Angola Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in angola, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Import Requirements and Documentation
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The process of importing goods into Angola is time consuming and highly bureaucratic.  The World Bank Ease of Doing Business 2020 ranked Angola among the countries with the most time-consuming import procedures worldwide in the category of “Trading Across Borders”.  Import procedures in Angola require an estimated US$ 460 and 96 hours for import document compliance.  In comparison regionally, sub-Saharan Africa averages US$ 287.20 and 96.1 hours for import document compliance.

U.S. exporters should inquire about customs broker capacities and importing experience when selecting a distributor.  Angolan import regulations are subject to periodic changes requiring U.S. exporters to maintain close contact with their importer/distributor to avoid customs entry delays.

Importers must be registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the category of product they are importing.  Only registered companies can apply for an import license which is required for imports of sensitive products such as food, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural inputs.  To minimize customs problems and delays, U.S. companies should ensure that their prospective Angolan distributor holds import registration status for the appropriate product category and has experience importing and representing international products.  A competent importer company will have either in-house customs broker capacity or work with a licensed customs broker.  Only customs brokers approved by the Angolan government can process customs documentation for imports.  Custom broker rates are regulated and cannot exceed 2 percent CIF value of the product. 

Documentation required for importation into Angola includes: 

  • Commercial invoice
  • Customs import declaration (Documento Único)
  • Declaration of Customs Value (ADV)
  • Loading certificate (also known as ARC / Waiver / CNCA certificate)
  • Ministry of Industry and Trace (MINCO) Import License
  • Packing list
  • Terminal handling receipts
  • SOLAS certificate

Angolan Loading Certificate: Shipments bound for Angolan ports require a Loading Certificate (Certificado de Embarque) issued by the National Council of Angolan Shippers (CNCA) authorized agent in the country of origin.  In the United States the CNCA agent is OIC Services Inc. in Houston, Texas at tel:  (832) 912-6820 and email: info@oicservices.com   The application form for the Loading Certificate is available at CNCA’s website, link: https://www.cnc-angola.gv.ao/en/shipping-certificates/. For more information visit the website of the Angolan Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency https://www.aipex.gov.ao/PortalAIPEX/#!/

In June 2018, the Angolan Central Bank announced that letters of credit would be the preferred financial instrument for import and export transactions and proposed that letters of credit be mandatory for all international trade transactions above 100,000 euros.  Guidance on financing U.S. exports to Angola is addressed in the “Trade and Project Financing” section of this report.

Pre-shipment inspection 

According to Presidential Decree No. 63/13 of June 11, 2013, pre-shipment inspections are no longer mandatory.  Traders may hire pre-shipment inspection services from private inspection agencies if they wish to benefit from fast track “green channel” access upon cargo arrival at Angolan Customs, or if pre-shipment inspection is required by their letter of credit agreement.   

Laboratory Testing

Imports of foods and pharmaceutical products are subject to testing during customs clearance.  Angolan Presidential Decree No. 140/16 of July 7, 2016, sets forth regulations for the laboratory analysis of imported products and for nationally produced products to better control the quality of products for human consumption.   Private and public laboratories manage this inspection process at the port of entry.  The regulation specifies fees for laboratory testing by type of product as well as methodologies and type of tests to be administered.  Once in the Angolan market, these products face additional oversight during retail distribution by the Ministries of Commerce, Agriculture, and Health.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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