Basic information
Outline of the system
Licences for the importation and extraction of satellite global positioning systems (GPS).
Product coverage
Satellite global positioning systems (GPS) used for geodesic and hydrographic purposes and other similar activities.
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Non-Automatic
If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
Licensing does not restrict either the quantity or the value of imports. Its purposes are described in the fourth and fifth paragraphs of Decree No. 269 of 9 March 2000 on space radio communications services.
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
Not applicable. Imports of GPS equipment are not subject to any restrictions in terms of quantity or value.
The system applies to products originating from which country?
This procedure applies to goods from any country in the world.
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
Decree No. 269, mentioned above, and Resolution No. 90 of the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) of 13 February 2001 implementing Decree No. 269. Licensing is mandatory, except for natural persons who import the products for personal use, e.g. clocks and watches, pagers, and outdoor orientation devices, in which case the goods must be declared at customs upon arrival in the country. Licences are required for high-precision equipment imported for use in geodesic and hydrographic activities requiring the determination of precise coordinates.
Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subject to licensing to administrative discretion?
Changes cannot be made to the current system without parliamentary approval.
Is it possible for the government to abolish the system without legislative approval?
Eligibility of applicants
Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?
What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?
Legal persons are eligible to apply for an import licence. In the case of natural persons, the justification given for importing the technology is analysed on a case by case basis.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
National Office of Hydrography and Geodesy
Address
Telephone
(+53) 7212-2319; 7212-0926
Fax
Website
Contact officer
Director: Jorge Martín Ruiz
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
Applications must be addressed to the Director of the ONHG and must contain the following information:
- date;
- name of requesting entity;
- body to which it belongs;
- address of requesting entity;
- resolution establishing the requesting entity;
- corporate purpose of the requesting entity;
- person responsible for importation (natural person accountable to the entity requesting the licence);
- geographical area in which the equipment will be used;
- technical tactical data concerning the equipment (including photos, wherever possible);
- importing entity;
- applicant details (name, surname and position) and signature.
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
When the equipment is not used in activities to determine high-precision coordinates.
Three months before importation.
Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain
There are no limitations of this sort.
Issuing the license
Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
Yes, wherever possible. In cases where it is known in advance that the licence will not be used within the set time, it is recommended that a request for its renewal be made to the ONHG.
Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence
In cases where imports have been effected and have arrived in port owing to inadvertency, the matter is examined on a case-by-case basis, every effort being made to ensure that the economic implications for the importer are kept to a minimum.
Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?
Licence applications are processed solely by the ONHG, which, if necessary, consults the MININT, the MINFAR and other central government agencies (OACE) before issuing or refusing the import licence.
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
Licence applications are processed solely by the ONHG, which, if necessary, consults the MININT, the MINFAR and other central government agencies (OACE) before issuing or refusing the import licence.
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
There are no other conditions.
Fees and other administrative charges
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
Import licences are free of charge.
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
No deposit or advance payment requirement is associated with the issue of licences.
Amount or rate?
Is it refundable?
What is the period of retention?
What is the purpose of this requirement?
Refusal of an application
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
Licence applications may be refused if the GPS equipment involved is to be used to measure coordinates in areas for which the recipients of the equipment do not have authorization. Applications may also be refused if they have been submitted by an importer whose corporate purpose does not justify the use of GPS technology.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
In all cases, applicants are notified of the reasons for the refusal. Decree No. 269 and Resolution No. 90 do not provide for a right of appeal.
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
In all cases, applicants are notified of the reasons for the refusal. Decree No. 269 and Resolution No. 90 do not provide for a right of appeal.
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Importation
Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?
There are no limitations of this sort.
What documents are required upon actual importation?
The import licence, signed by the Director of the ONHG.
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
No other administrative procedures are required prior to importation.
Conditions of licensing
What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?
Licences are valid for 90 calendar days and may be extended by submitting a new application to the ONHG explaining the reasons why the importation did not take place in the period approved under the first licence issued.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
There is no penalty for non-utilization.
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
They are not transferable.
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
Not applicable.
Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange?
Not applicable.
Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued?
Not applicable.
What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?
Not applicable.