Gold Allowance for Travellers to Nigeria (2026)
Nigeria lets each arriving passenger bring in goods worth up to US$300, including new gold jewellery, free of customs duties and taxes; this de minimis threshold has applied since 8 September 2025 and is limited to four importations a year. Above US$300 the goods are dutiable as merchandise in baggage, and Nigeria Customs publishes no separate gold allowance or traveller rate for jewellery. Cash and negotiable instruments over US$10,000 must be declared to Nigeria Customs on arrival and departure; gold is not part of that declaration, but buying, holding or exporting raw gold and gold bars needs permits under the Minerals and Mining Act.
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Amounts are in US dollars. Nigeria publishes no traveller duty rate for gold, so this page cannot estimate the duty; Customs assesses it on the value of the goods. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Gold Allowance in Nigeria
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Any arriving passenger | US$300 of goods free of duty and taxes | Nigeria's de minimis threshold, approved by the Nigeria Customs Service Board and in force since 8 September 2025. Limited to four importations a year; goods must not be prohibited or restricted. It replaced the old N50,000 personal-effects limit. |
| Goods worth more than US$300 | Dutiable | Treated as merchandise in baggage and charged duty and taxes under the normal tariff. Customs values goods from your receipts or, without them, from current prices. |
| Jewellery you already own | No published rule | Nigeria Customs does not publish a specific rule for personal jewellery. Wear it, keep receipts and declare it if asked. |
| Raw gold and gold bars | No traveller allowance | Possessing, buying and exporting minerals, including gold, needs permits under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007. Exports need a Mineral Export Permit, issued to mineral title holders for each shipment. |
| Cash | Declare over US$10,000 | Cash and bearer negotiable instruments above US$10,000 or its equivalent, on arrival and departure. Gold is not covered. |
The US$300 allowance
Since 8 September 2025, Nigeria's official de minimis threshold has been US$300. The Nigeria Customs Service Board said goods valued at US$300 or less are exempt from import duties and taxes, and that passenger goods in baggage not exceeding the same value are also exempt. The threshold is limited to four importations a year and does not cover prohibited or restricted goods. It replaced the old rule, under which personal effects worth more than N50,000 were treated as merchandise in baggage and charged duty.
The threshold covers new gold jewellery like any other goods. Nigeria Customs does not publish a gold-specific allowance or a traveller rate for jewellery: anything above US$300 is assessed under the normal tariff, with VAT. Keep your receipts, because Customs values goods without them from current prices.
Declaring cash and gold in Nigeria
Under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, anyone carrying more than US$10,000 or its equivalent in cash or negotiable instruments must declare it to Nigeria Customs, both entering and leaving. Carrying more is not illegal, but undeclared cash is seized and can lead to prosecution and forfeiture. Customs introduced an electronic currency declaration form in 2025, and the aviation regulator has told airlines to hand out the forms and announce the rule on inbound flights.
The cash declaration covers currency and bearer negotiable instruments only; gold is not part of it. Declare gold jewellery and other goods worth more than US$300 to Customs as goods.
Taking gold out of Nigeria
Nigeria publishes no limit on jewellery you own and wear when you leave. Raw gold and gold bars are different. The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 says no one may possess or buy minerals without a mineral title or a permit, and minerals are exported under a Mineral Export Permit issued to title holders for each shipment. Since 2023 the government has also pursued a policy of stopping exports of unprocessed minerals, including gold. Airport gold smuggling is a recurring enforcement target: in June 2026 the EFCC arrested an aviation security officer at Kano airport over 22.2 kg of unprocessed gold bars allegedly handed to passengers flying abroad.
Nigeria to Dubai, the UK and the US
Nigeria's main gold routes run to the Gulf, the UK and North America. Gold you buy in Dubai counts towards your US$300 allowance when you return to Nigeria. Taking raw gold or bars from Nigeria to the UAE without an export permit is illegal. If you are flying to the UK, United States or Canada, check that country's allowance and declaration rules before you buy, and keep the invoice showing the weight, karat and price.
Practical tips
Carry receipts for new jewellery, keep it in your hand baggage, and declare anything above US$300 rather than risk seizure. Do not carry gold for other people. Nigeria Customs does not publish detailed passenger guidance on gold, so check with the Service before you travel with valuable gold.
Gold price in Nigeria today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | ₦167,534 / gram | ₦1,675,338 / 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | ₦153,615 / gram | ₦1,536,145 / 10 g |
| 18K (750) | ₦125,776 / gram | ₦1,257,761 / 10 g |
Bringing Gold to Nigeria: FAQ
How much is 10 grams of 22K gold worth in Nigeria today?
About ₦1,536,145 at the international price converted to NGN (Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
How much gold jewellery can I bring into Nigeria duty-free?
New goods, including jewellery, worth up to US$300 in total are free of duty and taxes under Nigeria's de minimis threshold, up to four times a year. Above that, Customs charges duty and VAT under the normal tariff.
Do I need to declare gold under Nigeria's US$10,000 rule?
No. The US$10,000 declaration covers cash and negotiable instruments. Gold is declared to Customs as goods if it is worth more than your allowance.
Can I take gold out of Nigeria?
Nigeria sets no published limit on jewellery you own. Raw gold and gold bars need permits under the Minerals and Mining Act, and exports need a Mineral Export Permit; carrying them out without one is smuggling.
What happened to the N50,000 limit?
It was replaced on 8 September 2025, when the Nigeria Customs Service Board's US$300 de minimis threshold took effect for low-value imports and passenger baggage.
What is the duty on gold jewellery in Nigeria?
Nigeria Customs does not publish a traveller rate for gold jewellery. Goods above US$300 are assessed under the normal customs tariff, with VAT.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: Federal Ministry of Information: Customs Board approves US$300 de minimis threshold (Sept 2025) · Vanguard: Customs exempts goods worth $300 and below, including passenger baggage (Sept 2025) · Gazette NGR: Customs electronic currency declaration form and US$10,000 rule (2025) · Nairametrics: NCAA orders airlines to enforce US$10,000 declaration rule (July 2025) · Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 · DLA Piper Africa: Mining in Nigeria, Mineral Export Permit (2026) · BusinessDay: EFCC busts gold smuggling ring at Kano airport (June 2026). Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in Nigeria · gold price by weight.