FAQ document for the NGO humanitarian community in Liberia

NGO REGISTRATION/ EXEMPTIONS:
I. What are the requirements to register a new NGO in Liberia?

1. The desiring NGO is required to acquire legal status from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if it is an International NGO, or from the National Legislature if it is a local NGO.

2. Obtain accreditation from the Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs. Ensure that a letter of clearance is obtained from the sectoral ministry/agency endorsing its activity to be implemented in that sector.

II. What are the procedures for obtaining these requirements?

1. Submit an application and copies of documents and credentials such as, Articles of Incorporation, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for processing and acquisition of legal status.

2. Submit an application with copies of the legal documents acquired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs for accreditation.

3. Show evidence that an operational head office (with address) has been established in Liberia.

4. A listing of Corps of Officers resident in Liberia should be submitted to the Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs for scrutiny.

5. Pay a non-refundable accreditation fee of US$ 350.00 to the Ministry of Finance if you are an international NGO; and US$ 150.00 if you are a local NGO.

6. Obtain an Accreditation Certificate from the Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs, signed by the Minister of Planning & Economic Affairs.

7. Fulfill an annual fee of US$100.00 to the Ministry of Finance if you are an international NGO, and US$50.00 if you are a local NGO.

III. What are the Exemptions for being registered as an NGO with the Government of Liberia?

1. The acquisition and application of Duty Free permit.
2. Real Estate tax waiver for five (5) years.
3. The acquisition and use of Gratis Plates.

IV. Where do I get these exemptions?

V. How do I acquire these benefits?

a. Duty Free Status

All UN bodies and International NGOs are eligible for 100% duty free status once they have been registered with the relevant authorities. This 100% duty free status includes import and export through all land, sea, and air Entry/Exit Points, as well as local purchase of fuel and other goods.

1) UN Procedure:

Write an official letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting him/her to introduce your organisation to the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs in order for them to register you for 100% duty free status. Indicate the following:

• The nature of the Agency/Body's work (e.g. Food Aid)
• Its predicted area of operation (e.g. Nimba County)
• An idea of the sort of goods it will import (both aid and support equipment)

(INTERNAL) The Minister of Foreign Affairs passes the letter to the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs for action. The Ministry of Finance passes the letter to the Commissioner for Customs (within the Ministry of Finance).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reply to your letter notifying you of your 100% duty free status.

The process takes around a week. There is no cost involved.

2) International NGO Procedure:

Acquire 'Articles of Incorporation' for your International NGO. This is a legal document outlining the nature of your business, your funding, area of operations, types of import etc. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a format for 'Articles of Incorporation' and can assist in drawing these up for your International NGO.

Write an official letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs submitting your 'Articles of Incorporation', asking for them to be endorsed. The endorsed 'Articles' will then be returned to you.

Write an official letter to the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs submitting your endorsed 'Articles of Incorporation' and requesting accreditation for your International NGO.

Go to the Ministry of Finance and pay the US$350 accreditation fee.

Return to Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs with your receipt of payment from the Ministry of Finance. Your certificate of accreditation will be presented to you (this is your proof of 100% duty free status).

The process takes approximately one week.

A renewal fee of US$100 must be paid annually by all International NGOs.

3) Local NGO Procedure:

Acquire "Articles of Incorporation" for your Local NGO. This legal document outlines your nature of work, the scope of your operations, source(s) of funding, etc. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be of help to you organisation if it is required.

Acquire a Certificate of Registration from the Ministry of Commerce which should accompanied by the Articles of Incorporation.

Write an official letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, submitting both your Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Registration, requesting that the Foreign Ministry endorses them. The endorsed documents should be returned to you after undergoing this process.

Write an official letter to the Minster of Planning and Economic Affairs submitting your endorsed documents and request accreditation. All Accreditation Certificates should be signed by the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs.

Proceed to the Ministry of Finance and pay the accreditation fee of US$ 150.

Return to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs with the official receipt for payment made at the Ministry of Finance. Obtain your certificate of accreditation.

Fulfil an annual renewal fee of US$ 50 to the Ministry of Finance.

b. Application of Duty Free Permit:

All imports to Liberia are required to undergo a pre-shipment inspection. However, the UN and International NGOs, once accredited, can get exemption from this pre-shipment inspection.

1) Procedure:

Write a letter to the Minister of Commerce requesting a gratis Import Permit Declaration (IPD) form. The Minister will authorise gratis status by signing your letter. Without this authorisation of gratis status you will pay US$25 per IPD form.

Take the letter to the Foreign Trade Section of the Ministry of Commerce. They will issue you with an IPD and will fill it out with you granting exemption from pre-shipment inspection.

Take the exempt IPD to BIVAC on Jamaica Road. BIVAC will stamp 'Exempt' on the IPD. BIVAC is the private company employed by the Government of Liberia to carry out pre-inspections.

Send the exempt IPD to your importer who will present it to the BIVAC representative at their location. Your goods will then be processed without a pre-inspection.

Send a copy of the exempt IPD to your Clearing Agent for processing upon arrival of your goods.

The process takes around one to two days.

c. Getting a Duty Free Permit

Once you have duty free status, you must acquire a duty free permit for each bill of lading that you wish to import into Liberia at duty free. Two forms are involved: the 'Application for Exemption' form, and the 'Consumption Entry' form. The procedure involved differs slightly between the Freeport of Monrovia and all other Entry Points. At the Freeport you will be responsible for collecting all the necessary Government signatures on your forms, while at all other Entry Points this will be undertaken by the Customs Collector and his staff.

1.) Procedure at the Freeport of Monrovia (per bill of lading):

Before your goods arrive in Liberia, buy an 'Application for Exemption' form and a 'Consumption Entry' form. These can either be bought at every Customs Office (i.e. at the border) or they can be bought in Monrovia at the Sale of Forms Office on the ground floor of the Ministry of Finance.

'Application for Exemption' forms cost US$100. (Free for UN and International NGOs).

'Consumption Entry' forms cost L$200 and must be paid for by everyone.

Fill in and submit both forms together to Customs at the Entry Point.

(INTERNAL) When your goods arrive, they will be examined to ascertain their value and duty level. This duty will obviously not be paid but is documented for internal Government records.

Once the examination is completed, the 'Application for Exemption' and 'Consumption Entry' forms will be handed back to you.

Take both forms to the Bureau of Concessions (BOC) at the Ministry of Finance where they will be signed and stamped by the Director.

Take both forms to the Duty Free Section at the Ministry of Finance where they will be signed and stamped by the Director.

Take both forms to the Bureau of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance where they will be signed and stamped by the Commissioner.

Take both forms back to the Customs Collector at the Point of Entry who will carry out the final signing and sealing of the documents. Once this is completed, your goods will be released to you.

Timeframe for the whole process is one to two days.

2.) Procedure at All Other Entry Points (per bill of lading):

Before your goods arrive in Liberia, buy an 'Application for Exemption' form and a 'Consumption Entry' form. These can either be bought at every Customs Office (i.e. at the border) or they can be bought in Monrovia at the Sale of Forms Office on the ground floor of the Ministry of Finance.

'Application for Exemption' forms cost US$100 (free for UN and International NGOs).

'Consumption Entry' forms cost L$200 and must be paid for by everyone.

Fill in and submit both forms together to Customs at the Entry Point where your goods will arrive.

(INTERNAL) When your goods arrive, they will be examined to ascertain their value and duty level. This duty will obviously not be paid but is documented for internal Government records.

(INTERNAL) Signatures of the relevant representatives of the Director of the Bureau of Concessions, the Director of the Bureau of Duty Free, and the Commissioner for the Bureau of Customs and Excise will be added to your forms. They will then be passed on to the Customs Collector at the Entry Point.

Once the Customs Collector has approved the inspection, he/she will sign off on both the 'Application for Exemption' and 'Consumption Entry' forms and approve the release of your goods.

The time frame for the whole process is one to two days.

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