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Ships and container stacks at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya
Photo: Kenya Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, public domain

PRE-LOADING RULES · JAPAN → KENYA · CHECKED 6 OCTOBER 2026

Shipping to Kenya from Japan: ACD and export declaration

Since 3 August 2026 every container for a Kenyan port needs an ACD number on its bill of lading, obtained at origin before loading. From 1 September 2026 carriers won’t load a container without one. And since 1 September 2026 the Kenyan importer must hold the export declaration issued in the country of export — from Japan, that is the Export Declaration (Customs form C-5010) and Export Permit.

The export document from Japan

DOCUMENT
Export Declaration (Customs form C-5010) and Export Permit (輸出申告書 / 輸出許可通知書)
ISSUED BY
Japan Customs
HOW IT IS ISSUED
The exporter or its customs broker declares the goods' nature, quantity and price after they enter a bonded area. Goods can only leave with an export permit, granted after any examination.
WHAT IT SHOWS
Nature, quantity and price of the goods, with the invoice attached.

What to ask the seller for: Ask the seller for the export permit (輸出許可通知書).

Sources: Japan Customs: export procedures · Japan Customs: export declaration and permit

Shipping machinery from Japan to Kenya: transit, freight and taxes →

The ACD: exporter’s job, before loading

All containerised cargo destined for Kenyan ports. The shipper, exporter or freight forwarder at origin, before the container is loaded.

  1. 01 Register on the KRA ACD portal (acd.kra.go.ke).
  2. 02 Upload the draft bill of lading, commercial invoice, freight invoice and export declaration to get a draft ACD.
  3. 03 Pay the fee shown on the portal to receive the validated ACD certificate.
  4. 04 Make sure the 15-character ACD number (format ACDKE2026004324) is printed on the final bill of lading.

Documents you upload

  • Draft bill of lading
  • Commercial invoice
  • Freight invoice
  • Export declaration — Export Declaration (Customs form C-5010) and Export Permit

No ACD, no loading. From 1 September 2026 carriers validate the ACD number before loading and only load containers for Kenya that have a valid one. Containers without it may be rolled to a later vessel, and the importer may face customs penalties.

KRA's notice covers containerised cargo. It does not say how RoRo or breakbulk machinery is treated, and it does not publish the fee: check the portal before you ship. Portal: acd.kra.go.ke · KRA contact: operations@acd.kra.go.ke

Section 23B: importer’s job, for five years

Inserted by the Finance Act 2026. The Kenyan importer must obtain an export declaration, export entry, customs export certificate or equivalent document issued in the country of export.

The document must show

  • Exporter
  • Importer
  • Description of the goods
  • Value
  • Tariff classification
  • Country of export
Keep it
Keep it for at least five years from the date of import and produce it when KRA asks.
If you can’t produce it
Without it KRA can reject the declared cost, origin or value and reassess the tax.
KRA’s position
On 7 September 2026 KRA said the requirement is set by statute and committed to working with clearing agents to limit disruption. It has not published a list of accepted documents per country.

Still unsettled

On 2 September 2026 President Ruto ordered that cargo consolidators be exempted from the ACD. As of this check, KRA has not published how the exemption works or which goods it excludes. (capitalfm.africa)

Sources

A plain-language summary of published rules, checked 6 October 2026. Not legal advice: KRA can change or clarify these rules at any time.