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Guide Details
Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Original passport
- Residence visa or work visa (cargo must arrive after the owner has obtained a valid visa)
- Original Bill of Lading (OBL) or Airway Bill (AWB) — express release is not accepted; original OBL required
- Comprehensive, detailed inventory, valued and signed by the owner
- Packing list
- Power of Attorney authorizing the destination agent to arrange customs clearance
- Certificate of Removal (obtained from the Population Register in the country of departure)
- Certificate of Insurance
- Diplomatic franchise
- Original passport
- Comprehensive inventory, dated and signed by the owner
- Power of Attorney for destination agent
- All documents must reach the destination agent at least 15 days before arrival to obtain duty-free entry approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Specific Information
Used household goods and personal effects are duty-free when the following conditions are all met: the goods have been owned and used by the importer for a minimum of 6 months; the importer has lived abroad for at least one year; and the goods are imported within 6 months of the owner's arrival in Suriname. All new items are subject to duty and tax regardless of the owner's qualifying status. Goods may not be sold, lent, or otherwise disposed of during the owner's stay in Suriname.
All appliances and electronics must have invoices or receipts. Prescription medications require a health certificate.
Foreign diplomats, members of government missions, and staff of international organizations are granted duty-free entry of personal effects and household goods, provided all documents are delivered to the destination agent at least 15 days before the shipment arrives, so the destination agent can obtain free-entry authorization from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Import tariffs for non-CARICOM goods generally range from 0–40%, with average rates between 30–40% on dutiable items. Goods entering under CARICOM's free trade regime must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin and a CARICOM invoice.
Note: Suriname does not impose ISPM 15 regulations for wood packaging material, though ISPM 15-compliant packaging is always recommended as a best practice.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Narcotics and illegal drugs of any kind
- Pornographic, obscene, and subversive materials
- Firearms, explosives, and ammunition without a valid import permit `PERMIT REQUIRED`
- Foodstuffs (general prohibition on food import in personal effects)
- Pesticides
- Chemical and radioactive wastes
- Chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and related materials
- Goods obtained illegally in the country of origin
- Wildlife and wildlife products covered by CITES `CITES`
Restricted / Dutiable Items
- Appliances and electronics: must have invoices/receipts; duties apply to new items
- New items (owned less than 6 months): must have invoices/receipts; subject to full import duties
- Prescription medications: require a health certificate
- Tobacco: duty-free allowance is 200 cigarettes or 500 grams of loose tobacco; excess is subject to duty
- Alcohol: duty-free allowance is 1 litre of spirits, 4 litres of wine, and 8 litres of beer; excess is subject to duty
- Firearms, explosives, and ammunition: import permit required `PERMIT REQUIRED`
- Goods requiring an import licence (H-99 Form, applied for at the Ministry of Economic Affairs): licensing certificates are issued by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries depending on the category
- Goods under CARICOM free trade regime: must be accompanied by Certificate of Origin and CARICOM invoice
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Original Certificate of Title and Registration
- Original commercial or purchase invoice
- Driver's licence and international insurance policy (green card)
- Circulation permit
- Original Bill of Lading — chassis number, engine number, weight, cubic capacity, year of manufacture, brand, and model must all be stated on the OBL
Specific Information
Vehicles valued above USD 25,000 are subject to import taxes and duties of 40% of CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value. Vehicles valued at USD 25,000 or below are subject to taxes and duties of 25% of CIF value. Annual taxes depend on the vehicle's weight, and insurance premiums are based on the value declared by the owner.
Delivery of a vehicle from the port of entry to the owner's residence costs approximately USD 125.
Contact the destination agent to confirm current duty rates and applicable procedures, as these may have been updated.
Pets
- ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip certificate (recommended, not strictly mandatory — if no microchip, pet must wear an identification tag with owner contact details)
- Rabies vaccination record, administered between 21 days and 12 months before entry
- Additional vaccinations: dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus (leptospirosis vaccine is required but may be administered upon arrival); cats should be vaccinated against viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, and leukemia (leptospirosis vaccine is recommended but may be administered upon arrival)
- Parasite treatment record (internal and external; treatments required shortly before import)
- Official health certificate completed by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin within 7 days of entry
- Import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (required only for pets traveling unaccompanied or as air cargo — not required for pets accompanying their owner)
- Advance notice of the pet's arrival must be provided to Suriname Veterinary Services
No quarantine is imposed if all requirements are met. The Chief Veterinary Office in Paramaribo will examine the pet on arrival. If accompanying documents do not meet requirements, the animal will be quarantined or entry will be refused; all costs are the owner's responsibility.
Suriname does not formally require a rabies titer test. However, Suriname is classified by the World Organisation for Animal Health as a high-rabies-risk country. A titer test is strongly recommended, particularly if the pet will return to its country of origin, where such a test may then be required.
Parasite treatments (internal and external) are required shortly before import. This should be discussed with the veterinarian at origin.
All pets must enter Suriname via Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (Zanderij) in Paramaribo. Pets may travel in-cabin, as checked baggage, or as air cargo, subject to airline policies.
Consignment Instructions
Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences between air and sea shipments.
Express release is not accepted for household goods shipments — original Bill of Lading is required. For diplomatic shipments, all documents must reach the destination agent at least 15 days before the shipment arrives to allow time for Ministry of Foreign Affairs duty-free authorization.
The Certificate of Removal from the Population Register at origin must be obtained before departure. The owner must have a valid residence or work visa in place before the cargo arrives.
Goods must be imported within 6 months of the owner's arrival in Suriname. New items, and items not meeting the 6-month ownership requirement, will be assessed for full import duties regardless of the owner's resident status.
Cultural & Other Information
Suriname — officially the Republic of Suriname — is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America, bordered by Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and French Guiana to the east. With a population of approximately 620,000, it is the least densely populated country in South America. The capital and main port city is Paramaribo.
Dutch is the official language. Suriname is notable for its exceptional ethnic diversity, with communities of South Asian, Javanese, Creole, Maroon, Chinese, and indigenous descent. Suriname is a member of CARICOM and COTA. The currency is the Surinamese Dollar (SRD).
The economy is driven largely by gold and oil extraction, with significant agricultural activity. Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (Zanderij) and Paramaribo's port serve as the main points of entry for international cargo.
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