HS Code Classification
Correct tariff classification at the 8-digit HS level across all KRA schedules, avoiding misdeclaration penalties and assessments at customs.
Services
360° Customs Advisory
End-to-end customs clearance, duty optimisation, and AEO support for contractors importing specialist equipment across East Africa.
360° Customs Advisory
From Port Gate to Project Site — We Handle Everything
International contractors entering Kenya's infrastructure pipeline face a consistent operational bottleneck: customs clearance. Delayed equipment release costs projects days — sometimes weeks — and erodes contractor margins before a single bolt is turned.
Top Notch's 360° Customs Advisory service manages the entire import journey: tariff classification, pre-arrival documentation, valuation assessments, duty relief applications, bond lodgement, and final release facilitation. One engagement, one point of contact, zero clearance surprises.
Duty Exemption Management
Full management of KRA and EAC duty exemption applications for project-specific equipment and materials under bilateral or multilateral funding conditions.
Temporary Importation (TIP)
Specialist support for Temporary Import Permit applications — covering cranes, boring machines, heavy haulage, and precision instruments.
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)
Advisory and application support for AEO certification, unlocking expedited customs lanes and reduced inspection rates at Mombasa and Inland Container Depots.
Pre-Arrival Lodgement
Electronic lodgement through KRA's iCMS platform 48 hours before vessel arrival, eliminating port storage charges from day one.
48h
Avg Pre-Arrival Lodge Time
30%
Avg Duty Saving vs Standard Rate
200+
Shipments Cleared (2023–2025)
0
Penalty Notices Issued
What the 360° Service Covers
Customs Valuation Advisory
Transaction value determination in line with WTO Valuation Agreement, managing related-party transaction scrutiny for contractor group imports.
Inland Transport Coordination
Bond facilitation and convoy escort arrangement for oversize loads from Mombasa Port or JKIA to upcountry project sites across the SGR, A109, and B8 corridors.
Compliance Documentation
Preparation and submission of Customs Entry, packing lists, conformity assessment certificates, KEBS PVoC compliance, and all supporting statutory declarations.
Ready to Move Your Equipment?
Talk to our customs team about your next shipment. We can advise on duty relief eligibility before your consignment departs origin.
Document Audit
We audit your Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and relevant project agreements before lodgement.
Duty Assessment
We calculate applicable customs duties, VAT, IDF levy, and Railway Development Levy — then identify all applicable exemption pathways.
iCMS Lodgement
Electronic lodgement on KRA's iCMS system. We track declaration status in real time and respond to any customs queries immediately.
Clearance & Release
Payment confirmation or exemption letter, examination supervision if required, and release coordination direct to your project site.
Documents Required at Lodgement
01
Commercial Invoice (CIF value stated)
02
Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
03
Packing List (itemised by HS code)
04
KEBS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Certificate
05
Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin
06
Project Agreement or Funding Letter (for duty relief applications)
07
Import Declaration Form (IDF) — obtained via KRA portal
08
KCAA Airworthiness Certificate (aviation equipment only)
EAC preferential tariff rates apply to goods originating in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, or South Sudan under a valid Certificate of Origin (Form C).
Typical Import Duty Structure
Talk to Our Customs Team
Our customs advisors are based at both the Mombasa Port liaison office and our Nairobi headquarters. We can be on the phone with KRA within minutes of a clearance query being raised.
For time-sensitive consignments, we offer a 24-hour response guarantee on all documentation queries and a same-day on-port representation service for Mombasa Port clearances.
Mombasa Port liaison office + Nairobi headquarters coverage
24-hour documentation response guarantee
Direct KRA liaison for exemption and valuation escalations
Zero penalty record across 200+ clearances
