I'm moving to Switzerland with all my stuff. Just wondering, how much detail do the Swiss customs want to see on the list of household items? Is "Box with clothes" sufficient, or do they need to know exactly how many shirts/pants/shoes etc is there? I don't want my boxes to get stuck at the customs, but listing ALL the items doesn't seem to be really practical.
Does anyone have an example, just to get an idea of what it should look like? Thanks!
Just be more detailed on the interesting stuff, like alcohol, tobacco and firearms.
Example: Box 22 of 47 Kitchen untensils.
You don't need details for small/low values stuffs like regular clothes you mentionned you can identified as 'lot'. I recommend you identify individually high values stuffs like computer, hi-fi, TV...but also collections, high values sport equipment...The goal is to have the ad-hoc level of details to prove a thing was part of your move if you get checked by customs later with for example your imported ski equipment in the car. Alcohols, tabacco...have to be declared separately and are under specific rules.
If you are relocating, all things you bought earlier than 6 months ago are waived of taxes; not if bought within the last 6 months.
R.
"Box with shoes - 15 pairs, used"
"Box with clothes - 10 pants, 10 blouses, 10 dresses"
The quantity was approx., was too lazy to count and nobody checked (Zurich dogano, just in case). However, during my preliminary research also on this forum I read that some people actually counted thoroughly.
Resume: I think it's better to write the number for significant items. Of course, they're not interested in the number of forks and all.
If you declare everything correctly, it may cost you a little more in tax but, you then don`t have to worry.
If being able to beat the Swiss customs is the `underlying` question then try it, but don`t go about bleating if you are caught.
You give me the impression you know what the best choice is.
Jon
Customs are only interested in new items less than 6 months old.
I'm moving to Zurich in a couple of months. Will be shipping some boxes and will take some more stuff along with me.
I've read about form 18.44 but I am not sure if I should take it with me or ship it along with the boxes.
I believe shipped boxes will enter Switzerland before I do. Should there be two separate 18.44 forms? Any other form that I am missing?
Thanks,
cla
The 18.44 needs to be with the goods - otherwise you cannot finalise the customs clearance and your boxes will be stuck for the moment (or you get to pay for the import declaration twice!).
Ideal would be, to send the 18.44 back to you, once the first shipment has been cleared and you can cross with the remaining goods and the original 18.44 at the border of your choice.
However, I think boxes will enter Switzerland before I arrive, but will not be delivered.
That is, they will be stored by the courier until the delivery date (when I will be in my new home). So, there are no chances that I can get the 18.44 back from the courier...
Unless you miss anything substantial, e.g. the residence permit, copy of your work or rental contract, they will be able to clear it when the goods arrive. Otherwise they will do a temporary clearance - in which case you will have time enough to provide the missing documentation afterwards, but probably at the cost of a second clearance charge.
Assume to box are shipped with all the required paperwork (form 18.44, job contract, rental contract), they are cleared at customs and then stocked somewhere by the courier (in his warehouse) waiting for the delivery date.
After a few days I get on a plane and take two suitcases full of personal belongings with me.
Can I use another 18.44 form?
Thanks,
cla
Of course, if you only have a few days in between, it won't be possible, or the courier charge will almost overshadow the cost for the temporary customs clearance.
But regarding the 18.44 - you only should have one of those, to be used for all imports on your move. Maybe they can deposit the 18.44 with the customs office where you enter Switzerland?
I assume many people have gone through this... hopefully I get some answers :-)
I assume many people have gone through this... hopefully I get some answers :-)
I called customs officers and they told me it is not possible to enter Switzerland with some boxes AND send some more boxes via courier at the same time.
The reason is that there cannot be two forms 18.44 at the same time.
The correct procedure is to enter Switzerland, have your form 18.44 stamped/signed and LATER send a copy of the form to the courier so that the boxes they are carrying can clear customs. In other words, the boxes you are sending via courier must be shipped sometime after your arrival date :-(
Thought it might be of interest for some people in my same situation...
When moving, I ask the customs in Switzerland and in Germany. The Email response from Germany was a whopping 22 A4-pages with an 150 page attachment.
The response from Switzerland customs where two sentences, about 20-25 words.
We moved to Switzerland....