Includes import documentation and other requirements for both the U.S. exporter and foreign importer.
Last Published: 6/26/2017
The Chambre de Commerce, d‘Agriculture, d’Industrie et d‘Artisanat- CCAIAN (Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, Industry and Crafts in Niamey), located in the capitals of each of Niger’s seven regions, is responsible for the Guichet Unique de Formalités du Commerce Extérieur – GUFCE (Single Window for Foreign Trade Formalities, whose three major tasks are ensuring compliance with the general import-export regulations and collecting information on the “statistical registration forms” required for all import, export, re-export and transit operations.
Any natural or legal person engaged in importing and/or exporting must be listed both in the Commercial Register and in the list of business licenses or have paid the business license for the current year, and must pay a subscription to the Conseil national des utilisateurs de transport – CNUT (National Transport Users Council).  Only pharmacies and persons approved by the Ministry of Health may import pharmaceuticals.
Import procedures include the following:
  1. Importers must deposit a Preliminary Import Declaration seven days before shipping imported goods which have a value equal or greater than CFA one million (about $1,700).
  2. Automatic approval of the Preliminary Import Declaration is obtained by submitting three copies of the Pro Forma Bills of Lading with the declaration.
  3. A Preliminary Import Declaration is valid for six months and can be extended for three months.  Preliminary Import Declarations must be canceled and reissued if there is a change in supplier, an increase in the value of the order of more than ten percent, or a modification in the quantity of the order.
  4. Any payment for imported goods greater in value than CFA one million must be made through an approved Nigerien bank or financial institution.
  5. Any FOB (Free on Board) import value equal to or greater in value than CFA two million (approximately $3,400) must be inspected by the testing, inspection and certification company in the supplier’s country before shipping (COTECNA).  This is to verify the quality, volume, price, and tariff heading, as indicated in the declaration of intent to import.
  6. Presentation of a clean report of findings issued by COTECNA is obligatory.
  7. The Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate delivered by COTECNA.
In 2016 Niger increased the time and cost for documentary and border compliance for importing by making a pre-shipment inspection mandatory.
The following goods are exempted from shipment inspection:
  • Arms and ammunitions
  • Cinematographic films for public cinemas (35mm) exposed and processed
  • Commercial samples
  • Donations and supplies to the Diplomatic and Consular Missions, or any affiliated organization of the United Nations, imported for their own needs
  • Donations by foreign governments or international organizations to the State, public schools and libraries, religious missions, charity organizations and philanthropic foundations recognized to be of a public necessity by the Republic of Niger
  • Explosives and pyrotechnic products
  • Freshly cut flowers
  • Goods imported for mining companies
  • Imports with a total FOB value below CFA two million
  • Live animals
  • Newspapers and periodicals
  • Objects of art
  • Perishable food products, transported at room temperature or chilled
  • Personal effects and household items including one used vehicle as a personal belonging on the occasion of a change of domicile, duly confirmed by the  authorities on the previous domicile
  • Personal gifts
  • Petroleum products in liquid or gaseous form with the exception of goods using code: 27.10.19.31.00, 27.10.19.32.00, 27.19.32.00, 27.10.19.33.00, 27.10.19.39.00 (lubricant and oil)
  • Postal parcels
  • Precious stones and precious metals
  • Scrap metals

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.