Moving to Hong Kong

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

  • Copy of passport (identification pages only)
  • Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
  • Detailed inventory
  • Owner of the goods’ full contact details in Hong Kong (address, telephone, fax number, email address, etc.)

Specific Information

  • All household goods and personal effects can be imported free of duty.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

  • Original vehicle documentation
  • Original purchase invoice
  • Insurance certificate
  • Certificate of registration (must show boat dimensions)
  • Import declaration

Specific Information

  • Certificate of registration must be submitted to Marine Department for application of import permit within 24 hours from arrival of effects.
  • Left-hand drive cars cannot be imported.
  • All vehicles are subject to strict regulatory inspections and high first registration taxes.
  • Taxes are set to discourage the personal import of vehicles; it is highly recommended that an estimate of costs before shipping a vehicle, be obtained.
  • First registration fee is based on value, as follows:
    • Private Cars:
      • From value HK $0 to 150,000    : 40%
      • On the next HK $150,000          : 75%
      • On the next HK $200,000          : 100%
      • On the remainder                      : 115%
    • Motorbikes:
      • 35% of value
  • All vehicles must comply with the exhaust and noise emissions standard.
  • Approval / exemption from the Environmental Protection Department before shipping vehicles into Hong Kong are advised.
  • Vehicles must satisfy local standards.
  • It is difficult to obtain insurance for vehicles older than 10 years. 

Pets

Documents Required

  • Import permit
  • Health certificate from origin country

Specific Information

  • Quarantine is not required for dogs imported directly from the United Kingdom.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

  • Plants and plant products (special license is required)
  • Weapons and ammunition (special license issued by the Hong Kong Police Department is required)
  • Alcohol (detailed list showing quantity and CIF value is required):
    • Duty is payable on the CIF value depending on the liquor and the alcohol strength:
      • Liquor with 30% alcohol by volume or less is duty free.
      • Liquor with more than 30% alcohol by volume measured at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius is charged 100% duties.
      • Liquor other than wine with less than 30% alcohol by volume measured at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius is duty free
      • Wine is duty free.
    • Tobacco (passengers age 18 and older may bring the following limited quantities duty free):
      • Cigarettes (10)
      • Cigars (1 or 25 grams)
      • Other manufactured tobacco (25 grams)

Prohibited Items

  • Illegal drugs
  • Firearms, explosives and ammunition (permission required)
  • Knives and deadly weapons
  • Controlled chemicals
  • Pets and animals (permission required)
  • Meat and poultry
  • Rough diamonds
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Pornographic material

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Cultural and Other Information