Boxes of gifts, clothes and household items have been travelling home to Sri Lanka for generations. Whether you're sending a small parcel by post or courier or shipping your belongings as cargo, knowing the duty-free limits and Customs rules saves money and stress at the other end.
Quick answers
- Is a gift parcel duty-free? Only small ones. Personal items and gifts worth up to LKR 15,000 are exempt from Customs Import Duty, and up to LKR 10,000 from VAT. Other levies may still apply.
- Can I send more without paying duty? If you're flying to Sri Lanka, you may be able to use your unaccompanied baggage allowance for goods sent as cargo.
- Where is duty paid? Only at the airport, a government post office, a courier's Customs point or a Customs-approved baggage warehouse.
- Questions? Call the Customs hotline on 1915 (free in Sri Lanka).
Avoid Customs payment scams
- Sri Lanka Customs does not ask for money to be transferred to a bank account by text message, email or phone call.
- If someone contacts you or your family about a parcel and asks for a payment, don't pay. Check with the courier or the Customs hotline on 1915 first.
Small parcels and gifts (post or courier)
Everything sent to Sri Lanka is taxable, whoever pays for it. There are small exemptions for genuine personal items and gifts:
| Type of parcel | Free of Customs Import Duty up to | Free of VAT up to |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items and gifts | LKR 15,000 | LKR 10,000 |
| Business samples | LKR 50,000 | LKR 10,000 |
Above these values, duty and taxes are charged on the whole parcel. Declare what's inside honestly and keep receipts, as a parcel with an unclear description is more likely to be held for inspection.
If a parcel is held by Customs, the courier will usually write to the person it's addressed to by registered post. Customs is not responsible for lost parcels, so use a tracked service for anything valuable.
Using your unaccompanied baggage allowance
If you're a Sri Lankan returning from abroad, you have a duty-free allowance that you can use either at the arrivals duty-free shops or for goods sent separately as unaccompanied passenger baggage (UPB). Whatever you don't use at the airport can be used for UPB.
| Time spent abroad | UPB duty-free allowance (adults) |
|---|---|
| Under 90 days | US$125 |
| 90 days to under a year | US$500 |
| A year or more | US$1,000 |
Children under 18 have lower allowances. To claim the allowance you'll need your passport, and the goods are cleared at a Customs-approved UPB warehouse. The Customs FAQ lists the approved warehouses.
Good to know
- If you spend your whole allowance at the arrivals duty-free shops, nothing is left for cargo. Plan which you'll use before you land.
- See our Travelling home guide for the full duty-free allowances and what's worth buying.
Door-to-door services and extra charges
In most countries with a Sri Lankan community, cargo companies offer door-to-door collection and delivery. The company in the sending country usually works with a clearing agent in Sri Lanka who deals with Customs and delivers to your door.
It's convenient, but be clear about what you're paying for. Some customers are asked for an extra payment at the Sri Lankan end, for example so they 'won't need to come to the port' if Customs has a query. If you're moving back to Sri Lanka for good, you may be dealing with a new agent at that end, so agree the charges with them too.
Avoid unexpected 'customs' payments
- Get an itemised door-to-door quote in writing before you ship, including clearance and delivery in Sri Lanka.
- If you're asked for an extra payment, ask exactly what it's for and who it's paid to.
- Customs duty is only collected at official Customs points. For any duty you pay, ask for the official Customs receipt.
- If something doesn't feel right, check with the Customs hotline on 1915 before you pay.
From experience
- Most delays and disputes come down to proof. If you can show what was in each box, its value and that it was used, it's much harder for anyone to argue that duty is due.
What you can't send, or need permission for
- Prohibited: goods listed in Schedule B of the Customs Ordinance, including narcotics, pornography and publications that insult a religion or religious leaders.
- Restricted: some goods need a licence or approval, for example mobile phones and radio equipment (Telecommunications Regulatory Commission), drones, and medicines beyond personal use.
- Commercial quantities: several of the same item may be treated as goods for sale and charged duty.
If you're unsure about an item, check the Customs lists of permissible and restricted articles or call the hotline before you send it.
Choosing a shipping or courier company
- Compare the total cost door to door, including any charges at the Sri Lankan end.
- Ask whether the price includes Customs clearance and delivery, or only shipping to the warehouse.
- Get a written list of contents and values for every box, and keep a copy.
- Read recent online reviews, for example on Google. Many Sri Lankans abroad ship personal belongings and leave reviews, so patterns of problems, even with particular staff, often show up there.
Before you ship: document and pack it yourself
- Make a packing list for every box: what's inside, rough value and whether it's new or used.
- Take clear photos of the items, showing their condition, before they go in the box, and a photo of each sealed, numbered box.
- Keep a copy of the list and photos yourself and send one to the person receiving the cargo.
- Keep receipts for anything new.
From experience
- Pack it yourself, or watch it being packed. Some agents offer to collect and pack for a fee. Don't assume it will be done carefully: a badly packed box can arrive with broken items, and getting compensation usually means a lot of back-and-forth and evidence of the condition before and after.
- Tape every edge. For heavy boxes, run thick waterproof tape along all the edges and seams, so boxes don't split in transit or soften if they get damp in a warehouse.
- Label clearly. Put the recipient's name, address and phone number on every box, so a box that goes astray can be traced.
Customs contacts
- Customs hotline: 1915 (free in Sri Lanka)
- Customs Information Desk, Customs House Colombo: +94 11 222 1333
- Sri Lanka Customs, No. 40, Main Street, Colombo 11