Moroccan Rug Customs Duty
Will you owe import tax when you bring a Moroccan rug home?
Often very little, and sometimes nothing. A handmade rug made in Morocco usually qualifies for zero customs duty in the USA, the UK and the European Union thanks to their trade agreements with Morocco. What you may still pay is import VAT in the UK and the EU, and only above your traveler allowance (£390 in the UK, €430 in the EU when you fly) or when the rug is shipped. Keep the invoice from the rug shop showing the price in dirhams, the size and "made in Morocco". On our rug shopping tour, we help you get the right paperwork and arrange tracked shipping. Private tours from 900 MAD for 1 to 2 people. Message Us On WhatsApp or use our Booking Form.
Every rug buyer in the souks asks the same thing over mint tea, between a cream Beni Ourain and a colorful Boucherouite. "Will I pay at the airport?" The answer depends on three things, where you live, whether the rug flies with you or travels by DHL, and what you paid for it. Here's the simple version for travelers from the USA, the UK and the EU.
Visit Marrakech Medina, The Best Shopping and Walking Tour Company in Marrakech, has helped travelers buy and ship rugs from the Marrakech souks since 2004. Our guiding is Recommended By Rick Steves, and our Medina walk was featured by Daniel Jacobs in The Rough Guide To Morocco.
Choose your tour
• Would You Rather Walk The Medina Without Shopping? Our best Marrakesh walking tour, history, riads and hidden derbs.
• What Else Can You Bring Home From The Souks? Our top rated Marrakech souks shopping tour, lanterns, babouches, leather and spices.
• Who Helps You Choose, Pack And Ship A Berber Rug? Our best Marrakech carpets and rug shopping tour, with quality checks, fair prices and shipping.
• Looking For Vintage Rugs And Antique Pieces? Our private luxury shopping tour, premium galleries and design studios.
• What Else Should You See In Marrakech? Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, hammams and rooftop cafés.
How do customs work for a rug bought in Marrakech?
There are two separate charges, and people often mix them up.
• Customs duty A tax on the rug itself. For handmade wool rugs, kilims and Boucherouite made in Morocco, the USA, the UK and the EU usually charge 0%, because of their trade agreements with Morocco
• Import VAT or sales tax A tax on the value. The UK and EU charge it above your traveler allowance or on shipped parcels. The USA has no federal VAT
Then there are two ways your rug can travel.
• In your suitcase Your personal allowance applies, and you declare the rug at the airport if its value is over the limit
• Shipped by DHL, FedEx or post The allowance doesn't apply, and the courier handles customs, usually adding a small handling fee
Do you pay customs on a Moroccan rug in the USA?
• Customs duty Handmade rugs made in Morocco usually enter duty-free under the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement
• In your suitcase US residents can bring back up to $800 of goods per person duty-free, and declare everything on the customs form. A family can combine allowances
• Shipped The courier files the customs entry and may charge a brokerage fee. Ask the rug shop to write "handmade wool rug, made in Morocco" on the invoice and the shipping label
• No VAT, but US tariff rules have changed often, so check the CBP website before you travel
Do you pay customs on a Moroccan rug in the UK?
• Allowance £390 per person for goods in your luggage when you fly into Great Britain
• Over the allowance You declare the rug at the red channel or online, and pay on its total value, not just the part above £390
• Customs duty Usually 0% for rugs made in Morocco, under the UK and Morocco trade agreement. Keep the invoice as proof of origin
• Import VAT 20% of the rug's value, plus any duty
• Shipped The courier collects VAT and a handling fee before delivery
Example, a 6,000 MAD Azilal rug, roughly £480, in your suitcase is above £390, so you declare it and pay about 20% VAT on its full value, and usually no duty.
Do you pay customs on a Moroccan rug in the EU?
• Allowance €430 per adult when you arrive by plane or boat, €300 by land
• Over the allowance You declare the rug and pay on its total value. One item can't be split between two travelers' allowances
• Customs duty Usually 0% for rugs made in Morocco, under the EU and Morocco Association Agreement. Keep the invoice
• Import VAT At your country's rate, for example 20% in France, 19% in Germany, 21% in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, 22% in Italy
• Shipped VAT applies to every imported parcel, and the EU has removed its old €150 duty exemption for small parcels, so rugs over that value go through normal customs with the courier
Suitcase or shipping, which costs less?
• Small kilims, Boucherouite and runners fold flat into a suitcase or a duffel bag, the cheapest option if you stay within your allowance
• Medium Berber rugs can travel as an extra checked bag, rolled and tied in plastic, often cheaper than shipping
• Large Beni Ourain and vintage rugs are heavier, so tracked shipping with DHL or a freight service is easier, with VAT paid on delivery
For prices by size, see How Much Should A Medium Berber Rug Cost In Marrakech?
Which papers should you keep for customs?
1. The invoice from the rug shop, with the shop's name, the date, the price in MAD and the words "handmade wool rug, made in Morocco".
2. Your card or ATM receipt, showing what you really paid.
3. A photo of the rug with its size, for example 2 by 3 meters.
4. The tracking number if it's shipped, plus the courier's invoice.
Declare the real price. A fake low invoice can mean a fine and the loss of the rug.
Our rug shopping tour prices
Private carpets and rug shopping tour, every day at 9 am or 2 pm, about 3 hours
• 1 to 2 people, 900 MAD
• 3 to 4 people, 1,200 MAD
• 5 to 6 people, 1,500 MAD
• 7 or more, on request
Group tour with shopping
• 250 MAD per person
• Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 am, from the Café de France on Jemaa el-Fna
• Included help with the invoice, packing, folding and tracked shipping
• Payment nothing in advance, you pay in dirhams at the end
• Cancellation free up to 24 hours before
What do travelers ask about rug customs?
Is a Moroccan rug duty-free?
Usually yes, for duty. Handmade rugs made in Morocco enter the USA, the UK and the EU at 0% customs duty under their trade agreements. The UK and EU still charge import VAT above your allowance.
Do I have to declare a rug at the airport?
Yes, if its value is above your allowance, $800 for the USA, £390 for the UK, €430 for the EU by air. In the USA, you list it on the customs form even below $800.
Who pays the VAT when the rug is shipped?
You do, on delivery. The courier pays it at customs and sends you the bill with a handling fee.
Can the shop write a lower price on the invoice?
Don't ask for it. Customs officers know rug prices, and a false invoice can mean a fine and the loss of the rug.
Can I fold a rug in my suitcase?
Yes. Flatweave kilims and Boucherouite fold easily, and pile rugs like Beni Ourain and Azilal can be folded or rolled and vacuum-packed in the shop.
Ready for the best Marrakech carpets and rug shopping tour, with help on shipping and customs? Book On WhatsApp for a fast reply, or use our Booking Form.
Still choosing your rug? Read Which Rug Shops In Marrakech Ship Abroad?
Who Wrote This Guide?
This guide was written by the Local Team of Visit Marrakech Medina, Marrakchis who were born and raised in the city and have guided travelers through the Medina since 2004. Our Medina walk is featured in The Rough Guide to Morocco, and our guiding is recommended by Rick Steves. This guide is general information for travelers, not legal or tax advice, and customs rules can change, so check your country's customs website before you fly.
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