Air cargo clearance takes more than two days on average, Customs study reveals

The Maldives Customs Service has released the key findings of the “Maldives Time Release Study 2025,” which measures the time taken to clear goods imported by air.

According to Customs, the study shows that air cargo, including courier shipments, takes an average of two days, nine hours and 17 minutes to complete all stages of the clearance process, from unloading the flight to exiting the airport gate.

The study reviewed the full clearance chain for all categories of air imports, covering the time spent on customs procedures, airport handling and other administrative processes. Customs said the assessment was carried out to identify bottlenecks in the import system and determine what reforms are needed to speed up clearance.

In addition to air cargo, the study also examined the time taken to ship goods abroad by sea. The export clearance process takes an average of 10 days, 10 hours and 14 minutes, measured from the moment a customs declaration is submitted until the vessel departs with the cargo loaded.

????Key findings of the “Maldives Time Release Study 2025”

✈️ ???? From Flight Arrival to Gate Exit:

A typical air cargo import shipment including courier cargo shipments remains at the airport for 2 days, 9 hours and 17 minutes before final clearance and exit. pic.twitter.com/uf2HG677kF

— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) June 14, 2026

According to the study, it takes 15 hours and six minutes from filing the declaration to completing the assessment, followed by 17 hours and 31 minutes for payment. The longest delays occur in the off‑shore request and approval stages, where more than three days pass between payment and approval.

Inspections required by various government agencies take an average of one day, nine hours and 35 minutes. The single longest stage in the entire chain is the final loading and vessel‑departure phase, which alone takes two days, 12 hours and three minutes.

Customs officials said the findings will guide administrative reforms and the expansion of digital systems to reduce clearance times. Authorities expect to introduce measures to accelerate the processing of goods imported by air.