Intlmove's Tips on Customs Information

The greatest benefit if using an international moving company is that you have access to tools that will help you determine the volume of your shipment, help you to decide if you want to pack yourself or have the shipment packed for you, what kind of insurance coverage is available, what to expect throughout the process and to help you find out if you have to pay duties and taxes on your shipment in your new destination country. We will concentrate on Customs Information in this article.

The service of a customs clearance agent to handle / facilitate the paperwork for normal customs clearance is included in the door to door service. If you want door to port service, you will need to provide your own customs clearance agent.

The documents, duties or taxes that you may be required to produce / pay vary depending on your status for entering the country. Are you a returning citizen, a retiree, a student, looking for work, already obtained a work visa, etc? As you can see each situation is individual and unique. It is your responsibility to have the proper documentation available. For example if you are a returning citizen, will your country require you to prove that you were living outside in another country for a specified amount of time (the requirement could be 6 months, 2 years or other)? What kind of proof will they require? You will need to have that documentation available to send to the customs clearance agent. The regulations are subject to change without notice. Your international moving company cannot tell you the specific requirements for how you are entering the country for your shipment, but they can direct you on how and where to get this information.

You must contact the consulate or embassy for the latest updates in regulations or requirements. You can also visit our website (given below), “customs information”, under the flag use the scroll down arrow next to the box “select a country”. This will open to the government Customs page for your destination country. If you are not able to find the information you are looking for, there is always an option to “contact us” meaning you can email the Customs personnel for your destination country to ask questions specific to your needs.

The government Customs site for your destination country will also provide information about what constitutes used or new household goods. Some countries consider goods new unless they are at least 6 months or older, but each country is different. If you want to bring in firearms (if you can at all) you will more than likely need to obtain special permits and or licenses. Products made from materials such as animals bones or ivory could be confiscated. Obviously you wouldn’t ship fresh meat, plants or any living thing in a container, but some countries will not allow dried grasses, seeds, animal hides or pelts to be brought into their country. Learn what items are banned and / or restricted and what items can be brought in but may be taxed. If you want to ship your car; did you know that some countries will only allow you to bring in your vehicle if you are a diplomat? Some countries restrict the age of the vehicle (over 5 years old is a very common restriction). The emissions requirements, the tires, etc may have different requirements in your destination country than what you are used to in the USA. Are you prepared to pay taxes and or covert your vehicle to meet their codes and rules? Most countries prohibit the sale of any household goods for a period of up to two years after importing. There can be extreme variations which are affected by religious and political cultures that may involve watching every movie or examining every book page by page that you bring into the country.

A shipment may be stopped at Customs even if you have followed all of the rules and provided all of the correct paperwork. Customs operations are entirely outside of your international moving company's control. Think of it like the TSA at the airport. When you are flying, before boarding your plane, the TSA will sometimes set up spot checking of carry on baggage. If you are selected for this, you will comply. If Customs wants to inspect a shipment for whatever reason, you will comply. If your goods are held up by customs, remember to keep calm and cooperate. If you have done your homework, this will only be a temporary delay. It might; however, be a good idea to set aside an emergency fund for unexpected duties or similar expenses.

Over the years, the restrictions of what can and cannot be brought into a country have grown and are subject to change without notice. It is essential to check the guidelines for your destination country and make sure you are up to date so that your shipment can travel, unhindered, to your new home. When it comes to Customs regulations, do not assume or guess – KNOW!