– to Go Live in the Republic of Palau
Effective Monday, January 22, 2024, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) will be migrating to the new ASYCUDA World (AW) software system and the declarant or authorized importer will have to follow the AW declaration processes to be able to clear their goods. This means that Palau will join its pacific neighbors in the implementation of its latest technology for processing all import and export customs clearances online. This will mark a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to streamline trade operations and bolster border control and monitoring of all goods. This transition signals a new era in customs processing, offering more efficiency and control over its clearance and processing goods and the collections of duty.
It will be important for all traders to make their declarations in the AW. The new software will allow customs to conduct a range of key features aimed at simplifying the process and increasing accuracy in operations. Notable advancements include:
- Online submission of Manifests and Bills of Ladings by carriers and freight forwarders.
- Online preparation of declarations by companies or their agents.
- The introduction of a self-assessment regime for more precise cargo information.
- Digital release orders indicating the completion of the customs process.
To facilitate a smooth transition to the AW system, the declarant or authorized importer must be registered and certified by customs after undergoing training before they are allowed to gain access to the system and process their entries. For those importers that are not registered, they will need to clear their goods and provide all documentation to a forwarding agent. Only those personal imports arriving at the post office and the airport arrival area will be processed by Customs.
The BCBP has implemented an electronic payment feature for importers or declarants to pay fees and duties through electronic payments (Online Banking e-Services) in AW for customs declarations. This process is in its final stages with the Ministry of Finance and our provider. BCBP will advise the public when such online payment service will be available.
Importers are advised to ensure their computer systems have a minimum of 8GB RAM and Java version 8, which will be provided by BCBP and can be downloaded from the BCBP website bcbp.pw.
Recognizing the challenges that may arise with this transition, BCBP is committed to providing comprehensive training and support to all stakeholders. We encourage those in need of additional training or facing challenges to contact us for assistance. We appreciate the cooperation and proactive engagement of all stakeholders in adopting this new system.
For additional information or assistance, please feel free to contact the ASYCUDA National Project Manager Ms. Joline Spesungel at (680) 488-1985/6031.