All passengers coming into Kenya ought to declare cell gadget IMEI numbers from January

All passengers coming into Kenya starting January 1, 2025, will seemingly be required to declare and register their cell models’ Worldwide Mobile Instruments Id (IMEI) numbers on the port of entry.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched that each cell gadget meant for use inside the nation ought to be listed, along with its IMEI amount, on the F88 passenger declaration type.

The model new measure, utilized in collaboration with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), seeks to boost the monitoring of imported models and assure tax compliance.

In response to KRA, every vacationers and returning residents ought to declare any cell models they plan to utilize inside Kenya’s borders, making the F88 declaration a necessary step upon entry.

“Passengers coming into the territory of Kenya will declare the small print and the respective IMEI numbers for his or her cell models meant for use, in the midst of the preserve inside the nation on the Port of entry on the F88 passenger declaration type,” KRA said in a uncover.

Furthermore, all Importers of Mobile Devices will seemingly be required to submit detailed import entries for all cell models with right parts, right model descriptions/specs, and their respective IMEI numbers inside the Customs system.

The Authority added that gadget assemblers and producers ought to register on the Customs portal and submit a report of all models assembled for the native market and their respective IMEI numbers.

Privateness issues

Whereas the directive has raised issues about privateness factors, the CA emphasised the importance of the initiative, noting that it is “vital for the registration of models inside the Nationwide Grasp Database on Tax-Compliant Devices.”

The authority reiterated that the database would help affirm each gadget’s tax compliance standing, contributing to a protected and managed telecommunications setting inside Kenya.

Mobile group operators will seemingly be required to connect models solely after verifying their compliance by the use of a whitelist database maintained by the CA.

“The authority will current means by which tax compliance standing of cell models could be verified sooner than purchase by retailers or end-users,” the CA added.

The Authority warned that models not meeting these requirements will seemingly be matter to restrictions, along with grey-listing, which supplies time for compliance, or blacklisting if compliance is simply not achieved.

“The model new requirement will solely apply to all models imported or assembled inside the nation from November 1, 2024. All present models that can seemingly be on the cell networks by October 31, 2024, will not be affected. This initiative objectives to verify the integrity and tax compliance of cell models inside Kenya,” the authority clarified.

KRA said additional steering on the registration course of for incoming travellers and extra particulars on compliance steps will seemingly be communicated sooner than the January 2025 enforcement date.

“The Public is subsequently notified of this requirement, which is able to seemingly be utilized environment friendly January 1, 2025. Explicit tips about the system course of and straightforward strategies to grab the models and IMEI numbers for varied clients will seemingly be shared ultimately,” KRA said.