International removals

International removals are the most complex removal services. Large distances and legal requirements make international removals a special service. Obviously, Poland’s entering the European Union simplified the procedures and documents in case of removal to another Member State, as no customs clearance is required with regard to transported goods.
Nevertheless, only experienced companies can provide international removals. When you decide for us, you choose professionals.
Abra Removals provide door-to-door services to any destination in Europe.
We offer consulting on planning the removal, if needed provide documentation necessary in international flow of goods, pack the goods according to international transport requirements, disassemble and assemble furniture if necessary. Upon request, we also provide crates for special protection according to client’s requirements. We also offer storing client’s possessions in our storage, if necessary.
If you are interested in a specific destination, check our standard offer for the destinations in Europe we cover.

In the countries where customs clearance is required, we offer assistance with the formalities.

Documents

The documents required for entrance of other country’s territory and confirmation of grounds for exemption from customs duty:

1. Certificate confirming residence abroad with permission of the residence country government,
2. Itinerary of carried goods, listed by amount as well as value,
3. Documents confirming settling within given customs territory:

• ID card (dowód osobisty) for Polish citizens,
• residence card issued by appropriate administrative body for non-Polish citizens,
• information about place of residence,
• all EU countries, except Ireland, Sweden and Great Britain, require that animals entering their territories have a PET PASSPORT and are identifiable with a microchip or a tattoo. Pets older than 3 months also have to have a valid certificate of rabies vaccination. Such certificate is valid for 1 year.

4. Certificate of an appropriate administrative body allowing for export foods of high historical or artistic value. Originals of the documents must be filed to the customs office together with customs declaration.

Resettlement Property

The property of persons either arriving into a country for permanent residence or returning to a country from a temporary stay is called resettlement property and is exempted from customs duty.

Exemption from customs duty is granted to a person who:
1. arrives to the Polish customs territory for permanent residence,
2. returns from temporary stay abroad.
Exemptions from the customs duty are applied to personal property (goods used by the owner directly or in his/her household, provided that their quantity or type do not indicate commercial or business purposes.

To qualify for customs duty exemption the following conditions must be met:
1. Goods must be used by the entitled person in the previous place of residence abroad, provided that private transportation vehicles must be used at least 6 months before concluding the stay, unless the previous residence country law limits the opportunity to register private vehicles or introduces construction or technical conditions significantly different from those applied in Poland,
2. Goods will be used in Poland for the same purposes that they have been used abroad,
3. The person resided outside Polish customs territory with the permission of the residence country authorities for at least 12 months prior to the date of residence change,
4. At least 36 months have passed since filing the latest customs declaration exempting the goods from duty.

The following quantity limits are applied to the personal goods exempt from duty:
1. Jewellery and ornaments made of gold, platinium, precious stones, real pearls; not exceeding 200g in total,
2. Jewellery and ornaments made of silver; not exceeding 4 kg in total,
3. Electronic devices of common use; one of every type of device,
4. White goods and small kitchen appliances; one of every type,
5. Musical instruments; two pieces,
6. . Portable equipment necessary to practice a profession; one of every type,
7. Passenger car; one,
8. Caravan - one,
9. Motorcycle - one,
10. Recreational boat, with and without engine; one of each type,
11. Snowmobile and personal water craft; one of each type,
12. Airplane, helicopter and glider; one of each type,
13. Hang-glider and power hang-glider; one of each type.

Exemption from duty is applied under the condition that the exempted goods are not sold or transferred to another person for 12 months beginning from the date of applying the market authorisation procedure. Any sale, lease, lending for use, reselling, free of charge transfer of the goods or transfer of property right is a breach of this condition. Transfer of property right or transfer of the goods requires written notification to the customs office prior to the transaction and results in customs debt. The amount of the customs debt in such case will be calculated according to the condition of the good, its customs value and rate of duty applied on the date of transfer of the good.

Exemption from duty is also applied to personal goods of a person, who resided abroad for the period shorter than 12 months, however not shorter that 6 months, provided that the owner proves that he or she had no impact on shortening his or her stay. There is a possibility of exempting from duty personal property filed for market authorisation prior to concluding residence abroad of the owner, when the owner granted the exemption commits to move into Poland before 6 months from the date of filing such commitment and submits security equal to proper customs duties and taxes.

Goods exempted from duties by Art. 1904 of the Polish Customs Code, discussed in the above information, are also exempted from VAT and excise taxes. Such exemptions from customs duties are not applied to alcoholic beverages, tobacco and tobacco products, and vehicles used for business purposes.

Temporary Customs Clearance

Temporary customs clearance procedure with complete exemption from customs duties may be applied to household and professional appliances brought by a traveller arriving for temporary residence for a period not shorter than 6 months related to employment, education, scientific work, business within a legally registered company or medical treatment.

Such goods may be covered by temporary customs clearance procedure provided that the traveller files together with the customs declaration the following:
1. A certificate issued by the entity in which the traveller will work, perform scientific work, study or be treated,
2. A list of goods that will be brought for temporary stay.
Applying the temporary clearance procedure depends on obtaining a permit from the customs office. It also requires submitting security for possibly due customs duty.