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ONVOYO

Shipping boxes to and from Nigeria

Nigeria has no general duty-free limit for courier boxes, so most shipments pay duty at the ECOWAS tariff rate plus 7.5% VAT. Give the receiver's NIN. Leave out used clothing sent as gifts, which is on the absolute import ban list, and the foods and medicines on the trade ban list. Nigerians coming home after nine months or more abroad, and other new arrivals, can bring their own used personal and household effects free of import duty.

Typical transit
3-6 business days from North America or Europe; 4-8 from Asia
Currency
NGN
Duty-free up to
Nigeria's customs rules set no general duty-free value for courier shipments, so any box can be assessed for duty and VAT
Receiver ID
NIN (National Identification Number)

Price a shipment to Nigeria

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Nigeria

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$288.91delivered in 3 to 6 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$1,444.56 totalabout $288.91 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Nigeria and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Sending to Nigeria

Duties and taxes13478910

Duty-free threshold
Nigeria's customs rules set no general duty-free value for courier shipments, so any box can be assessed for duty and VAT. The NGN 50,000 (about USD 37) allowance for unused personal effects and gifts is for travelers' baggage only, and it excludes jewelry, cameras, electronics, and other luxury goods.
Import tax
VAT at 7.5% under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, charged on the customs value plus duty and other import charges. Medical and pharmaceutical products, basic food items, and educational books are charged VAT at 0%. Duty is a percentage of the value set for each item by the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, for example 20% on suitcases and notebooks, and some items also pay an Import Adjustment Tax (suitcases add 25% in 2026). A charge of at least 4% of the FOB value, provided for in the 2023 customs law, was suspended in September 2025, so check current charges with the courier.
How value is worked out
CIF. Customs value is the price paid for the goods plus transport to Nigeria, loading and handling, insurance, and packing costs. VAT is then charged on that value plus duty and any other import charges. Customs converts foreign values into naira at the reference rates it publishes for customs transactions; its latest table (August 25, 2026) puts USD 1 at about NGN 1,347. Declare a fair second-hand value for used goods and keep receipts. If customs questions a value, it must give its grounds (in writing if you ask), you can take delivery against a guarantee while it is settled, and you can appeal without penalty.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?
Your own personal and household effects are free of import duty when they arrive with you or land within two months of your arrival (customs can allow longer). Nigerians who have lived abroad for at least nine months get their own relief, but the law excludes jewelry, photographic equipment, electronics, and other luxury goods from it. Customs' list covers clothing, linen, crockery, furniture, household appliances, one camera or laptop per person, and one set of work tools, in reasonable quantities. Vehicles and anything for sale, barter, or exchange never count, and your accompanying and unaccompanied baggage share one allowance.

Worked example

Illustrative: a box of new household gifts (not personal effects) worth USD 400, plus USD 100 of freight and insurance, for a CIF value of USD 500 (about NGN 673,500). Assumes the goods fall under a 20% tariff line with no Import Adjustment Tax, and that no other levies apply.

Duty: 20% x USD 500 = USD 100. VAT: 7.5% x (USD 500 + USD 100) = USD 45. Total USD 145.

About USD 145 (about NGN 195,300), plus any courier fee. The same kind of goods shipped as your own used household effects, landing within two months of your move home, would be free of import duty.

How customs clearance works in Nigeria235

The courier presents each shipment to Nigeria Customs electronically, pays the assessed duty and VAT, and collects it from the receiver. Customs runs an advance declaration system for e-commerce shipments (SCADS), where couriers register and individual buyers are identified by NIN, and declarations, assessment, and release run on its B'Odogwu platform.

Formal entry
Nigeria Customs publishes no separate value threshold for personal courier shipments. Commercial imports need a TIN, the Form M, a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), and a full goods declaration, usually through a licensed customs agent.
How long it takes
Often 2-5 business days after arrival when the NIN and values are in order. Longer if NAFDAC, NAQS, or a valuation query is involved.
Inspections
Customs uses risk assessment to pick shipments for checks and may test any declaration. NAFDAC checks food, drugs, and cosmetics, and NAQS checks plant and animal products. Goods on the prohibition lists are seized, and false declarations can lead to outright forfeiture.
If duties go unpaid
Customs expects goods at airports to be cleared within 30 days of arrival. After that they become overtime cargo and storage charges build up. If the receiver doesn't pay or respond, the courier may return the shipment or abandon it to customs.

Moving to Nigeria: claiming duty relief137

  1. 01

    Check you qualify

    Any arriving passenger can bring their own personal and household effects free of import duty. Nigerians get a specific relief after living abroad for at least nine months.

  2. 02

    Time the shipment

    Unaccompanied effects should land within two months of your arrival. Customs can allow a longer period, so ask before you ship if you need more time.

  3. 03

    Keep it personal

    Only your own goods in reasonable quantities: clothing, linen, crockery, furniture, appliances, and one set of work tools. Vehicles and goods for sale, barter, or exchange never qualify.

  4. 04

    Declare everything

    Your accompanying and unaccompanied baggage together must fit your allowance. Declare jewelry in writing, and expect duty on electronics, cameras, and luxury goods under the returning-citizen rule.

  5. 05

    Bring the paperwork

    Your passport with the arrival date, evidence of your time abroad, the airline ticket, and an itemized list with values. For items bought in Nigeria that you're bringing back, a Certificate of Re-importation (C.206) or proof of purchase.

Documents to have ready1351213

  • Receiver's NIN (National Identification Number) and a phone number that works
  • Copy of the receiver's passport or national ID card
  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gift
  • For duty-free personal effects: the owner's passport with the arrival date, evidence of at least nine months abroad for returning Nigerians, and the airline ticket
  • Certificate of Re-importation (C.206) or proof of purchase in Nigeria for items you took abroad and are bringing back
  • NAFDAC import permit for controlled medicines; NAQS import permit and health or phytosanitary certificate for plant or animal products

NIN (National Identification Number): Nigeria Customs identifies individual importers by their 11-digit NIN on its e-commerce declaration system; companies use a TIN. Give the courier the receiver's NIN before you ship. If the receiver is a foreigner without a NIN, ask the courier what ID it will accept, such as a passport. We ask for it during booking.

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms156111213

What you can pack, category by category17891213

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesConditionsNew clothing pays duty and VAT. Second-hand clothing is on the absolute import ban list, except your own clothes arriving as personal effects when you move or return.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedBooks and printed papers are fine to send. Educational books are charged VAT at 0%.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsConditionsPersonal quantities only, with batteries installed. Expect duty and VAT; the returning-citizen relief excludes electronics.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsCheck with NAFDAC first. Several common drugs, including paracetamol and multivitamins, are on the trade ban list, and controlled medicines need a NAFDAC import permit.
FoodMore on foodConditionsLeave out meat, eggs, cooking oil, tomato paste, cocoa, flavored sugar, and sweetened drinks (trade ban list). Other sealed, labeled foods may be checked by NAFDAC or NAQS.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsNAFDAC regulates cosmetics. Soaps and detergents in retail packs are on the trade ban list. No aerosols or nail polish.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedCouriers generally refuse alcohol and tobacco, and spirits over 48.5% alcohol are banned outright. Travelers' allowances don't apply to shipments.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearConditionsUsed sports gear is fine as personal effects. No air guns, pepper spray, fuel canisters, or flares.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearAllowedToys, strollers, and children's bicycles are on customs' personal-effects list. Baby products are exempt from VAT. Remove loose batteries.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and photos are fine. Blank invoices are banned.
OtherConditionsPlants, seeds, and animal products need NAQS permits and certificates. Counterfeit goods and textiles or crockery bearing Koran inscriptions are banned.

Quantity limits14611

Quantity limits for Nigeria
ItemLimit
Personal and household effectsFree of import duty when they arrive with you or land within two months of your arrival, in reasonable quantities and not for sale.
Gifts (travelers only)Unused personal effects and gifts up to NGN 50,000 (about USD 37) per traveler, excluding jewelry, cameras, electronics, and luxury goods. Does not apply to shipments.
Alcohol (travelers only)One 1-liter bottle of spirits and one 1-liter bottle of wine. Does not apply to shipments.
Tobacco (travelers only)200 grams of tobacco of all kinds in total. Does not apply to shipments.
Perfume (travelers only)284 ml. Does not apply to shipments.
Cash (travelers)Declare foreign currency or items of value worth USD 10,000 or more at the border, using the electronic currency declaration form.
Food exports for personal useNAFDAC export approval covers up to 30 kg in total of regulated food products.

What you can't send to Nigeria13781213

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Second-hand clothing, unless it is your own clothing arriving as personal effects when you move or return
  • Counterfeit or pirated goods, including fake coins and banknotes
  • Indecent or obscene books, pictures, films, and other articles
  • Air pistols, pistols disguised as other objects, and weapons that spray noxious liquid or gas, such as pepper spray
  • Spirits stronger than 48.5% alcohol by volume
  • Textiles, crockery, and other goods bearing inscriptions from the Koran
  • Blank invoices

Allowed with conditions

Medicines
NAFDAC regulates medicines. Paracetamol, aspirin, multivitamin, chloroquine, metronidazole, and cotrimoxazole tablets and syrups, and several other common drugs, are on the import prohibition list (trade). Anything with narcotic or controlled substances needs a NAFDAC import permit before it ships. Check with NAFDAC before sending any medicine.
Foods on the trade ban list
Poultry, pork, beef, bird eggs, refined vegetable oil, canned tomatoes and tomato paste, cocoa butter and cocoa powder, flavored or colored sugar in retail packs, and sweetened or flavored drinks and water are on the import prohibition list (trade). The list doesn't address small personal amounts, so leave them out.
Soap, detergent, ballpoint pens, and large glass bottles
Soaps and detergents in retail packs, ballpoint pens and refills, and glass bottles over 150 ml are also on the trade ban list. Leave them out or ask the courier first.
Plants, seeds, and animal products
The quarantine service (NAQS) requires an import permit, plus a phytosanitary certificate for plants or a health certificate and lab results for animal products. A permit takes about 5 working days.
Ivory, crocodile skin, and other endangered-species products
Need a CITES permit from the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Jewelry
Declare it in writing to avoid trouble when you take it out again. It is excluded from the returning citizens' duty relief.
Goods for sale or in commercial quantities
Can't use the personal-effects or baggage concessions. Commercial imports need a TIN, the Form M, a PAAR, and a full declaration, usually through a licensed customs agent.

Sending from Nigeria

Shipping boxes out of Nigeria81113

Sending clothes, books, and household items out of Nigeria by express courier is straightforward. Food, drugs, and cosmetics regulated by NAFDAC need export approval first, even in personal quantities, and plant or animal products may need quarantine certificates from NAQS. Items on the export prohibition list, including antiquities, can't be sent.

Documents

  • Itemized packing list with fair values, marked as used personal effects or gift
  • Sender's passport or national ID; the courier may ask for your NIN
  • NAFDAC export approval for regulated food, drugs, or cosmetics, even for personal use (up to 30 kg in total)
  • NAQS phytosanitary certificate for plants, or veterinary health certificate for animal products
  • CITES permit from the Federal Ministry of Environment for any endangered-species product

Can't leave the country

  • Artifacts and antiquities are on the export prohibition list
  • Endangered wildlife and their products, such as crocodile, elephant, and lizard
  • Raw hides and skins, including wet blue and unfinished leather
  • Maize, unprocessed rubber, rough or sawn timber, scrap metal, and plastic scrap
  • Couriers will not carry cash or negotiable instruments

Before pickup

  • Sending food to family abroad? Get NAFDAC export approval before you pack.
  • Buying carvings, bronzes, or masks? Keep receipts that show they're new, and ask the National Commission for Museums and Monuments about anything old.
  • Describe contents clearly. Vague lists slow checks.
  • Check the destination's customs and food rules. The receiving country decides what's allowed and what duty applies.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the house number and street, then the area or estate, then the city or town and the state. Add the postal code if you know it. Include a nearby landmark and the receiver's phone number; couriers rely on both.

Chiamaka Example15 Example Close, off Admiralty WayLekki Phase 1LagosLagos StateNigeria

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan, Benin City, Enugu, Kaduna, Owerri, Abeokuta, Uyo, Calabar, Jos.

Remote areas: Rural areas, riverine communities in the Niger Delta, and parts of the northeast can add several days and surcharges. Some addresses are served from a regional hub, where the receiver may need to collect.

Express shipments usually arrive through Lagos or Abuja, then travel on the courier's domestic network. A reachable phone number and a clear landmark make delivery much faster.

When things slow down

Expect slower service in December, when many Nigerians abroad send gifts and travel home, and through Christmas and New Year. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (the dates move each year), Easter, Democracy Day (June 12), and Independence Day (October 1) are public holidays when offices close.

Advice for your situation

Students

Foreign students arriving for a course can bring their own personal effects free of import duty if they travel with them or land within two months. Nigerian students coming home after at least nine months abroad also qualify for the returning-citizen relief. Heading abroad to study? Get NAFDAC export approval before packing food (30 kg in total), and check your destination's rules.

Returning home

Coming home after nine months or more abroad? Your used personal and household effects can enter free of import duty, whether they travel with you or land within two months of your arrival (customs can allow longer). Vehicles and goods for sale don't qualify, jewelry, electronics, and luxury goods may be charged, and your accompanying and unaccompanied baggage share one allowance. Keep proof of your time abroad, declare jewelry in writing, and bring a Certificate of Re-importation (C.206) or receipt for anything you originally bought in Nigeria.

Expats and relocations

Foreigners taking up a job or residence can bring their own used personal and household effects free of import duty if they land within two months of arrival, in reasonable quantities and not for sale. Diplomats and staff of gazetted international organizations have separate concessions. After the window, household goods pay duty and 7.5% VAT.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Get the receiver's NIN before you book. Customs uses it to identify individual importers.
  • Don't send boxes of used clothes as gifts. Second-hand clothing is on the absolute import ban list; only your own clothes moving with you count as personal effects.
  • Leave out medicines, soap, detergent, cooking oil, tomato paste, and sweetened drinks. They're on the trade ban list, and NAFDAC controls medicines.
  • Moving home? Ship household goods to land within two months of your arrival, and keep proof of your time abroad and a valued packing list.
  • Declare honestly. Customs says false declarations lead to outright forfeiture.
  • Clear shipments promptly. Air cargo not cleared within 30 days becomes overtime cargo and builds up storage charges.

Shipping to and from Nigeria: questions

Is there a duty-free limit for packages to Nigeria?

Not for courier shipments. Expect duty at the ECOWAS tariff rate plus 7.5% VAT. The NGN 50,000 (about USD 37) gift allowance applies only to travelers' baggage.

How much will the receiver pay?

Duty at the tariff rate for each item (for example 20% on suitcases, plus a 25% Import Adjustment Tax in 2026), then 7.5% VAT on the value plus duty and other charges. The value includes shipping and insurance.

Do I need a NIN to receive a package in Nigeria?

Plan on it. Nigeria Customs identifies individual importers by their 11-digit NIN, and companies by their TIN. Give the NIN to the courier before shipping.

Can I send used clothes to family in Nigeria?

Not as gifts. Second-hand clothing is on the absolute import prohibition list. Your own used clothing is admitted as personal effects when you move or return, in reasonable quantities.

Can I bring my household goods duty-free when I move back to Nigeria?

Yes. Nigerians who have lived abroad for at least nine months, and other arriving passengers, can bring their own used personal and household effects free of import duty if they arrive with them or land within two months. Vehicles and goods for sale don't qualify, and jewelry and electronics can be charged.

Can I send medicine to Nigeria?

Check with NAFDAC first. Common drugs such as paracetamol and multivitamins are on the import prohibition list (trade), and controlled medicines need a NAFDAC import permit.

Can I send Nigerian food to family abroad?

Yes, with NAFDAC export approval, which is required even for personal quantities of regulated food. Apply by letter to NAFDAC's Ports Inspection Directorate with your passport, and keep the total to 30 kg. Plant and animal products may also need NAQS certificates, and the destination's food rules apply.

What can't I send out of Nigeria?

Artifacts and antiquities, endangered wildlife and their products, raw hides and skins, rough or sawn timber, maize, and scrap metal are on the export prohibition list. Couriers also refuse aerosols, flammables, loose batteries, weapons, and cash.

Official help in Nigeria

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Nigeria makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    Travellers: Passenger's Concessions (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  2. 2.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    Importers: Things You Must Know (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  3. 3.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    Customs Valuation in Nigeria (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  4. 4.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    Exchange Rate (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  5. 5.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    SCADS Importer / Buyer Registration (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  6. 6.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    E-Currency Declaration (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  7. 7.

    Nigeria Customs Service

    CET Schedules: Customs, Excise Tariff, Etc. (Consolidation) Act, Schedules 2-8 (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  8. 8.

    Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, published by the Nigeria Customs Service

    Customs, Excise Tariff, Etc. (Variation) Order, 2026 (S.I. No. 29 of 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  9. 9.

    Nigeria Revenue Service (Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette)

    Nigeria Tax Act, 2025 (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  10. 10.

    Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation

    Nigeria Customs Service Acknowledges Federal Ministry Of Finance Directive On 4% FOB Implementation (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 26, 2026

  11. 11.

    National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

    Port Inspection FAQs (opens in a new tab)

    Health regulator · checked September 26, 2026

  12. 12.

    National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

    Guidelines for Obtaining Permit for Importation of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Drug Precursors (opens in a new tab)

    Health regulator · checked September 26, 2026

  13. 13.

    Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS)

    Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 26, 2026

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