Short answer
Yes. Under the customs notice in force since Jestha 15, 2083, a person living abroad can send goods worth up to USD 500 to family in Nepal. Customs checks the value and charges the normal duty, so it isn't duty free. Declaring a low value on goods worth more than USD 500 can get them confiscated or fined. Migrant workers who worked abroad on a labour permit for six months or more can send their own used clothes and household things home by post or cargo without duty, before or after they fly, but they have to be there when customs checks them. For parcels sent by post, call the parcel section of the General Post Office in Dillibazar.
The details
What the customs notice allows
| Who sends it | Rule |
|---|---|
| Family member living abroad, to relatives in Nepal | Up to USD 500, customs duty charged |
| Migrant worker abroad six months or more on a labour permit, own used clothes and household things | Duty free by post or cargo, but you must attend the customs check |
| Returning traveller, duty-paid goods sent separately | Must reach the customs warehouse within three months of your arrival |
Goods worth more than USD 500 shown at a lower value can be confiscated, or cleared only after paying the duty plus a fine equal to the value above the limit.
Common problems
Is a gift from my family duty free?
No. Goods sent by someone abroad to family in Nepal are allowed up to USD 500, but customs charges the normal duty on them. Only the traveller allowances and the migrant worker rule below are duty free.
I'm a migrant worker sending my things home by cargo.
If you worked abroad on a labour permit for six months or more in a row, your used clothes, bedding and household things can come by post, cargo or another route duty free. You must be present for the customs check, before or after you arrive.
I'm sending things ahead that I'll pay duty on.
Goods you could bring by paying duty, such as a TV or fridge, can be sent separately, but they have to reach the customs warehouse within three months of the day you enter Nepal.
Someone is sending me a phone.
Expect customs duty and VAT, and register the phone in the Nepal Telecommunications Authority's MDMS system so it works on Nepali networks. See the page on phones from abroad.
Where do I collect a parcel sent by post?
Call the parcel section of the General Post Office in Dillibazar on 01-4533326 or 01-4541320, or email parcel.gpo@nepalpost.gov.np. Its enquiry line is 01-4532891. Have your ID and the notice or tracking number ready.
Who do I ask about the duty on my parcel?
Call the Department of Customs' toll-free line, 18105121223.
Sources
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