Moving to Spain

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required

  • Original of passport
  • Original of DNI (for Spaniards) or NIE (residence permit for foreigners)
  • Detailed inventory, valued and signed in Spanish
  • Original certificate of change of residence (“Baja Consular”) issued by the Spanish Consulate at origin
  • Spanish resident card / work permit
  • Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
  • “Alta de Empadronamiento” issued by the local authorities of the place of residence in Spain
  • Application form for duty-free importation
  • Diplomatic Franchise (Diplomats)
  • Original certificate of change of residence issued by the Spanish Consulate at origin for Spanish Nationals
  • Original certificate of change of residence issued by correspondent Consulate at origin for foreign citizens from a third country
  • Official paperwork proving residency in country of departure for at least the last 12 consecutive months: Employer letter, registration certificates from any public administration in origin, rental bills, etc for foreign citizens moving from their country of origin

 

Specific Information

  • Household goods are duty free if meeting the following conditions:
    • Goods are owned and used by the owner of the goods for a minimum of 6 months
    • The shipment is imported into Spain within 12 months after owner of the goods arrival
    • The owner of the goods must have lived abroad for a minimum of 1 year
  • If a Spanish Residence permit is not available, a Bank Guarantee between 40% and 60% of the total value declared in the inventory and the presentation of the Work Permit will be required for Customs clearance.
  • The Bank Guarantee will be returned when regularization is completed within 6 months upon presentation of the permit.
  • Owner of the goods must be registered at the National Tax Office / Revenue Service; if the owner of the goods has not obtained a Residence Permit, the owner of the goods’ employer, company or a person already registered at National Tax Office must represent the owner of the goods at Customs clearance.
  • Owner of the goods must obtain Diplomatic Franchise from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which takes approximately 2-3 weeks.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

  • Original vehicle purchase invoice
  • Original documents of the car (e.g., certificate of title and registration, insurance, etc.)
  • The car must be built to fit EU standards.
  • Technical details sheet of the imported vehical
    • Official information gathered online from the concrete brand, model, and year must be provided if there is no such document in the country of departure
  • If the model of the car is not sold in the EU, owner of the goods must obtain from the manufacturer a document stating to what EU model his car matches.

 

Specific Information

  • Vehicle must have been used by owner of the goods for a minimum of 6 months.

Pets

Documents Required

  • Vaccination record
  • International health certificate

 

Specific Information

  • Pets must be identifiable through microchip or a tattoo.
  • Muzzles are required for dogs in some areas of Spain; check with agent for specific locations.
  • Pets subject to examination by a Customs veterinarian.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

  • Fur coats may undergo Customs examination.
  • There are no limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco imported from countries in the European Union; however, Customs is more likely to investigate if bringing more than the quantities indicated:
    • Cigarettes (800), cigarillos (400 or 3 g each), cigars (200), smoking tobacco (1 kg)
    • Spirits over 22% (10 L), spirits under 22% (20 L), Wine (90 L but no more than 60 L of sparkling wine), beer (110 L)
  • The following items may qualify for imported by persons 18 years and older within the limits indicated:
    • Cigarettes (200), cigarillos (100), cigars (50), smoking tobacco (250 g)
    • Alcohol exceeding 22% volume or un-denatured ethyl alcohol 80% volume and over (1 L), alcohol not exceeding 22% volume (2 L), still wine (4 L), beer (16 L)

Prohibited Items

  • Firearms and ammunition (permit is required)
  • Antiques (permit is required)
  • Liquor and alcohol (small quantities)
  • Pictures, sculptures, Persian carpets and other art items
  • Protected species and products made from them per the Washington Convention  (CITES), such as ivory, tortoise shells, coral, reptile skins, etc.

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