Comoros customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Comoros customs is small, cash-focused and strict on one thing above all: undeclared foreign currency. The Direction Générale des Douanes treats currency smuggling as a serious offence, and there is no ATM at Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport, so arrive with clean cash and a written declaration if you are over the threshold. Rules apply to all non-resident adults arriving at Moroni (HAH) or any other port of entry; residents returning from abroad get the same duty-free allowances.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV, OR 2 litres of wine or beer. Must be 18+. Anything above is subject to duty at the customs officer's discretion — Comoros has no published flat rate for excess alcohol.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
Declare foreign currency above 500,000 KMF (about USD 1,100 at the 2026 rate of ~450 KMF/USD). The threshold is stated in KMF in the customs code, not USD. Declare in writing to the Douanes officer at the red channel or on the arrival declaration form; keep the stamped copy — you will need it when you leave.
Goods duty-free
$800
Personal effects and gifts up to 150,000 KMF (about USD 330) per adult are admitted free. Above that, a flat 20% duty plus 10% VAT applies to most non-food goods, assessed on the spot by the officer. Electronics and perfume are the items most often pulled aside.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and psychotropic substances, including cannabis in any form — penalties run to long prison sentences
  • Pork and pork products (Comoros is a majority-Muslim country; import is prohibited)
  • Live animals and birds without a veterinary import permit
  • Fresh plants, cuttings, seeds and soil
  • Counterfeit goods and pirated media
  • Pornographic material and anything deemed offensive to Islam

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Foreign currency above 500,000 KMF — must be declared in writing on arrival and departure
  • Prescription medicines containing controlled substances — require prior Ministry of Health authorisation
  • Firearms, ammunition and imitation weapons — police permit required before arrival
  • Drones and satellite phones — written authorisation from the Directorate of Civil Aviation and the telecoms regulator
  • Commercial quantities of any goods — require an import licence and a customs broker

Arriving: red vs green channel

At Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport you walk off the tarmac into a single arrivals hall — there is no automated red/green channel. You fill in a customs declaration card (distributed on the flight or at the desk) and hand it to the Douanes officer, who may ask you to open bags. If you have nothing to declare, keep the card and walk through; if you have currency over 500,000 KMF or goods over 150,000 KMF, tell the officer before your bags are scanned.

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in its original pharmacy packaging with the prescription or a doctor's letter showing your name and dosage. Comoros classifies narcotics, psychotropics and any drug containing codeine, tramadol or benzodiazepines as controlled — importing them without a prior authorisation from the Ministry of Health is a criminal offence, not a paperwork problem. Carry only what you need for the trip; anything more looks like importation.

Food, plants & animal products

All fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, plants, soil, meat, poultry and dairy products must be declared. Comoros is an island economy with strict biosecurity: unprocessed animal products from mainland Africa and fresh plant material are routinely confiscated and destroyed. Commercially packaged, sealed food for personal consumption is normally allowed but still declare it.

Rules worth knowing

Currency declaration is the real trap

The 500,000 KMF threshold (about USD 1,100) is low by regional standards and is enforced. Undeclared excess can be seized and you can be fined up to the amount involved. Declare on arrival and keep the stamped form for departure.

No ATM and no card acceptance at the airport

There is no ATM at HAH and the few shops and taxis outside take cash only. Bring euros or US dollars in clean, untorn notes — you will need cash for the visa-on-arrival fee (about EUR 30–50) and for the first day.

Ylang-ylang and vanilla exports are controlled

If you buy Comorian ylang-ylang essential oil or vanilla to take home, keep the receipt. Export of these two commodities in commercial quantities requires an export permit from the Ministry of Agriculture; small souvenir quantities are fine but declare them if asked.

Inter-island travel has its own checks

If you fly or sail between Moroni (Grande Comore), Mutsamudu (Anjouan) and Fomboni (Mohéli), you pass through a domestic customs post. Your duty-free allowances do not reset — the same goods are counted once for the whole trip.

Frequently asked questions

Most nationalities get a visa on arrival at HAH for about EUR 30–50, payable in cash (euros or USD). The visa desk and the customs desk are separate; clearing immigration does not clear your bags. You still hand your customs declaration card to the Douanes officer after baggage reclaim.
The 1-litre spirits / 2-litre wine allowance applies per adult regardless of where you stay. Resorts and liveaboard boats are not exempt. If you arrive with a case of wine, expect to pay duty — there is no published rate, so the officer will assess it, typically 20% plus 10% VAT.
Declare it in writing on the arrival card and show the money to the Douanes officer. You will get a stamped declaration. Keep that paper — on departure you must show that you are taking out no more than you brought in, or explain the difference. Undeclared cash can be confiscated and a fine of up to 100% of the amount imposed.
There is a small duty-free kiosk in the departures area selling perfume, alcohol and souvenirs, but nothing on arrival. Buy your allowance before you fly in, not after you land.
Not without prior written authorisation from the Comorian civil aviation authority and the telecoms regulator. Arriving with a drone and no permit will see it held at customs, and you may not get it back before you leave. Apply weeks in advance through your hotel or a local fixer.
Yes — exporting more than 500,000 KMF in local currency requires authorisation from the Central Bank of Comoros. In practice, change your leftover francs at the airport or a bank before departure; the franc is not convertible outside the country.
One laptop, one camera and one phone per person are treated as personal effects and are free. A second laptop or a bag of professional camera gear looks commercial and can attract a 20% duty plus 10% VAT on the assessed value. If you are a working journalist or filmmaker, carry a letter explaining your equipment.

Official source

Direction Générale des Douanes de l'Union des Comores

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Direction Générale des Douanes de l'Union des Comores before travelling.