Practical guide

Customs Bahrain: Official Services and Payment Steps

By Gaurav Agarwal · Updated 21 October 2026

To pay Bahrain customs fees online, open Pay Customs Fees and Taxes on Bahrain.bh and use the declaration number plus importer or exporter identity number. Checked 21 October 2026. Customs Affairs lists 17389999 as its contact number.

Pay feesDeclaration number and identity number

Check dutyUse the HS Code and Duty % table

Commercial importElectronic declaration, Bill of Lading and invoice

HelpCustoms Affairs: 17389999

Pay Customs Fees and Taxes

Original painted illustration generated for Imapro.

Jump to a step

Choose your route
Travellers
Commercial imports
Customs fees
Pay fees
Broker and OFOQ
Restricted goods
Parcel problems
Contacts
Official gaps
FAQs
Official sources

01Choose the customs route that matches your task

Start by deciding whether you are arriving as a traveller, clearing commercial goods, paying an assessed declaration, looking for a licensed clearing agency or requesting OFOQ access. Bahrain Customs covers legitimate travel and trade while preventing prohibited and restricted substances from crossing the border.

For a traveller, customs follows completion of the NPRA arrival process. For commercial goods, the shipment moves to the relevant departments for clearance. Personal and commercial movements are both subject to Bahrain rules and applicable agreements, so the route depends on the goods and purpose.

Use the task cards below on your phone. Open the official service in a new tab, keep the declaration or travel documents beside you, and save any receipt or reference before closing the page.

Fast route finder
Your task	Official route	What to have ready
Arriving traveller	Customs at the point of entry after NPRA	Travel documents and goods for inspection
Commercial import	Customs declaration and clearance	Bill of Lading and invoice
Pay assessed fees	Pay Customs Fees and Taxes	Declaration number and identity number
Find a broker	Clearing Agencies Directory	Shipment and contact details
Request OFOQ access	OFOQ first-time user route	Completed request form

02What happens at Bahrain entry points

For visitors, the customs stage starts after the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs process. Customs checks can cover luggage, cars, ships and yachts. The relevant checkpoint depends on how you entered Bahrain and what you brought with you.

The GCC Common Customs Law says passengers’ items and belongings must be declared and inspected at the competent customs office under the prescribed rules. Customs officers are stationed at Bahrain International Airport, Khalifa Bin Salman Port and King Fahd Causeway, along with other air, sea and land facilities.

Personal effects and gifts may be exempt from customs duties when they are not commercial and meet the implementation rules. The exemption is subject to the implementation rules. Bahrain Customs lists 17389999 as its general contact number.

The official Customs page lists restricted-import examples such as drones, medicines, medical equipment, wireless devices, dangerous chemicals, weapons, books and audiovisual media. Ask which approval or declaration applies to the exact item before travelling.

03Follow the official commercial import sequence

The official procedure puts the electronic customs declaration first. It may be completed by the importer, the importer’s representative or an authorized customs broker. Choose one responsible party so the declaration and documents stay together.

The listed documents include the Bill of Lading and invoice. Customs may inspect goods according to risk assessment criteria. The process then moves to the exit order and release of the goods.

Use the official HS Code table to identify the product classification and its Duty % entry. The Customs Conditions and Regulations route links to the wider GCC customs rules.

Confirm the importer, representative or authorized broker who will submit the declaration.
Complete the customs import declaration electronically.
Submit the Bill of Lading and invoice.
Check the official HS Code and Duty % table for the product classification.
Allow for inspection where Customs applies risk assessment, then keep the exit order and release record.

04What Bahrain Customs charges for selected services

The official PDF is labelled Bahrain Customs service fees. These scheduled service charges are separate Customs service-fee entries.

Use the row that matches your request. The schedule lists BHD 5 for a simplified personal-use statement, except for the postal department. Its import-declaration row lists BHD 3 for pre-arrival clearance and also displays BHD 5 / BHD 3. Ask Customs which amount applies to your declaration rather than choosing between those figures yourself.

The schedule also lists BHD 5 for an HS-code determination request. For goods kept for re-export, it lists storage at 1% of the goods’ value per day after three working days, capped at 50%. Clearance outside official hours, or inspection outside customs ports, is BHD 40 for the first three hours and BHD 20 for each additional hour.

Selected Bahrain Customs service fees
Service	Scheduled charge
Simplified statement for personal use, except postal department	BHD 5
Import declaration	BHD 3 for pre-arrival clearance; the schedule also shows BHD 5 / BHD 3
Determining the HS code for each manufacture of goods at the requester’s request	BHD 5
Re-export storage after three working days	1% of value per day, capped at 50%
Outside-hours clearance or inspection outside customs ports	BHD 40 for the first three hours, then BHD 20 per additional hour

05Pay customs fees and taxes online

The Bahrain National Portal provides Pay Customs Fees and Taxes. Checked 21 October 2026. The page supports single and multiple declarations and requires the importer or exporter identity number.

The iGA payment instructions were published on 1 September 2020. They say users enter the Customs Declaration Number and Importer Identity Number, then review the declaration and due amounts shown in BHD. The live service page still confirms the core payment fields.

The instructions say the completed transaction displays the receipt, declaration, fees and applicant details. They also say to print or email a copy of the receipt. Save it with the current declaration record.

Open Pay Customs Fees and Taxes on Bahrain.bh.
Choose single or multiple declarations.
Enter the Customs Declaration Number and Importer Identity Number.
Review the declaration and due amounts shown in BHD.
Complete payment and save the printed or emailed receipt.

06Find a clearing agency or get OFOQ access

If you need professional clearance help, use the official Clearing Agencies Directory. It provides contact details for customs clearing agencies. Compare agencies on the exact port, shipment type and service you need, then keep their written scope with your records.

OFOQ is Bahrain’s customs single window for trade. The official first-time user instructions say to complete the account form and send it to customs.licensing@customs.gov.bh. Follow that route for an account request instead of sending identity or commercial documents to an address found in an advertisement.

OFOQ support lists three phone numbers and ofoqsupport@customs.gov.bh. State the declaration or account context clearly, but do not include passwords or payment-card details in an email.

OFOQ also links to E-Payment and E-License guidance. OFOQ publishes a notice for assessed declarations left in the system for more than 10 days.

07Check restricted goods before shipping or travelling

Customs lists restricted-import examples including drones, dangerous chemicals, wireless communication devices, medical equipment, medicines, daggers, weapons and ammunition, books, audio and video. Ask Customs which rule or approval applies to the exact item before dispatch.

For exports, the official controls require approvals and permits from the competent authorities for restricted goods. The export-restricted examples listed on the same page include kerosene, pet birds, respiratory and gas masks, and asphalt.

Customs can inspect goods based on risk assessment criteria. Use the HS Code table and Duty % column for classification rather than applying a flat rate from an unofficial page.

08If a parcel is held or routed through Kuwait

Ask the carrier for the declaration number, current location and exact document or payment request. Match that reference to the official payment service or Customs contact route.

OFOQ publishes a notice for assessed declarations left in the system for more than 10 days. Use that official notice when the declaration matches this situation. For a paid declaration, keep the receipt and declaration details together.

Customs Affairs lists 17389999 as its contact number. Customs customer service lists phone 17359666 and email customerservice@customs.gov.bh. Give the declaration number and a short description through the official channel.

09Official Bahrain Customs contacts

Customs Affairs lists 17389999 as its contact number. Customs customer service lists phone 17359666 and email customerservice@customs.gov.bh. Use OFOQ support for an OFOQ account or system issue.

When you call, have the declaration number, importer identity reference, point of entry, shipment description and carrier reference available when relevant. Share only what the official officer needs to locate the case.

10Use the official lookup for item-specific answers

Do not apply one duty percentage to every parcel. Bahrain Customs publishes an HS Code table with a Duty % field for each listed classification. The separate Customs service-fee schedule covers specific services such as statements and HS-code determinations.

The public payment service confirms payment type and identity-number fields. The iGA payment instructions were published on 1 September 2020. They explain the fuller receipt sequence. Ask Customs for a current case-specific answer.

11FAQs

What does Bahrain Customs handle?

Bahrain Customs supports legitimate travel and trade, prevents prohibited and restricted substances, and handles traveller and commercial-goods procedures.

How do I pay Bahrain customs fees online?

Use the live Pay Customs Fees and Taxes service on Bahrain.bh with the declaration number and importer or exporter identity number.

How do I check the duty for an item?

Use the HS Code table on the official Bahrain Customs page. It shows a Duty % column for each listed classification.

Are there Bahrain Customs service fees?

Yes. The official schedule includes BHD 5 for a simplified personal-use statement and BHD 5 for an HS-code determination request. Your declaration can separately show duties, taxes and other amounts due.

What documents are listed for a commercial import?

The official commercial import procedure lists the Bill of Lading and invoice. Use the Customs HS Code table and Conditions and Regulations route for product-specific classification and rules.

Can a customs broker submit the declaration?

Yes. The official procedure says the importer, representative or authorized customs broker can complete the electronic declaration.

How do I find a Bahrain customs clearing agent?

Use the official Clearing Agencies Directory, which provides contact details for customs clearing agencies.

How do I request an OFOQ account?

The OFOQ page says first-time users should complete the request form and send it to customs.licensing@customs.gov.bh.

Which goods may need special approval?

Personal effects and gifts may be duty-exempt when they are non-commercial and meet the implementation rules. Restricted-import examples include drones, medicines, wireless devices and weapons. Ask Customs which requirement applies to the exact item.

How can I contact Bahrain Customs?

Customs Affairs lists 17389999 as its contact number. Customs customer service lists phone 17359666 and email customerservice@customs.gov.bh.

12Official sources

Official details checked 21 October 2026.