Import Japanese Cars to Burundi

Complete Import Regulations & Procedures Guide

Landlocked, right-hand traffic. RHD JDM private cars are commonly used. OBR clears at Bujumbura after Dar es Salaam or Mombasa transit. 10-year / anti-pollution tax — not a Kenya 8-year ban....

Export to Burundi

Market access

Open import

Last verified: August 2026

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Year Rules

Ports

Taxes

Documents

Official sources

Year Restriction

No Kenya-style 8-year ban; 10-year policy + 2,000,000 BIF anti-pollution tax on older units (Law 1/013)

Shipping Time

10-14 weeks

Year Restrictions

No Kenya-style 8-year ban; 10-year policy + 2,000,000 BIF anti-pollution tax on older units (Law 1/013)

Burundi drives on the right (left-hand-drive is the local standard). Japanese RHD private cars are commonly registered without conversion; commercial and public-transport vehicles are the usual exception.

There is no Kenya KS 1515 8-year first-registration ban. Law No. 1/013 of 30 June 2018, article 43, set a maximum age of 10 years for imported cars and an anti-pollution tax of 2,000,000 BIF on used vehicles older than 10 years. Confirm the current OBR instrument before you bid — blogs that say “any age, no tax” skip this law.

Destination Port & Shipping Information

Main Destination Port

Dar es Salaam (then Bujumbura)

Alternative Ports:

Dar es Salaam
Mombasa

Landlocked. Usual corridor is Japan RoRo to Dar es Salaam, then road to Bujumbura. Mombasa via Rwanda is the alternative. Final assessment is OBR, not the sea port.

Shipping Duration:

10-14 weeks

Sea to Dar es Salaam plus inland transit and OBR clearance. Allow extra time at the Tanzania–Burundi border.

Vessel Schedule & Shipping Lines

Shipping Frequency:

Monthly RoRo to Dar es Salaam

Preferred Shipping Lines:

NYK
MOL
K Line
Hoegh Autoliners

Inspection Requirements

Inspection Type:

No standard Japan PVoC/QISJ mandate — confirm OBR / police at destination

Inspection Details:

Burundi does not use Kenya QISJ or Mozambique Intertek as a Japan loading gate. Review the auction sheet in Japan. Destination roadworthiness or police inspection may still apply at registration.

Last verified & official sources

Last verified: August 2026 — rules and rates change; confirm with the authority before you buy.

Office Burundais des Recettes (OBR)

Official calculator / procedures

Import Duties & Taxes

Import Duty

OBR customs duty on CIF (EAC CET often 25% on passenger cars — confirm the current tariff)

VAT

Transactional tax commonly cited at 17% of (CIF + duty + fees) — confirm OBR; do not assume Kenya 16% VAT

Other Taxes

Handling / administrative fee commonly cited at about 4% of CIF. Anti-pollution tax 2,000,000 BIF on units older than 10 years (Law 1/013). Inland transit from Dar es Salaam or Mombasa is extra.

Tax Calculation Details:

OBR values on CIF into Burundi, not the Japan auction hammer and not Kenya CRSP. EAC CET 25% is a planning figure for many passenger cars, not a landed-cost quote. Use a licensed SYDONIA broker.

Treat stacked percentages as a planning range only. Use the official calculator or procedures page or a licensed clearing agent before you bid.

Required Documentation

Documents for Individual Importers:

Passport / ID
OBR TIN
Export Certificate
Bill of Lading
Commercial Invoice

Documents for Company Importers:

OBR TIN
Company documents
Commercial Invoice
Bill of Lading
Export Certificate

Important Notes

Official / primary: Office Burundais des Recettes (https://www.obr.bi); Law No. 1/013 of 30 June 2018, art. 43 (10-year policy and 2,000,000 BIF anti-pollution tax). Steering practice: right-hand traffic; RHD private cars commonly used without conversion, not commercial/public transport. Confirm current OBR tariff and SYDONIA procedure before shipping.

Helpful Tips

1) Do not apply Kenya KS 1515 or Tanzania UMVVS to Bujumbura.
2) Flag 10+ year units for the anti-pollution tax.
3) Ask whether the buyer needs the car for private use or for hire/public transport (RHD conversion risk).
4) Budget inland transit from Dar es Salaam, not only ocean freight.

Import Regulations Overview

Landlocked, right-hand traffic. RHD JDM private cars are commonly used. OBR clears at Bujumbura after Dar es Salaam or Mombasa transit. 10-year / anti-pollution tax — not a Kenya 8-year ban.

Step by step: (1) Confirm private vs commercial use and steering. (2) Check manufacture year against the 10-year / anti-pollution tax. (3) Buy in Japan. (4) Export documents. (5) RoRo to Dar es Salaam (or Mombasa). (6) Transit to Bujumbura. (7) OBR duty and taxes. (8) Local registration.