Returning residents
Many have asked questions about returning resident status and importation of goods and vehicles. The following question, and its answer from ZIMRA might help:
Question:
I am returning to Zimbabwe after spending nine years outside the country. I am a returning resident and hold an Irish passport. I will be bringing a container with my personal effects and a vehicle. Will I need to pay duty on these as a returning resident?.
Answer:
Definition of an immigrant (generally regarded as returning resident)
Means any person who enters Zimbabwe:-
a) To take up employment or permanent residence; or
b) As a visitor but remains to take up employment or permanent residence; or
c) as a diplomat but remains to take up employment or permanent residence
or attending any educational institution.
d) For the purpose of attending any educational institution;
e) A person who has previously resided or been employed in Zimbabwe who is returning to Zimbabwe permanently after having resided outside Zimbabwe for not less than two years or any other shorter period as may be approved by the Minister of Finance.
- The goods being brought into the country must have been owned by the returning resident at the time of arrival into the country.
- The goods should be for personal use and not to be used for trade or commercial purposes
- Any goods brought in under rebate should not be disposed of for a period of two years and the resident is not to leave the country in the two years following their arrival into the country. In the event that they want to permanently relocate to another country during that period they should notify ZIMRA so that they either pay their rebated duties or that they export the goods that were brought in under rebate.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The immigrant should
- Have their passport endorsed “Accepted returning resident” by Immigration
- They should have their contract of employment if they were employed prior to their returning to Zimbabwe.
- They should have their termination letter of employment from their employer, this is a must.
- They can also bring their tax returns for their last two years of employment, their tax return for when employment is terminated and pay slips for the last two years.
- If it is a student they should bring their certificate of successful completion or a transcript if the certificate is not available.
- If importing a motor vehicle all the above still stand but then they should also bring the registration book of the motor vehicle as well as the invoice for the motor vehicle when it was purchased.
Goods imported for commercial or trade do not qualify for this rebate.
Source: ZIMRA (www.zimra.co.zw/)
Very well said, but transcripts and certificates usually come 5 to 6 months after the final exam. Do I have to wait another 5-6 months before the certificate/transcript comes to be eligible for the free duty?. If not, what other proof can I present to ZIMRA?.
Ndabonga.
Check the answer in the Qs & As page
I am about to complete my studies in Cyprus. Being a country with the highest cost of living, Cyprus’s freight duty to Africa when bringing a car without occupying the whole container will be the same (if not less) than the cost of buying a car in Durban. Approximate freight charges=$1, 928 + $500 or more carriage costs to the Zimbabwean boarder. Again if you get to consider the type of car you are shipping surely you will find it cheaper to buy an ex-jap in Durban and pay import duty because ndiwayo ma ex-jap atinongoshandisawo kuno except that kuno anodhura than anywhere else in the world I guess.
I am not saying we don’t need that free duty as students but zvinotidzosera kumashure where as vaye vari pedyo neyika vasingade ma freight duties they get to benefit a lot. Only if you are bringing a much later model of a b.m.w surely you get to benefit as returning resident.
All I am asking is that tipewo weduwo mukana wekutengesa mota dzedu kuno, bring the money and buy a car in Durban topindawo nadzo as returning students nekuti those are the very same cars we use kuno except that kuno you get to buy a Toyota corona premio 97 model for euros4000 2nd hand ($5,650.71) + $1,928 freight duty + $500 carriage to border and that gives us a total of roughly $7,678.71 paka mere Toyota premio chete. Had it been that I was studying in South Africa, with that amount dai ndakatenga a very good vw polo yangu isina akamboshandisa and bring it home zvakanaka. Tibatsireiwo isu vamwe tiri mhiri kwemakungwa tikwanise kutengerawo mota ku s.a yopindawo zvakana haikona kuzvitambudza uye nemari dzakawandisa kubvakuno, tiri ma students wo and we must bring something home.
I am a zimbabwean by birth and have been out of the country for a few years. I am now planning to return home but seem to have lost my zimbabwean passport. What is the best course of action for me to take
Visit the Zimbabwean embassy and apply for a new passport.
i bought an ldv min bus but iwas using it as van not carrying people and does not have some of the seats .
i have used this to cary some of my goods and want this as my returning vehicle will this be accepted
I have been living in SA for the past 5 years and i intend to return home with a vehicle i have been using.I used an ETD when i entered SA in 2007.I do not have a formal work permit,but have proof that I have been formally employed,do I qualify for duty exemption?