Saudi Customs
Saudi Customs positions businesses entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and effectively trade their products in the Saudi market, and plays an important role in facilitating trade.
What Is Saudi Customs?
Saudi Customs is considered a government entity of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). It carries the responsibility for overseeing the movement of goods within and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, ZATCA facilitates international trade and protects the national economy by collecting customs duties, along with ensuring that importers comply with the Kingdom’s Unified Customs Tariff.
What Are the Key Responsibilities of Saudi Customs?
- Facilitating customs procedures and efficiently clearing inbound goods to keep global trade moving without unnecessary delays.
- Collecting customs duties and taxes on inbound and outbound shipments as part of the clearance process, which covers all applicable fees on imports and exports in accordance with regulations.
- Contributing to preventing the entry of prohibited goods that violate the specifications and technical standards of Saudi Arabia.
- Combating smuggling and illegal activities that pose risks to national security.
What Services Does Saudi Customs Provide?
- Customs clearance services for goods and commercial shipments entering the Saudi market.
- Customs registration for companies and suppliers through official platforms, including Fasah and Saber.
- Technical support services through guidance and assistance to importers and exporters on customs procedures and requirements.
- Imposition of customs duties and taxes on imported goods in accordance with the type and value of goods and products.
Fasah Electronic Platform
As part of its digital transformation, ZATCA offers advanced e-services to handle customs clearance electronically through the Fasah Platform.
Fasah is an integrated online customs clearance system that allows businesses to submit documentation and complete procedures digitally. This significantly eliminates processing time and minimizes paperwork.
Importers and exporters must register on the Fasah system to obtain a customs number and upload required documents such as the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and certificates of conformity.
What are the Customs Clearance Steps in Saudi Arabia?
- Submit a customs clearance request via the Fasah platform.
- Provide all required documents for shipment release.
- Pay the applicable customs duties and taxes.
- Undergo customs inspection by customs officers
- Release of goods and products.