Okay so this is a strange but serious problem, and defiantly mostly my fault.
I am arriving a PhD student moving from Scotland to Zurich on Sunday. Since I am moving I need to go through customs with my two bags of personal effects. Now here is the issue: I have just discovered that I need to go through commercial customs (as I am moving) and it is shut on Sundays.
So from what I can work out I have 2 possible solutions, though I am not sure if each are possible.
I spend the night in baggage reclaim, my flight arrives at 11pm so this isn't terrible. I leave my bag uncollected in baggage reclaim, and return in the morning to collect them. I have never really travelled out of the EU before (pre Brexit) so don't really understand customs or airports. I also can't find anyone to call for help as I am now outside of office hours.
Do you have anything to declare in those 2 bags of personal effects? A vast collection of sequentially numbered 50 pound bills, an art piece not taken by The British Museum only due to an unfortunate accident or a set of genuine Royal Family jewels?
As far as I am aware (may be incorrectly, but was never proven wrong on that), if you would be able to cross a border with the same possessions as a tourist and declare nothing, then there is no reason to apply for the Transfer of domicile and file a Form 18.44.
So I don't have much to declare, only a few items of clothes brought in the past 6 months (about 400CHF worth).
I think I do have to file a Form 18.44 though it might be something I could get away with not doing. Its all very unclear and neither the customs office or ETH could give me a straight answer. Since I will be shipping two boxes of stuff in a few months (including my bike) I want to make sure it all goes right so I don't have to pay duty on any of that.
Since the customer service team at customs are only open during the week I can't check this with them.
The 18.44 form states: Household effects can only be cleared at certain time; clearance takes place on working days during the hours fixed for the clearance of merchandise.
I defiantly had no intention on lying, or really smuggling. My concern is that there will be no-one in the red lane. It's not like a road crossing where they could send me back until they are open again, as I would then be stuck in the airport.
Welcome to Switzerland, and thank you for wanting to do things the right way. It's all going to be okay. I've just had a phonecall with a super helpful officer of the customs at Zurich airport, Herr Brunner, +41 58 469 00 01.
He explained to me that the seemingly shorter opening hours are the office hours, but that the customs officials, on the other hand, man the airport till around midnight, but in any case until all the passengers of the last flight of the day have arrived.
This is what he said you must do. Fill out Form 18.44. for the importation of your household goods. Make two lists: one of the goods you are transporting with you, and the other of the goods that you will be having shipped/posted/brought over later. Make copies of the list and forms for yourself. When you arrive, take all your baggage and go through the red lane of customs exit (= "items to declare"). It is very likely, he said, that someone will be standing there. If not, do not just walk through (as this is the wrong thing to do, and also because it might cause you problems when your second lot of goods arrives). Instead, you should specifically ask the ground staff to ensure that you can see a customs official, and one will be called right away, to attend to you. Hand in those three documents (1 form, 2 lists), and keep your copy. You may need that copy, later, when your second lot of goods arrive, if you are then required (by a customs official, or by the shipping company) to show that you have already reported these goods as part of what you're bringing with you.
Please be aware that some special kinds of items, such as plants or weapons, have special rules the rules about animals are very strict and must be followed correctly (there are other threads about importing animals) used goods that are older than 6 months are no problem, and tax-free, while items newer than 6 months may attract import duty.
OP, it occurred to me that, when you arrive, your form might or might not be stamped or receipted in some way. I don't know what the correct procedure is. If not, then I recommend that you ask whether this can please be done in some way, for proof in case you're later asked to prove your declaration, when your shipping arrives.
If the officer then says that that's not necessary (and I'm confident that he/she will know ) just write on your copy of the form, then and there, (have that pen in easy reach!) in front of the officer, their name (very likely to be visible on a badge, and if not, you can ask) and the date and time you went through customs.
I fully agree and suggest introducing a new level to the EF GUI Ask Doropfiz (sensible specific questions answered in detail) The far side of crazy (existing structure as of now)
The proper advises here on the official procedure are great, but to be honest - for two bags of clothes, I am quite sure no-one cares.
I moved by car through a tourist customs with the car full of stuff to the roof. The agent asked what was that about - I replied that I was moving. They asked if all the stuff was 6 months old, I said yes - and they just waived me through
Right, but getting the 18.44 stamped might be a good idea nevertheless.
If the OP is using movers to relocate the rest of the household effects, they will need a copy with the transport. And it will be needed even if, like I did many years back, the OP hires a van and goes picks the stuff up themselves.
To be fair, there are [still] many people on the forum who provide helpful and detailed (or, better still, succinct) answers to questions, and who guide posters to work out what the right question is, and who add useful info within the general cloud related to the questions.
I have moved to Switzerland a couple of times and never declared the stuff in my bags (flying) or van (driving). If you have something major to import like a dog or car or whole household sent by container - yes. But a couple of suitcases of clothes, who declares that??
So an update on how it went. After passing through passport control and collecting my baggage I went to customs. The customs officer was clearly not expert at these forms but also not unaware, so worked out where I needed to sign and took a copy of my documents to be sent to the office. He showed zero interest in my less than 6 month old goods (mainly T-shirts and socks), but took a copy of my list with the form.
I still don't quite know how the shipping will go, but otherwise it went very smoothly and very quick.
I am moving next month and I can't believe I should be filing forms and lists of t-shirt, underwear and trousers I am bringing with me.
I'd understand if I am moving with a van or shipping dozens of boxes, but I am bringing the same items that a tourist could have in their luggage, and they would not be required to declare anything at the custom.
I respect OP concerns about adhering to all the terms and conditions, but it seems to be a bit overzealous and I am sure that 90% of the people moving with clothes, a laptop and a few personal items, have never declared anything when they arrived.