How to Import Goods from China or Dubai through Eastleigh
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An Eastleigh cargo or consolidation service can arrange transport, but it does not remove customs obligations. Before buying goods in China or Dubai, establish who will import them and how clearance will be documented.
This is general information. Product requirements and taxes depend on the shipment.
What to Prepare
Obtain a supplier invoice and accurate goods description. Ask a licensed customs clearing agent which transport, origin, standards and permit documents your goods require.
Steps Before Shipping
- Check the service provider. Get its business identity and the name of the clearing agent responsible for the shipment.
- Confirm the import arrangement. Establish who is the importer of record and whose details appear on customs documents.
- Get a written quotation. Separate freight, handling, storage, clearance and applicable taxes. Explain who pays if additional charges arise.
- Check product compliance. Regulated goods may need a Certificate of Conformity or other approvals before shipment.
- Check origin documentation. KRA’s notice requires certificates of origin for covered imports, with specified exceptions and provisional arrangements. Ask how this applies to your consignment.
- Keep clearance evidence. Retain invoices, transport records, customs documentation and receipts before collecting the goods.
Recent Requirements to Check
KRA’s 28 October 2026 consolidated-cargo notice says individual importer details must be declared, a requirement effective from 13 September 2026. The details include the importer’s name, PIN, identity card number, telephone number, and the goods’ description and value. Ask the consolidator how your own details and invoice will be recorded.
KRA also announced mandatory digital Marine Cargo Insurance enforcement from 1 November 2026. Its notice requires a policy from an IRA-licensed insurer and transmission of the digital certificate to iCMS before the customs declaration. Confirm the application to your shipment with the clearing agent and insurer before dispatch.
See how to import goods into Kenya for the broader process.
Warning: A per-kilogram cargo price or collection code is not proof that goods have been lawfully cleared. Avoid arrangements that depend on false descriptions or bypassing customs.
