Customs declaration when leaving Switzerland

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi,

I moved to Geneva from the EU on January 2016. I shipped my stuff with a professional shipment company and had to fill some forms and declare.

Now, after 3 months, I am going to leave Switzerland to a EU country and will rent a van or will pay to an individual (not a professional like UPS, DHL...). I will move the very same stuff that I brought (just a few boxes with clothes; no car, no forniture, no animals...). I was here for less than 1 year and will export all what I imported.

1) What documents should I fill?

2) Do I have to fill them and send them somewhere or just fill them and take them with me on the van the day I move moving in case that I am stopped on the border/customs?

Regards

2

Not sure if I understand your question.

Are you trying to get money that you paid when you came to Switzerland back?

Are you asking if you need to make a declaration to Swiss customs that you are leaving Switzerland and taking your stuff with you?

3
I can ́t help you properly as I moved my stuff through DHL but I did need to declare what was in the boxes before they were released by German Customs. So better have a list ready, also make sure to add that it is all used

4
JagWaugh: No, I did not pay any money and I am not trying to get any money back. I just want to know what forms and documents I will have to fill.

What documents are required to make the declaration to the Swiss customs?ç

Roegner: And how do you declare it? Any specific/official form to fill? Which one(s)?

Thank you

5
As said, I didn ́t transport it myself. I just sent them a list with all the items in the boxes. And nothing (then) had to be declared to Swiss Customs, only to the German side as that was where it was shipped to

Better check the website for the customs authorities of the country you are moving to?

6
In my destination country there are no customs or border controls because is next to another EU country.

My only concern is the Swiss controls and what documents and form they require

7

I've had a look, I can't see anything about exporting personal posessions (it would surprise me if there were any formalities).

Try calling them tomorrow.

8
Swiss control everything! Will try to figure out to avoid "surprises" the day I move

Thank you

9
Swiss zoll aren't interested when you leave, however you will be required to complete a form specific to the country you are moving to and this will need to be presented to the customs authority of the first country you arrive in when leaving Switzerland. You will then be required to present both the goods and paperwork at a customs office in the country you are moving to. Just because there are often no physical border checks doesn't negate you from import controls.

If I can help further, feel free to pm me.

10
I'm just in the process of moving my family back to the UK from CH. Some things went back at Christmas in our car that we took personally. The rest goes tomorrow :-(.

I asked the removal company what forms are needed for the possessions to declare and they've said nothing is needed for leaving CH. They're not interested as they (customs) assume that you've paid any taxes when you brought it in.

For the stuff that went back with me at Christmas, I proactively stopped at the Zoll Office up in Basel and asked if I needed to declare anything and was told "no need", but be prepared to declare anything wherever you next permanently stop. For me, it was the UK. I went by ferry and they didn't bat an eyelid, I was just waved through before passport control.

The shipping company coming tomorrow gave me specific instructions that I should only declare anything bought in the last 12months like TV's, electrical items, jewellery etc., or that was obtained in a tax free area eg spirits in duty free.

I wouldn't worry about getting your stuff out, just think about who/how you declare it all when you get to wherever you go next. Just because there isn't always a clearly identifiable border control, doesn't mean you won't be stopped. Some days you can travel through quite a few countries and see no border official, sometimes they're at every crossing. You can take a risk and do nothing, prepare no paperwork at all. However, you could easily be stopped midway through the journey and be made to verify and justify each and every item you have. I know from personal experience that if you up and don't have a list that matches what you're carrying, you might consider writing off quite some hours whilst they go through each and every box, container, every nut and bolt and generally p1ss you off. And, that easily be before you arrive at your final stop.

11
You don't declare anything to the Swiss when leaving, they don't care.

You will need to declare to the EU, however.

Tom

12
AlexS, I hope you have completed a c3 (HMRC) form along with a detailed packing list to give to the removal company, this is required when importing household goods from outside the EC to the UK. Many companies say it isn't required as they rarely get stopped on entry, however if they do get stopped and say they have come from Switzerland then they will be required to show this. The official way of doing this is to declare upon entry to the first EU member country after leaving Switzerland and then to UK customs on arrival.

13
You don't *need* any specific document when leaving the country, but I suggest you have at least a broad loading list ready, for yourself if nobody else.

- Number of cartons, contents, approximate weight and approximate (estimated) value of the goods.

If required, your transport company can issue an export and/or transit document based on the above. You may also want to insure your goods on the transport based on the same info.

And since you are moving personal effects to your new country of residence, there will be import forms you can already prepare in advance - highly recommended, in order not to waste time, once the goods are at the destination customs station.

Using any company that tells you, that they might be able to slip past customs - I guess you are looking for issues ;-)

Enjoy the move!

14
Yup. All done.

Takes a while to go through everything, but all ok.

15
Thanks for your comments. In my case I am moving to Spain.

- If the Swiss don't say anything and don't need anything when leaving the country

- If the Spaniards don't request anything as you are coming from France (EU)

- Then the only potencial issue would be with the French authorities at the French/Swiss border?

On the shipment day I could take:

- The inventory I filled the day I moved to Geneva in January 2016 and the Swiss custom form 18.44 that I was told to fill by the shipment firm

- The new inventory with the stuff that I will be moving to Spain (same things that I brought to Switzerland; no new goods at all)

- Is there any official form also that I could fill to confirm/declare that I have not bought anything new and that all what I am shipping belongs to me for the last 6 months or more?

Not sure what is this?: https://www.dpd.com/ch_en/home/produ.../international

Customer information: Changes to customs clearance

From 1 January 2016, the Federal Customs Administration in Switzerland will use the UID (Customer Identification Number) for a range of purposes.

To continue to ensure the smooth processing of your shipment, when issuing an import or export customs declaration in Switzerland, the UID No. must be stated as a mandatory field on the commercial or proforma invoices of every taxable entreprise from Switzerland and Liechtenstein (importer, consignee, or exporter).

UID numbers in Switzerland can be searched for or checked at www.uid.admin.ch/SearchIn specified exceptional cases (private and small shipments), the pseudo UID No. CHE222259895 should be given.

The Federal Customs Administration (EZV) has also produced an information sheet, which can be viewed using the following link:

www.ezv.admin.ch

If you have any questions, please contact your DPD customer service representative directly.

16
The problem is you aren't coming from France, you are coming from outside the EU. Spanish customs officials just love dishing out hefty fines, yes lots do get away with just driving in and not declaring, but that is the risk they take, so please be prepared. If you genuinely only have clothes, the chances are you will be okay.

Please take a look at the following, it really isn't as straight forward as you seem to think it is and if you have other personal items other than clothes then I would suggest you consult/hire a customs agent.

http://webportal.atlasintl.com/Customs%20Docs/spain.pdf

17
Scary!

I received budgets for the shipment from different people; I think I will take one of those who looks after the Declaration to make my life easier and avoid any potential problem...

18
I just want to warn you to give all out to a transport Company. From expririence i do know they do make plenty of mistakes what makes huge costs.

In case you drive your goods by your own truck out of Switzerland you can prepare your own proforma-Invoice and packing list. At border crossing you hold.... Moving to one of 100s of Export Broker at Border Crossing in Geneva (drivers moving up and down). They mostly do it the right way and will make for you the T1 or T2 document to Spain, England or what ever too. Than You do drive to England or Spain and you do close the T1 or T2 in England or Spain by Import Broker again.

In case ypu want to give all the shipping companies the best is to give it companies like "peyer umzüge" etc.