Import licences or import certificates

Licence required for certain products

Some products are subject to strict rules for import. If you want to import such products, you may need an import licence, import certificate, or another document. Sometimes this only applies only to certain products from certain countries.

How do you know if you need an import licence or certificate?

There is no list of products for which you need an import licence or certificate. On KvK.nl you will find a list of products to which import restrictions and import regulations may apply. Or check the User Tariff of the Customs Administration of the Netherlands.

Applying for an import licence or import certificate

You apply to the government for an import licence or certificate. Different government agencies issue these documents for different products. Licensing authorities include the Customs Central Import and Export Office (CDIU) of the Customs Administration, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, in Dutch), and Farmatec (in Dutch):

• The CDIU provides permits and certificates for strategic goods, such as weapons.
• RVO does so for agricultural products and endangered alien animal and plant species (in Dutch), and products made from them.
• Farmatec provides permits for medicines (in Dutch).