Country Guides
Yemen
ACTIVE CONFLICT ADVISORY: Yemen has been in a state of civil war since 2015. The conflict involves multiple armed factions, and different areas of the country are controlled by different authorities. The internationally recognized government operates from Aden in the south; the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) controls Sana'a and much of the north. Commercial shipping to Yemeni ports has been severely disrupted, particularly following Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping from late 2023 onwards.
Sana'a International Airport has been closed to most commercial flights since 2015, with limited and intermittent service. Aden International Airport has served as the primary functioning civilian airport for the internationally recognized government. Port access at Hodeidah, Aden, and other facilities is limited and subject to disruption.
IAM members should treat Yemen as an extreme-risk destination. No booking for Yemen should proceed without direct, current confirmation from a trusted on-the-ground agent regarding the operational status of the relevant port or airport, the controlling authority in the destination area, and applicable customs procedures. This guide preserves the procedural content from the IAM baseline (November 2016) as a reference framework, but virtually all procedural details should be independently verified before any shipment is accepted.
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Household Goods
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
- Passport
- Original bill of lading (OBL) or air waybill (AWB)
- Detailed inventory
- Work permit
- Letter of guarantee (for duty-free import)
- Tax card
- Import license
- Sales tax certificate
- Customs deal card
- Bank Form 11
- Invoice (bank endorsement required)
- Receipt for expenses from bank
- Certificate of origin (legalized)
- Radiation certificate
Specific Information
Commercial Shipments: Commercial shipments are subject to duty payments, sales tax, and service fees.
Practical Note: Given the split political authority in Yemen, whether a shipment is processed under internationally recognized government customs procedures (primarily Aden area) or Houthi-controlled procedures (Sana'a area and north) significantly affects all practical aspects of clearance. Confirm the destination and relevant authority with the local agent before booking.
Duties & Taxes
Duty-Free Import: Diplomats, embassy personnel, and persons backed by a bank letter of guarantee may import shipments duty-free. The letter of guarantee must cover the applicable duties; alternatively, a cash payment as determined by Customs is required. Letter-of-guarantee shipments are 100% reimbursable when the goods are re-exported.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items
- Alcohol and alcoholic beverages
- Drugs and narcotics
- Pornographic materials
- Subversive literature
- Inkjet printers and workstations
Restricted / Dutiable Items
- Videotapes, cassettes, records, and CDs — subject to inspection
- Printers and scanners — require authorization from the Ministry of the Interior; the operation manual must accompany the item [PERMIT REQUIRED]
- Fax machines — require authorization from the Ministry of Telecommunications [PERMIT REQUIRED]
- Books and paintings — subject to inspection by the Ministry of Culture before clearance
- Firearms — require a special license [PERMIT REQUIRED]
- Food products — subject to inspection by the Ministry of Agriculture before Customs clearance; approval from the Ministry of Health and Atomic Energy is required for import; commercial food imports must have product name, expiration date, manufacturing date, and name of the owner of the goods clearly identified on each carton
Importing a Used Personal Vehicle
Required Documents
- Certificate of origin
- OBL / AWB
- Certificate of manufacturing (must show date of manufacture)
- Customs deal card (for projects and companies)
Specific Information
Only vehicles less than 4 years old may be imported into Yemen. Diplomats and persons guaranteed by a Yemeni Ministry may import vehicles duty-free; all others must pay Customs duties. Letters of guarantee are not accepted for vehicle imports.
Vehicles entering with "trip tickets" (tourist entry) are allowed only on a temporary tourist basis for up to 3 months, with one possible 3-month extension.
Pets
- Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus 3. Additional vaccinations (recommended):
- Cats: feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, feline leukemia 3. Additional vaccinations (recommended):
Update vs. IAM Baseline: The IAM baseline lists only three documents. Current requirements from PetTravel.com confirm the import permit is required for all dogs and cats (not just some); add microchip (recommended), specific vaccination protocol, and parasite treatment guidance. The health certificate validity is confirmed at 10 days.
Qatar Note: No pet transports are permitted to or from Qatar. Documentation prepared by veterinarians in Qatar is not accepted when entering Yemen.
- ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip — strongly recommended; not currently required but facilitates clearance
- Rabies vaccination administered between 30 days and 12 months before entry; pet must be over 3 months of age at vaccination
- Internal and external parasite treatment (recommended; not required); record on health certificate
- International health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian in the country of origin, within 10 days of entry
- Import permit from the Department of Agriculture (Veterinary Office) — required for all dogs and cats; apply well in advance of travel
- Vaccination record
An import permit from the Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Office is required for all pet dogs and cats entering Yemen. Apply well before planned travel.
No rabies titer test is required. No breeds are banned from import.
Puppies and kittens must not be vaccinated for rabies before 3 months of age, must be vaccinated after reaching 3 months, and must wait 30 days before travel.
The import of live birds and bird products requires separate approval from local authorities. Contact the destination agent for current requirements.
Pets must enter Yemen by air via Sana'a International Airport or, given the current situation, Aden International Airport. Confirm the operational status of the intended entry airport directly with the destination agent before booking. Commercial flight availability is extremely limited.
Pets not meeting import requirements will be quarantined, returned to the country of origin, or euthanized. All costs are the importer's responsibility.
CITES: Import of wildlife species requires CITES permits. [CITES]
Consignment Instructions
Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences between air and sea shipments.
Conflict Context — Confirm Everything Locally. Yemen's ongoing civil war has fundamentally disrupted all logistics infrastructure. Port operations, airport access, customs authority, and applicable procedures vary by location and change unpredictably. Before accepting any booking for Yemen, IAM members must obtain direct written confirmation from a reliable local agent regarding: the operational status of the relevant port or airport; which authority controls customs at the destination; current duty and clearance procedures; and realistic timelines. Do not rely on pre-conflict procedural knowledge.
Letter of Guarantee. For duty-free personal imports, a letter of guarantee covering the applicable duties must be presented to Customs. This guarantee is refunded when goods are re-exported. Coordinate the guarantee arrangements with the local agent in advance.
Port Access. The port of Hodeidah has been a conflict flashpoint. Aden port is more accessible for internationally recognized government-controlled areas. Routing and port selection must be determined in consultation with the local agent based on the destination within Yemen.
No Letter of Guarantee for Vehicles. Unlike household goods, letters of guarantee are not accepted for vehicle imports. Duties must be paid in cash.
Cultural & Other Information
Yemen is located on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the south, and the Red Sea to the west. The capital is Sana'a (under Houthi control as of June 2026); Aden serves as the seat of the internationally recognized government. Yemen has a population of approximately 34 million. The official language is Arabic. The currency is the Yemeni rial (YER), though multiple currencies circulate in different areas of the country.
Yemen has been experiencing a humanitarian crisis of significant scale since 2015. The UN has described it as one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Infrastructure, including ports, airports, roads, and utilities, has been severely damaged. The economy has collapsed. Expatriate and diplomatic presence is minimal. IAM members should monitor current security advisories from their home government before any engagement with Yemen.
Time Zone: Arabia Standard Time (AST), UTC+3. Yemen does not observe daylight saving time.
Useful Links:
Useful resources
Quick Links & Resources
Contact the nearest Yemeni diplomatic mission directly; see