Thanks in advance for any answers.
I'm moving to Switzerland this month and I wanted to take with me my small watch collection aboard the plane with me. These are 6 not expensive watches. Does anyone have any experience with how these items are treated by customs officers? I don't plan on selling any of those and would like them to be treated as part of my personal belongings.
Expensive starts at about Chf 20k
Providing they are used you'll have no problem, declare them as personnel goods
Sounds good, thanks for the reply. Do I declare my stuff in advance using some kind of a form or when customs control takes place?
If you move your domicile and household effects you will have to fill in Form 18.44
Do this in advance and list everything you intend or might move within the next 12 months.
For more information please see the website of Swiss Customs in English:
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home...-effects-.html
and specially the FAQ
Initially arriving in Switzerland a few years back, I brought my watch collection as well, maybe 4-5 watches at the time. Combined value of about 2-3,000 francs. Went through the airport check, inspector took a look at my bags and I simply explained these were watches I have already owned for awhile, which they all had some signs of usage. No problem. Went about my day.
Thanks for the information, that answers a lot.
I still don’t have a permit but found a short-term accommodation and I already have a signed a job contract. In general what I want to bring with myself beside the watches are 2 laptops and a Playstation 4. As aSwissInTheUS mentioned - should I fill in form 18.44 and attach list of these items? When and where should I hand the form and the list?
Doh, you can play literally with the book but why? What you intend to bring is literally peanuts here and nobody would care. I was moving back and forth between Switzerland and my home (by airplane): laptops, jewelry, electronics, bicycles... I even moved my car to Switzerland, but that one I declared, then I realized I don't need it and it's too expensive to keep it so I moved it back the next month, the confusion of the Swiss border officers was priceless when I told them that I'm permanently moving the car out of Switzerland but I didn't even register it here They told me at first to throw the import papers to the bin and drive away thinking I've lost my mind
Wear them all and blame Nicolas Hayek for your tick.
Make sure you do not import any fake watches, as this could cost you a huge amount of money in fines.
That seems to go too far but I wouldn't be surprised if that's true. Main question is how would they know if your watch is fake, moreover why to assume that the owner knew the watch is fake?
Anyway, speaking of myself, none of old style non-LCD watches is my thing so I wouldn't have to ever be afraid of that.
EDIT:
My surprise come from the fact that with such trivial things like fake product, no-one will ever forbid you to have one as long as you are not actually selling them. But even if you are going to re-sell a used fake product I would guess it's fine as long as you clearly say it's fake.
Also another interesting fact regarding customs.
Recently at Basleworld a watch journalist blogger friend bought a few of his watches in to show some other colleagues over a few evening drinks.
He was asked at customs why he had these watches and after explaining that he always bought his watches over for Basleworld was hauled off and extensively questioned.
Long and short of it - he was fined 5000 Chfs - in the end he had to pay but his experience has certainly served as a warning regarding that practice that most watch journalists/lovers do
Was he fined for buying a few watches at once instead of one or is it forbidden to have your expensive (?) belongings with you, where they can be seen by others, in Switzerland? I don't understnad
I guess, they should also fine anyone travelling with iPhone, etc. because they are going to "display" it publicly
He was carrying more than 1 watch and failed to voluntarily declare them. He stated that he didn't have "commercial"goods worth more than 300 chfs.
He explained that he was a enthusiast and was bringing them to a watch dinner and was made to write down when he bought them and the cost.
By all accounts they googled the watches to find the value and then was made to pay the fine as VAT due....
Thanks for the helpful tips! I'll prepare an 18.44 document then.
Search for the stories around Urs Schwarzenbach to find out what can happen.
He's a Swiss billionaire, arts collector (with many objects bought abroad and brought into the country) and (among other real estate) owner of five star hotel and resort Dolder Grand in Zürich. Some of his paintings hung in the hotel as one does with paintings. However he appears to have imported them without paying the fees and taxes due. After years of legal battles the definiteve rulings reached so far say he owes some 12mln (with an additional 15mln or so still fought over). He seems to have refused to pay despite the rulings so eventually the customs raided the hotel to seize the paintings as security for what he owes, and probably will sell them forward if he still doesn't pay.
Owning them in Switzerland is illegal. Doesn’t matter if you are planning on selling or declare as fake. Quite rightly so.