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HS 851712, 851713, 851714

Customs Duty on Mobile Phones in Nepal (2026): 0%–5% + VAT

Smartphones are one of the most-imported consumer items into Nepal, and the tariff on cellular handsets under HS heading 8517 is lower than most people assume - the real gatekeeper is registration, not the duty rate. Every imported phone must be registered in the NTA's Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) against its IMEI before it will work on Nepali networks.

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Live tariff

HS-code duty rates for mobile phones

The duty column is the customs rate charged on the assessable (CIF) value; 13% VAT is then applied on the duty-inclusive amount for VAT-liable lines.

HS codeDescriptionCustoms dutyVAT
85171200Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks0%13%
85171211Mobiles Phone, Other Than Push Button Type5%13%

Rates are the tariff we apply when quoting real shipments to Nepal; excise duty, where levied for a specific product class, is charged in addition.

Worked example

What NPR 1,50,000 of mobile phones costs to land in Nepal

Step by step, using the representative rate for this category (5% duty on HS 85171211, 13% VAT). Your exact rate depends on the precise HS code in the table above.

Mobile Phones (goods value)
NPR 1,50,000
International freight (illustrative, 10% of goods)
NPR 15,000
Assessable value (CIF = goods + freight)
NPR 1,65,000
Customs duty (5% of CIF, HS 85171211)
NPR 8,250
VAT (13% of CIF + duty)
NPR 22,523
Estimated landed cost
NPR 1,95,773

Nepal assesses every courier import - there is no de-minimis exemption, so even small parcels are taxed at these rates. Freight is illustrative - use the calculator for a quote with real shipping on your actual item.

Before you order

What to know about importing mobile phones

  • Register the IMEI in the NTA MDMS system - an unregistered imported phone stops working on Nepal Telecom and Ncell networks after the grace window.

  • One used personal phone carried in baggage is generally tolerated; a new boxed phone above the duty-free allowance is assessed at the airport.

  • Phones shipped by courier are assessed on CIF value with no de-minimis relief - even a NPR 5,000 budget phone is taxed.

  • Nepal-official-warranty is rare for imported models; check that the global variant supports Nepali 4G/5G bands before ordering.

What we ship

Popular mobile phones imports

iPhone 16 Pro

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Google Pixel 9

OnePlus 13

Xiaomi 15

Nothing Phone

Mobile Phones import questions, answered

How much customs duty do I pay on an iPhone imported to Nepal?+
Cellular handsets carry a comparatively low customs duty rate on the CIF value (see the live table above), and 13% VAT is then charged on the duty-inclusive amount. On a flagship iPhone the combined tax bill typically adds a mid-teens percentage to the sticker price - far less than the markup Kathmandu grey-market retailers charge for the same unit.
Do I need to register an imported phone in Nepal?+
Yes. Nepal Telecommunications Authority runs the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS): every phone used on a Nepali network must have its IMEI registered. Phones imported through customs with duty paid are registered as part of clearance; a phone that skips this becomes unusable on local SIMs after the grace period.
Is it cheaper to buy a phone abroad and bring it to Nepal?+
Often yes, if you do it legitimately. Even after duty and 13% VAT, US or UAE pricing on flagships frequently lands below Kathmandu retail because local channels price in scarcity. The catch is MDMS registration and warranty - an imported unit usually has no Nepal service-centre coverage.
Can I import several phones at once for resale?+
Multiple new units are treated as a commercial import, which needs an import licence (EXIM code), formal customs declaration and applicable duty per unit. Carrying several boxed phones in baggage without declaring them risks seizure - Nepali customs specifically watches for this at Tribhuvan airport.

Related duty guides

Customs duty on laptops & computers

HS 8471

Customs duty on tablets & ipads

HS 847130

Customs duty on smartwatches

HS 851762

All Nepal duty categoriesImport cost calculatorShip to Nepal with iWishBag

Import mobile phones without customs surprises

Send us the product link. We quote goods, freight, the exact per-HSN duty and VAT as one all-in landed price - then buy, ship and clear it for you.

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