Eritrea
B/L Print Requirements
Mandatory text on Ocean B/L
- • Ministry of Trade Import License or Franco Valuta permit reference, 6-digit HS Code, exact port of discharge (Massawa or Assab), and consignee TIN mandatory on B/L and manifest.
- • Ocean freight must be prepaid.
Consignee TIN and Ministry Import Permit / Franco Valuta reference number must appear on the final B/L and manifest. The exact discharge port (Port of Massawa or Port of Assab) must be explicitly designated.
Inspection & Certificates
Pre-loading inspection & filing
- • No ECTN/BESC tracking note is required.
- • Mandatory pre-approved Import Permit or Franco Valuta license issued by Ministry of Trade and Industry and Bank of Eritrea prior to shipment.
Cargo & Standards
Labeling, vehicles & packaging
- • Passenger vehicles: maximum 10 years from manufacture
- • Right-hand-drive vehicles are strictly prohibited.
- • Tigrinya, Arabic, or English product labeling mandatory on retail packaging.
- • Official Veterinary Health Certificate mandatory for all imported meat and poultry products.
- • Motor vehicles older than 10 years from manufacture are prohibited from commercial import.
- • ISPM 15 wood packaging compliance strictly enforced at Port of Massawa.
- • ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp required on all wooden packaging.
Shipper & Consignee
Where this destination differs from standard practice
- • Foreign consignees are not accepted — a locally-registered entity must be named.
- • Generic "to order" is not accepted — only "to order of [named bank]" is permitted.
Consignee must be a registered Eritrean commercial entity with an active TIN. Generic "TO ORDER" B/Ls are strictly prohibited — only "TO ORDER OF [NAMED ERITREAN COMMERCIAL BANK]" (e.g. Commercial Bank of Eritrea) is permitted, with full local buyer contact details in Notify. PO Box only is rejected.
Non-Compliance Risk at Destination
Commercial cargo arriving at Port of Massawa without a pre-approved Ministry of Trade Import License or Franco Valuta permit faces immediate customs seizure and forfeiture.
Compliance Timeline for Eritrea
Follow this 3-step sequence from container stuffing through to port clearance.
Before Container Loading
- ✓ Confirm commercial invoice and packing list accuracy with consignee.
- ✓ Verify vehicle age against the applicable statutory limit (10 yrs passenger).
- ✓ Confirm vehicle is NOT right-hand drive before booking.
- ✓ Confirm consignee is a locally-registered entity — foreign consignees are not accepted at this destination.
- ✓ Verify ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp on all wooden crates, dunnage, and pallets.
Prior to Sailing
- ✓ Generic "to order" is not accepted — only "to order of [named bank]" is permitted.
- ✓ Ensure exact consignee Tax ID / Registration Code and 6-digit HS Code are printed on B/L.
- ✓ Submit SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) to loading terminal before yard cutoff.
Port Clearance at Destination
- ✓ Collect Delivery Order (DO) upon completing Release verification.
Download Compliance Guide for Eritrea (PDF)
Generate a practical, print-ready compliance document complete with statutory B/L clauses, ECTN certificate agencies, vehicle age ceilings, and station phone contacts.