HS Code 9809.00 : Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries
MODULE 2: EXTRACTABLE ANSWER (AEO / SPEAKABLE)
Tariff data verified: July 2026
EN (Official WCO)
FR (Pending)
ES (Pending)
The 6-digit Harmonized System (HS) code for public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries is 9809.00. Under the 2026 Saudi Arabia (ZATCA), the representative MFN general duty rate is coverage in progress [Saudi Customs / ZATCA].
MODULE 3: SIGNATURE A: HS DECODE VISUAL HIERARCHY
Chapter 98
Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries
Heading 9809
Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries
Subheading .00
.00
Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries
MODULE 4: SIGNATURE B: TARIFF MATRIX
Import Duty Rates by Destination
United StatesUnited KingdomEuropean UnionCanadaMexicoChinaJapanIndiaAustraliaSouth KoreaGermanyNetherlandsBrazilTürkiyeChinese TaipeiVietnamThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaSingaporeSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesSouth AfricaEgyptIsraelChileColombiaPeruPhilippinesPakistanNew ZealandNorwayNigeriaKenyaMoroccoArgentinaEcuadorBangladeshUkraineKazakhstanQatarKuwaitOmanJordanBahrainSri LankaTunisiaGhanaCôte d'IvoireGeorgiaCambodiaPanamaCosta RicaDominican Republic
Saudi Arabia (ZATCA / GCC Customs)
9809.00
MODULE 5: SAUDI ARABIA IMPORT DUTY & VAT BREAKDOWN
Notice: Saudi Arabian customs entry, tariff classification, MFN duties, and 15% VAT are governed by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). Always verify declarable lines with ZATCA prior to import.
TRACK THIS HS CODE
Get Real-Time Tariff & Trade Remedy Change Alerts for HS 9809.00
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MODULE 6: Mandatory Customs Entry Document Matrix
Rule-Derived Customs Entry Package Checklist
UNIVERSAL DOCUMENT
Commercial Invoice
Itemized description, currency, Incoterms, seller/buyer details, and country of origin.
UNIVERSAL DOCUMENT
Packing List & Bill of Lading
Gross/net weight, container/seal numbers, piece count, and transport B/L or Air Waybill.
PREFERENTIAL RULE
Certificate of Origin (If Claiming FTA)
Required only when claiming zero-duty preference under USMCA, KORUS, or GSP.
MODULE 7: Regulatory Compliance & Partner Government Agency (PGA) Flags
Standard Entry
This commodity does not carry mandatory PGA pre-clearance flags under the ACE message set.
MODULE 8: SAUDI ARABIA Trade Remedies & Safeguards
ZATCA (Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority) Anti-Dumping / Trade Defence
Standard Saudi Arabia ZATCA Tariff 2026
Steel & Commodity Safeguards
Exempt (Non-Steel Commodity)
Regulatory Compliance Status
Standard Statutory Clearance
MODULE 9: Free Trade Agreements (FTA) & Rules of Origin (RoO)
Browse all preferential trade calculators & compliance tools in our Customs Tools Hub ↗.
| Agreement Code | Trade Agreement / Program | Preferential Rate | Rules of Origin (RoO) Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFN | WCO Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Status | Standard MFN Rate | Applies to all WTO member states for Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries. |
| FTA | Saudi Arabia Preferential & Regional Trade Agreements | Free / Concessional | Subject to official Certificate of Origin & Rules of Origin (RoO) requirements. |
MODULE 10: Logistics, Freight & Transport Specifications
Standard 20ft Container
~28 CBM / 28,000 kg Payload
Standard 40ft High-Cube
~68 CBM / 28,600 kg Payload
Stowage Factor & Handling
Standard commercial packaging for Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries
MODULE 11: ZATCA Advance Customs Ruling
Legally binding classification rulings issued by ZATCA for HS 9809.00.
Query official ZATCA portal:
Search ZATCA Portal for 9809.00 →Saudi Arabia ZATCA Declarable Lines (9809.00)
National line-level (8/10-digit) detail for Saudi Arabia (ZATCA): coverage in progress.
Universal 6-digit WCO backbone applied rate: coverage in progress. Confirm the full national commodity code at the official source (Saudi Customs / ZATCA).
MODULE 12: Candidate Subheadings & Related Codes
| Related HS Code | Heading Category | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 9809.10 | Subheading under Heading 9809 | HS 9809.10 Saudi Arabia Duty & Entry Rules → |
| 9809.20 | Subheading under Heading 9809 | HS 9809.20 Saudi Arabia Duty & Entry Rules → |
| 9809.90 | Subheading under Heading 9809 | HS 9809.90 Saudi Arabia Duty & Entry Rules → |
Official Primary Sources & Authority References
Saudi Customs / ZATCA Trade Portal ↗
Official Saudi Arabia ZATCA MFN tariff schedule, 15% VAT, and GCC rules.
ZATCA Advance Customs Ruling System ↗
ZATCA official binding advance classification rulings database.
MODULE 14: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Operational Guide
What is the 6-digit WCO tariff classification and United States (USITC HTS) general duty for Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries?
Under WCO Harmonized System 2022 and United States (USITC HTS), Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries is classified under HS 9809.00 (Heading 9809, Chapter 98). The representative SA MFN general duty rate is coverage in progress.
How is HS 9809.00 distinguished within Heading 9809 (Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries)?
Heading 9809 covers Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries. Subheading 9809.00 specifically isolates Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries. Importers must verify whether physical characteristics, processing state, or composition require alternative subheadings under Heading 9809.
What are the primary candidate subheadings related to HS 9809.00?
Related subheadings under Heading 9809 include . Classification depends on processing stage, decaffeination, purity, or material form.
What mandatory commercial entry documents are required to import Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries?
Commercial Invoice (detailing Incoterms, currency, and origin), Packing List, Bill of Lading (or Air Waybill), CBP Form 7501 Entry Summary, and a continuous customs bond are required for formal entries.
Can goods under HS 9809.00 enter duty-free under USMCA or Free Trade Agreements?
Yes. Eligible goods originating in Mexico, Canada, South Korea, or Australia enter duty-free under preference SPI codes (P, KR, AU) provided they satisfy Regional Value Content (RVC) or tariff-shift rules with a valid Certificate of Origin.
What is the US formal entry threshold for shipments of Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries?
Commercial shipments of Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries with a customs value exceeding $2,500 USD require formal customs entry (CBP Form 7501) and a continuous entry bond. Informal entry applies to lower values.
How can an importer obtain a binding CBP classification ruling for HS 9809.00?
Importers may submit an e-Ruling request under 19 CFR Part 177 to CBP National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) to obtain a legally binding tariff classification ruling prior to importation.
What import VAT or sales tax applies to HS 9809.00 in Saudi Arabia?
Commercial imports of Public documents, whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media (including exposed and developed motion picture and other films, recorded video tapes and sound recordings) issued essentially at the instance and expense of a foreign government, of a political subdivision of a foreign country or of an international organization the membership of which includes two or more foreign countries under HS 9809.00 into Saudi Arabia are subject to 15% VAT, assessed on the entered customs value plus applicable duties.
What is the customs duty de minimis threshold in Saudi Arabia?
The customs de minimis threshold for import shipments into Saudi Arabia is SAR 1,000 (~$266). Consignments under this value may qualify for duty-free or simplified entry under local regulations.
Which authority regulates customs entry and tariff classification in Saudi Arabia?
Customs declarations, import duty assessments, and ZATCA Advance Customs Ruling System for HS 9809.00 are administered by ZATCA (Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority).
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