Tuvalu customs rules & duty-free allowances
Tuvalu's customs shed at Funafuti is less about duty collection and more about biosecurity: officers routinely open bags looking for undeclared food, plants and soil, and fines are issued on the spot. The single biggest risk for a visitor is an apple or a packet of seeds left in a daypack. There is no red/green channel, no ATM and no card machine — bring Australian dollars in cash if you expect to pay duty.
Duty-free allowances
Prohibited — banned from import
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances, including cannabis in any form (medical or recreational)
- Pork and pork products from countries with African swine fever
- Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, plants, soil and cut flowers
- Firearms, ammunition and explosives without a Tuvalu police permit
- Pornographic material and anything deemed offensive to Tuvalu's Christian values
- Counterfeit goods and unauthorised copies of copyrighted material
Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration
- Prescription and controlled medicines — declare and carry a doctor's letter; controlled drugs need prior Health Department approval
- Drones — require a permit from the Tuvalu Civil Aviation Authority before arrival
- Satellite phones and two-way radios — require a licence from the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation
- Pets and live animals — require an import permit and veterinary certificate issued in advance
- Alcohol and tobacco above the duty-free allowance — declare and pay duty at the shed
Arriving: red vs green channel
There is no red/green channel at Funafuti. You walk from the plane into a single customs and biosecurity shed. Fill in the paper Tuvalu Customs Declaration form (given to you on the flight or at the shed) and hand it to the officer. If you have nothing to declare, say so clearly and keep your bags closed until asked; officers routinely open bags for biosecurity checks, so do not lock them.
Bringing medication
Bring personal medication in its original labelled container with a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter. Up to 3 months' supply is normally accepted for personal use. Controlled drugs (opioids, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, strong sedatives) require prior written approval from the Tuvalu Department of Health — email ahead before you travel. Codeine-containing painkillers and pseudoephedrine products are restricted and should be declared.
Food, plants & animal products
Tuvalu is strict on biosecurity because it is a small island nation with fragile agriculture. Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, honey, seeds, plants, soil, cut flowers and any animal or plant product must be declared. Most fresh food will be confiscated on arrival. Commercially packaged, sealed and shelf-stable food (biscuits, tinned goods, confectionery) is usually allowed but still declare it. Do not bring pork products from countries with African swine fever.
Rules worth knowing
Biosecurity is the real customs check
Officers at Funafuti focus on food and plant material far more than on duty. Even an apple or a packet of seeds in your bag can trigger a fine of several hundred Australian dollars. Declare everything edible and let the officer decide.
No ATM or card payment at the customs shed
If you owe duty, you pay in cash — Australian dollars only. There is no EFTPOS, no card machine and no ATM at the airport. Bring enough AUD cash to cover any duty before you land.
One arrival, one departure — no transit loopholes
Funafuti has very few international flights (mainly Fiji Airways from Suva and Nadi). If you are transiting, you still clear Tuvalu customs because there is no sterile transit area. Plan for the full arrival process even on a short stop.
Kava and traditional goods
Kava root and powder are allowed for personal use in small quantities but must be declared. Commercial quantities require a permit. Do not bring kava if you are continuing to a country that bans it.