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The EAC Single Customs Territory explained

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Explainers

Under the EAC Single Customs Territory, goods are declared once and taxes are paid in the destination country. The cargo stays at the first port of entry until release 1. Goods then move to their destination under a single regional bond and are tracked electronically 1. The EAC began putting it into operation in 2014 3. Kenya Revenue Authority says transit time from Mombasa to Kampala fell from 18 days to 4 4.
What it is
A stage of the EAC Customs Union that cuts internal border controls on goods 1,2
Start
Operations began in 2014 3. KRA says it was established in July 2014 4
Where taxes are paid
In the destination partner state, in its national currency 1
Bond
A single regional bond from port to destination 1,2
Mombasa to Kampala transit time, KRA figures
Cut from 18 days to 4 4
Mombasa port exit time, SCT goods
Within 13.5 hours of offloading 5
Procedure manual
EAC Single Customs Territory Procedure Manual 2022, Release 2.0, May 2022 3

What the Single Customs Territory is

The EAC Customs Union began in January 2005. In April 2012 the EAC Summit adopted the destination model of clearance in principle, and the Community began putting the Single Customs Territory (SCT) into operation in 2014 3. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) says the SCT was established in July 2014 4.

KRA describes the SCT as the full realisation of the Customs Union, with fewer internal border controls so goods move freely 1. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) calls it a stage towards full attainment of the Customs Union 2.

How clearance works

The KRA and URA pages set out the same import steps 1,2:

  • The shipper sends the manifest to KRA or the Tanzania Revenue Authority before the ship arrives 1.
  • The manifest is passed to the revenue authority of the destination country 1,2.
  • The importer or agent lodges one customs declaration 1.
  • Taxes are paid in the destination country, in its national currency 1.
  • Selected consignments may be physically verified at a designated area 1.
  • The destination revenue authority issues the release and the goods leave the first point of entry 1,2.

Bonds, tracking and agents

  • A bond is required for goods declared for warehousing, temporary importation, transit or duty remission. No bond is required where taxes have been paid at the destination 1.
  • Exports are secured by a regional bond, the COMESA RCTG 1. URA says clearing agents must execute a regional bond guarantee 2.
  • The seal for the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System is free of charge, according to KRA 1.
  • A customs agent licensed in any partner state may clear SCT goods to or from any other partner state 1.
  • URA says cargo is weighed at 7 weighbridges instead of 23 on the Central Corridor and once on the Northern Corridor 2.
  • The EAC launched a regional customs bond, EACBond, in a pilot for Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda on 4 August 2025. The EAC says it is aligned with the SCT 7.

What official sources say about time and cost

In a KRA article dated 26 September 2019, the KRA Commissioner for Customs and Border Control gave these figures 4. He said the average time to clear a truck had fallen to between five and 10 minutes, from two to three days 4.

A Northern Corridor time release study found that SCT goods left Mombasa port within 13.5 hours of offloading. Home use goods took over 72 hours and other transit goods over 144 hours 5. At Malaba, SCT goods took well under 7 hours, home use goods 5 days and other transit goods 19 hours 5.

A 2020 UNU-WIDER working paper on Tanzania found that its exports to other EAC countries stayed low under the SCT, and that trade costs and export times remained high 6.

Route, KRA figuresBefore SCTAfter SCT
Mombasa to Kampala 418 days 44 days 4
Mombasa to Kigali 421 days 46 days 4

Which countries take part

The KRA page lists Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda 1. The URA page lists the same five and South Sudan 2. The 2022 procedure manual lists seven EAC member states in its preface, adding DR Congo and South Sudan 3. KRA runs an SCT liaison office at Times Tower, Nairobi, reachable at [email protected] 1.

Common questions

Where do I pay duty under the Single Customs Territory?

In the destination partner state, in its national currency. The goods stay at the first point of entry until release 1.

Do I still need a transit bond under the SCT?

Yes for transit, warehousing, temporary importation and duty remission. No bond is needed where taxes are paid at destination 1.

When did the Single Customs Territory start?

The EAC began putting it into operation in 2014 3. KRA dates it to July 2014 4.

How much time does the SCT save at Mombasa?

A time release study found SCT goods left the port within 13.5 hours of offloading, against over 144 hours for other transit goods 5.

Can a Kenyan clearing agent clear goods for Uganda?

Yes. Under the EAC mutual recognition agreement an agent licensed in any partner state may clear SCT goods 1.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

  1. Kenya Revenue Authority: Single Customs Territory FAQs (accessed 20 October 2026)
  2. Uganda Revenue Authority: What is a Single Customs Territory? (accessed 20 October 2026)
  3. EAC Secretariat: Single Customs Territory Procedure Manual 2022, Release No. 2.0 (May 2022)
  4. Kenya Revenue Authority: Single Customs Territory a game changer in EAC trade, by Kevin Safari, Commissioner for Customs and Border Control (26 September 2019)
  5. NCTTCA: Goods under Single Customs Territory are cleared faster than those under Home use and Transit regimes (undated, reports a 2018 time release study)
  6. UNU-WIDER: Impact of a Single Customs Territory in the East African Community on Tanzania's exports, Working Paper 113/2020 (2020)
  7. EAC Secretariat: EAC launches regional customs bond to unlock trade efficiency (4 August 2025)

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