladesh
Start here
Overview
Explore sections
Guide Details
Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Passport (original required for customs clearance)
- Original bill of lading (OBL) / express release / air waybill (AWB)
- Customs passbook issued by the National Board of Revenue (required for privileged persons / duty-free entry)
- Packing list / detailed inventory
- Baggage declaration form (completed upon arrival and signed by Customs, within 20 days of arrival)
- Inspection order form (IOF) / inspection information form (IIF)
Specific Information
Foreigners, NGO employees, and foreign investors: Must pay duties and taxes on household goods and personal effects. There is no duty-free exemption for this category.
Bangladeshi citizens returning from abroad: Can import personal and household goods at a tax benefit of up to 80% on the assessable value. To qualify: the citizen must have stayed abroad with no re-entry for at least 2 years. The benefit is graduated: 40% for the first 2 years abroad, plus 10% for each subsequent year, up to a maximum of 80%. A certificate from the Bangladesh embassy/high commission abroad stating the period of stay is required.
Updated baggage rules (2025): The NBR has updated the Passenger (Non-Tourist) Baggage (Import) Rules. 19 types of items can now be imported duty-free (including one laptop/desktop, one camera, one TV up to 29", one music system, one oven, one rice cooker, sports materials, up to 100g gold ornaments per year, one carton of cigarettes, and various kitchen appliances — all limited to one of each). An additional 11 categories are subject to specific fixed duties.
Owner presence: The owner must be present for customs clearance with original passport and OBL/express release.
Baggage declaration form: Must be completed by all non-tourist passengers within 20 days of arrival. Failure to submit the form within the timeframe may result in complications.
Recommended routing: FCL shipments are advised to arrive at the Dhaka Dry Port (ICD) via port of entry at Chittagong. LCL shipments are recommended through port of entry Chittagong.
Land port travellers: Entitled to a duty-free allowance for goods with a maximum value of USD 400.
Duties & Taxes
Category-based duty system: Bangladesh does not offer a blanket duty-free exemption for household goods. The duty treatment depends on the importer's status:
Privileged persons (duty-free): Diplomats, embassy/high commission staff, United Nations personnel, international donor agency employees, and employees of foreign companies with Bangladesh government contracts may import duty-free. They must obtain a Customs passbook from their employer, who applies upon the employee's arrival. The passbook takes approximately 25-30 days to obtain. The duty-free limit for personal use and household effects is: CIF value of BDT 50,000 for the first year (must be imported within 6 months of first arrival, extendable by 3 months by the Commissioner of Customs and further by the NBR); then up to CIF BDT 15,000 per year for the next two years.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Explosives and incendiary devices (fireworks, flares, gunpowder, dynamite) — Prohibited
- Flammable materials (lighter refills, paints, thinners) — Prohibited
- Weapons without proper authorisation — Prohibited
- Narcotics and illegal drugs — Strictly prohibited
- Pornographic material — Prohibited
- Counterfeit currency and goods — Prohibited
- Radioactive materials — Prohibited
- Goods prejudicial to the interests of Bangladesh — Prohibited
Restricted / Dutiable Items
Duty-Free Traveller Allowances (Non-Tourist Passengers, per NBR Baggage Rules)
Duty-free items (one of each unless specified):
- 2 mobile phones
- 1 desktop or laptop computer
- 1 computer scanner, 1 printer
- 1 video camera (non-professional), 1 still/digital camera (non-professional)
- 1 oven/microwave, 1 rice cooker, 1 pressure cooker, 1 gas oven with burner
- 1 toaster, sandwich maker, blender, food processor, juicer, coffee maker
- 1 household sewing machine
- 1 table/pedestal/ceiling fan
- Carpet up to 15 sq metres
- 1 television up to 29 inches
- 1 music system (CD player with 2 speakers)
- Sports materials for personal use
- Up to 100g gold ornaments per year (regardless of number of entries)
- 1 carton of cigarettes (200 sticks)
Restricted Items
- Firearms and ammunition `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Permission required from the Ministry of Home (dealers) or Ministry of Commerce (private citizens)
- Vehicle parts — Restricted; contact agent for specifics
- Agar and pectin `PERMIT REQUIRED` — Permission from the Director of the Drugs Administration required
- Alcohol — Limited quantities for foreign nationals; commercial import restricted
- Second-hand computers and reconditioned office equipment — Restricted for commercial import
- Items claiming to be "Made in Bangladesh" if not actually manufactured in Bangladesh — Prohibited
- Lithium batteries over 160 Wh — Require cargo transport under IATA DG regulations
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Passport
- Bill of lading (OBL)
- Vehicle registration documents
- Purchase invoice
- Customs declaration
Specific Information
Vehicle age restriction: Vehicles 3 years and older cannot be imported into Bangladesh.
Duties: Vehicles are subject to customs duties and storage charges. Duty rates are substantial and vary by vehicle type, engine capacity, and age.
Diplomatic exemptions: Diplomatic personnel may import vehicles duty-free through their diplomatic franchise.
Driving: Driving is on the LEFT-hand side of the road.
Pets
- Veterinary health certificate issued within 7 days of import
- Vaccination records (must confirm the animal is free from rabies and other infectious diseases)
- Radioactivity-test report from the origin country (for products from fish, poultry, or other animals)
Species permitted: Cats, dogs, birds, and many other types of pets can be brought into Bangladesh.
Quarantine: No quarantine period is required, provided all documentation requirements are met.
Health certificate timing: Must be issued within 7 days of import and must state that the animal is free from rabies and other infectious diseases.
Radioactivity testing: For products from animals, a radioactivity-test report from the origin country is required. The report must indicate the level of CS-137 per kg. A certificate stating the products are fit for consumption is also required. This unusual requirement may apply to pet food or animal products rather than live pets themselves — confirm with the destination agent.
Official authority: Contact the Department of Livestock Services for specific pet import requirements.
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.
Customs passbook timing (critical for privileged persons): The passbook takes 25-30 days to obtain after the employer applies. The shipment cannot clear duty-free until the passbook is issued. Plan accordingly to avoid demurrage charges.
Owner presence: Mandatory for customs clearance. The original passport and OBL/express release are required.
Baggage declaration: Must be filed within 20 days of arrival.
Routing: FCL shipments should be directed to the Dhaka Inland Container Depot (ICD) with port of entry at Chittagong. LCL shipments through Chittagong port. Chittagong (now officially Chattogram) is the primary seaport. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka) is the main air entry point.
Currency: Bangladeshi taka (BDT). Foreign currency restrictions apply. Travellers must declare amounts; export of Bangladeshi currency is restricted.
Cultural & Other Information
- OpenFactBook (replaces CIA World Factbook): https://www.openfactbook.org/countries/bangladesh/
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Customs (NBR): https://bangladeshcustoms.gov.bd/
- National Board of Revenue: https://nbr.gov.bd/
Key country facts: Bangladesh is located in South Asia, bordered by India and Myanmar, with a coastline on the Bay of Bengal. The capital is Dhaka. The official language is Bengali (Bangla); English is widely used in business and government. The currency is the Bangladeshi taka (BDT). Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries. Driving is on the left-hand side. The primary seaport is Chittagong (Chattogram). The customs regime distinguishes sharply between privileged persons (duty-free), returning Bangladeshi citizens (graduated tax benefit up to 80%), and foreigners (full duties).
Important notes for movers: The 25-30 day Customs passbook processing time is the critical bottleneck for privileged persons' shipments. Advise employers to begin the passbook application immediately upon the employee's arrival to minimise demurrage. For Bangladeshi citizens returning from abroad, obtaining the embassy/high commission certificate proving period of stay is essential for the graduated tax benefit. The owner must be present in person with the original passport — no proxy clearance is possible for most categories.
Regulatory Updates
- 2025: NBR updated Passenger (Non-Tourist) Baggage (Import) Rules with revised duty-free allowances (19 item categories duty-free, 11 categories with specific fixed duties). Unified rules now apply regardless of nationality.
- 2016: Current Passenger (Non-Tourist) Baggage (Import) Rules enacted (SRO basis).
- Ongoing: The Smart Import Export Hub (hub.bangladeshcustoms.gov.bd) provides searchable HS codes and import requirements for all goods.
Useful resources