Removal goods - removal goods
What exactly are removal goods? If you want to emigrate to Switzerland, you should know which items are considered household effects - especially with regard to customs and import regulations. If you inform yourself in good time and have the necessary documents ready when you enter the country, you will save time, money and unnecessary effort when emigrating to Switzerland.
Stress-free relocation - Emigration Switzerland
If you are bringing furniture, clothing and electronic devices with you when you move to Switzerland, it is important to prepare for the move. You must present a list of all the items you are bringing with you to customs. We will explain how to do this and what you may need to declare in a personal consultation.
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The removal goods - Emigration Switzerland
What exactly are removal goods? Removal goods are your personal belongings that you wish to import into Switzerland, e.g. furniture, clothes, electronic devices, car, jewellery, etc.
It is an advantage to draw up an inventory list for your household goods when preparing for the move. On this list, you list all the items that you want to import into Switzerland as removal goods. Later, you can simply present the list to customs to have the removal goods recognised. Incidentally, you do not need to observe any special formalities when making the inventory list; a list on paper or an Excel list is sufficient.
Please also note that your removal goods must be declared during the opening hours of the customs office for commercial goods.
Incidentally, it does not matter whether you import the removal goods into Switzerland yourself or whether a haulage company imports the goods itself. The following items fall under the definition of removal goods and are therefore relevant for Swiss customs:
- Furniture
- Electronic devices: TV, microwave, tablet, etc.
- Pets
- Bicycles
- Car
- etc.
The list is not exhaustive. You realise that pretty much everything in your possession counts as removal goods.
Once you have arrived at customs, you must fill out an application form. The inventory list is a great help at this point at the latest. You list all the goods you are moving and confirm that you are the legal owner of these goods.
TipEmigrating to Switzerland - If you want to save time when entering the country, you can optionally have your removal goods declared to customs in advance. This is usually done by a forwarding agent who will bring your goods to the customs inspection centre in advance, whereupon you will receive a confirmation from the inspection centre. This makes the whole process easier for you, as you can now enter Switzerland more quickly with this confirmation.
But of course you can also import your removal goods yourself without prior registration. In this article, we simply want to show you the various options so that your entry into the country is a pleasant experience for you.
With the necessary knowledge, you can also overcome this hurdle and import your removal goods without any problems. It is important that you adhere to all guidelines and observe the necessary regulations. Then you won't experience any surprises at customs.
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Below you will find some of the most frequently asked questions and our answers.
Do the removal goods have to be transported all at once?
If you do not use a haulage company for your removal goods, it is possible that a one-off, private transport will not be sufficient to bring all of your removal goods to Switzerland. This is not a problem at all. You can take your personal belongings with you duty-free for up to two years after the day of your move, provided they were already in your possession for at least six months before your first arrival.
What about the car as removal goods?
Emigrating to Switzerland: Your car 🚗 must also be declared at customs when entering the country. We explain how to import your car into Switzerland here: Import car
Can I take pets with me to Switzerland? 🐶
Do you have a dog or cat? Then these must also be included on the inventory list of household effects. Pets can be imported free of charge.
The small checklist for your removal goods
When we go on holiday, we always ask ourselves what things we should take with us so that our suitcase doesn't overflow. Of course, moving to Switzerland is about much more than a stay of several weeks. But even when emigrating to Switzerland, it can be worth taking a critical look at what you want to take with you. After all, emigrating can be the perfect opportunity for you to part with some furniture, furnishings and gadgets. You can either get rid of them completely or buy new ones in Switzerland.
Below you will find our short checklist for your belongings that you might prefer to leave behind in Germany:
Old sofas and furniture
Naturally, you have developed a certain nostalgia for your own sofa. You probably associate it with all the great series marathons or exciting football matches. But transporting large and bulky pieces of furniture can make moving complicated and, above all, expensive. So if your furniture is getting on in years, it may make more sense to sell or donate it and buy new furniture in Switzerland. There is a wide range of furniture dealers in Switzerland and you should have no problem finding something that suits your budget and style. There are also various online platforms in Switzerland for used items of all kinds, which are very popular and many products are offered at bargain prices. The surcharge for delivery including assembly is also often manageable.
Television
TVs are a bulky and delicate item to move. The chance of the screen being damaged is not insignificant. In addition, technical equipment is often cheaper in Switzerland and TVs have fallen in price in recent years. Is your TV getting on in years? If you can afford it and want to, sell your old TV and treat yourself to a new one for your new life in Switzerland. You can also upgrade your living experience at the same time.
Electrical appliances
Please note: The plugs and voltages in Switzerland differ from those in Germany. It may therefore be an option for you to buy new electrical appliances such as kitchen utensils in this country instead of using adapters or converting them.
It's not easy to part with cherished possessions. But at the same time, it can be liberating to get rid of ballast before you emigrate to Switzerland. Either way, we at Deine3a are here to help you emigrate stress-free and worry-free.
10 tips for emigrating to Switzerland - How to do it right!
- Customs form 18.44Obligation for duty-free import of removal goods.
- Meet deadlineMoved goods must be imported within 12 months of the change of residence.
- Create inventory listList of all items carried, e.g. clothes, kitchen utensils, electronics, etc.
- Customs inspection possibleAll items must be able to be presented.
- Car as removal goods? Vehicle can be imported tax-free if owned for 6 months.
- Register petsVaccinations & microchip required for dogs and cats.
- Plan furniture transportChoose a haulage company with experience in moving to Switzerland.
- Check special authorisationsWeapons, plants and alcohol are subject to special rules.
- Swiss power plugGet an adapter for German devices.
- De-register and register your residence: Complete German deregistration & Swiss registration on time.
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Our advisory team and office staff specialise in emigrants from Germany and Austria, and we help people emigrate to Switzerland every day. If you would also like to emigrate to Switzerland, please get in touch using the contact form and get to know our team in Zurich - we look forward to hearing from you! 🤗
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You want to emigrate to Switzerland? We are here for you. Our consultations are free of charge. You can reach us via the contact form or drop by for a coffee in Zurich.
