Shipping and Declaring Personal Belongings

Shipping and declaring personal belongings

When shipping personal belongings across the border, customs limits apply. Up to a certain value a parcel goes without payments, and above it with duty and VAT. Let us break down the rules for postal shipments and personal belongings when relocating.

What counts as personal belongings

Personal belongings are items for one’s own use, not for sale: clothes, shoes, books, household appliances in a reasonable quantity. If the goods are of the same kind and in a large quantity, customs may treat them as a commercial consignment.

Limit for postal shipments

For international postal and express shipments a duty-free limit applies — the value of goods up to 150 euros per shipment. Within these limits a parcel is cleared without paying duty and VAT.

What if the value is above the limit

If the value exceeds the limit, import duty and VAT are charged on the amount of the excess. Confirmation of the value may be required — an invoice or receipt. The calculation procedure is similar to ordinary customs payments.

Personal belongings when relocating

When moving to a permanent place of residence, personal belongings may be imported with an exemption from payments if the conditions are met: the items were in use, are intended for personal life and are imported in a reasonable quantity. Documents on the change of residence and an inventory are required.

Restrictions and prohibitions

Regardless of value, there are goods that cannot be shipped or only with a permit: weapons, medicines above the norm, perishable products, cultural valuables. The list depends on the category of the goods.

Documents

To clear a parcel above the limit, usually required: a document confirming the value (invoice/receipt), a description of the contents and the recipient’s details. When relocating — documents on the change of residence.

How to clear a parcel above the limit

  1. Prepare the documents
    Invoice/receipt and a description of the contents.
  2. Determine the excess amount
    Value minus the duty-free limit.
  3. Pay the charges
    Duty and VAT on the excess amount.
  4. Receive the shipment
    After clearance and payment.

Commercial consignments — separately

If goods are imported for sale or business, these are no longer personal belongings but a commercial consignment: a full customs declaration, a UKT ZED code and a full calculation of payments are required. Such supplies for legal entities and sole traders are handled by a customs broker.

Frequently asked questions

Commercial cargo with Trans-Hope

Trans-Hope works with commercial cargo for legal entities and sole traders. If you are importing goods for business rather than personal belongings, send the cargo description and we will select a delivery and customs clearance scheme.