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Customs duty calculator for Qatar 2026: duty and tax on what you import

Hani · Founder & Tax Data Researcher · ArabTaxCalc

Enter the value of the goods and the shipping cost to see the customs duty, any excise tax and the fees you pay when a parcel or shipment arrives in Qatar, and the full landed cost.

Short answer

There is no VAT on imports in Qatar. Example: goods worth 1,820 Qatari riyals (Standard GCC Common Customs Tariff duty, 5% duty) with 146 shipping: customs duty 5%: 98.3. So the full landed cost is 2,064 Qatari riyals (5.4% on top of the price of the goods).

Your shipment

Leave 0 if you do not know it
Matters where a fixed duty per item applies

Customs rules in Qatar

Valuation basis
Value of the goods + shipping + insurance (CIF).
VAT
None.
Small shipments
Personal parcels and postal consignments worth no more than 1,000 riyals are exempt from customs duty under the unified customs procedures guide. There is no VAT.
Traveller allowance
Personal luggage and gifts in non-commercial quantities are exempt, provided no single gift is worth more than 3,000 riyals, as are cigarettes up to 400, or 20 cigars, 300 grams of pipe tobacco, 500 grams of raw tobacco or 2 kilos of molasses tobacco, worth no more than 3,000 riyals. Cash, financial instruments, precious metals and gemstones of 50,000 riyals or more must be declared.
Cars
Customs duty 5%. Qatar Living, citing the Ministry of Interior, says a light vehicle must be no more than 5 years old from the date of manufacture, and 10 years for a heavy vehicle (age limit not confirmed by an official source).
Gold and jewellery
Gold jewellery 5% and raw gold 0% according to WITS/UNCTAD TRAINS data for 2023 (officially reported applied tariff), a secondary source; there is no VAT. Precious metals of 50,000 riyals or more must be declared when travelling.

Common customs duty rates for individuals

CategoryRateExamples and notes
Standard GCC Common Customs Tariff duty5%Televisions (8528.72), games consoles (9504.50), clothing (Chapters 61 and 62), footwear (Chapter 64), bags (4202), perfumes (3303), cosmetics (3304), furniture (Chapter 94), toys (9503), watches (9102)
Smartphones, laptops and headphones0%Smartphones (8517.13), laptops (8471.30), headphones (8518.30)
Exempt staple foods0%Rice (1006.30), sugar (1701.99)
Common processed foods5%Cheese (0406.90), milk powder (0402.21), chocolate (1806.32), baked goods (1905.90), juices (2009.89)
Gold jewellery5%Jewellery and articles of gold (7113.19)

The exact rate depends on the item's Harmonized System (HS) code. The table covers the categories individuals buy most often.

Excise tax

ItemRateNote
Tobacco and tobacco products100%
Energy drinks100%Remains at 100% outside the tiered model
Special purpose goods (alcohol and pork)100%
Drinks with medium sugar (5 to 7.99 grams per 100 ml)0.77 QAR per litreThe figures are from the US Department of Commerce; the General Tax Authority announcement confirms the date and legal basis without giving the amounts
Drinks with high sugar (8 grams or more per 100 ml)1.06 QAR per litre
  • Alcohol is banned for individuals on Qatar's customs list of prohibited personal imports.

Sources

  1. General Authority of Customs: parcels exempt up to 1,000 riyals
  2. General Authority of Customs: traveller exemptions
  3. General Authority of Customs: declaring money
  4. General Tax Authority: applying the excise tax mechanism to sweetened drinks
  5. US Department of Commerce: excise tax categories in Qatar
  6. PwC: summary of other taxes in Qatar
  7. World Bank WITS: 2023 tariff data

Amounts in Qatari riyal (QAR).

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate customs duty in Qatar?

Customs value = the price of the goods + shipping + insurance. Customs duty = the customs value × the rate for the category of goods.

Are small parcels exempt from customs duty in Qatar?

Personal parcels and postal consignments worth no more than 1,000 riyals are exempt from customs duty under the unified customs procedures guide. There is no VAT.

What is the duty-free allowance for travellers in Qatar?

Personal luggage and gifts in non-commercial quantities are exempt, provided no single gift is worth more than 3,000 riyals, as are cigarettes up to 400, or 20 cigars, 300 grams of pipe tobacco, 500 grams of raw tobacco or 2 kilos of molasses tobacco, worth no more than 3,000 riyals. Cash, financial instruments, precious metals and gemstones of 50,000 riyals or more must be declared.

How much customs duty is charged on cars in Qatar?

Customs duty 5%. Qatar Living, citing the Ministry of Interior, says a light vehicle must be no more than 5 years old from the date of manufacture, and 10 years for a heavy vehicle (age limit not confirmed by an official source).

Other countries and tools

Customs in Saudi ArabiaCustoms in the UAECustoms in KuwaitCustoms in BahrainCustoms in OmanCustoms in EgyptCustoms in JordanCustoms in IraqCustoms in MoroccoVAT calculator for QatarVAT calculatorTax guide to Qatar

Results are estimates based on common band rates. The final rate depends on the item's HS code and the customs valuation, and the courier may add clearance fees.

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