Customs Clearance for Moving to Switzerland (Form 18.44)

When you transfer your residence to Switzerland, your removal goods can enter free of customs duty and VAT, provided you have used them personally for at least six months before importing them and continue to do so in Switzerland. Customs clearance of removal goods is declared using form 18.44 from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), together with a detailed inventory and a few supporting documents. This guide explains the conditions, the documents and the steps, so that you arrive at the border with a complete file.

What the duty-free allowance covers for removal goods

Removal goods are the items you have used personally in your previous country of residence and are taking with you to settle in Switzerland: furniture, crockery, clothing, books, household appliances, decorative items, leisure equipment. The allowance is aimed at people who genuinely change residence, not at purchases made with importation in mind.

Two conditions always apply:

• At least six months of prior use. The goods must have been for your personal use for at least six months before entering Switzerland. A piece of furniture bought last week does not meet this criterion.
• Continued use in Switzerland. The goods must continue to serve your personal use once you are there. They must not be intended for resale.

The transfer of residence must also be genuine. You must be able to prove it, which brings us to the documents to prepare.

Documents to gather before reaching customs

The file consists of just a few items. Preparing them before you leave avoids holding up the lorry at the customs office.

1. Form 18.44 from the FOCBS, completed and signed. Download it from the official FOCBS website to get the current version.
2. A detailed inventory of all the items being imported.
3. A valid piece of identification.
4. Proof of the transfer of residence: tenancy agreement, employment contract or residence permit, depending on your situation.

If you are unsure which supporting document suits your case best, ask the FOCBS before the move rather than on the day.

Drawing up the inventory step by step

The inventory takes the most time, and it is the document the customs office reads closely. The more precise it is, the faster the inspection goes.

1. Go room by room. Start with the kitchen, then the living room, the bedrooms, the cellar. That way nothing gets left out.
2. Describe each item or batch clearly: type of item, quantity and, where necessary, brand or distinguishing feature. “Miscellaneous” or “kitchen boxes” is not enough.
3. Number the boxes and record that number in the inventory, so you can find what is in each one.
4. Set aside anything that is not an ordinary removal item: new items, recently bought goods, goods intended for sale. They follow other rules.
5. Keep a copy of the inventory, on paper and in digital form, in your vehicle or with you.

An international mover knows this procedure and can prepare the inventory with you, which is valuable when you are moving from abroad with a large volume. If you have your belongings packed, packing and unpacking by professionals makes it possible to number and list the boxes as you go.

Going through the customs office

Clearance takes place at a customs office, during its opening hours for goods traffic. These hours are not those of the border itself: a crossing point may be open to travellers and closed to goods. So check with the FOCBS before you leave to choose the office and the time slot.

On the day:

• present form 18.44, the inventory, your identification and the proof of transfer of residence;
• keep the boxes accessible, as customs may inspect the load;
• keep the stamped documents, which prove the import was lawful.

If your new home is not yet available when you arrive, you can arrange storage while you wait for the keys, without postponing customs clearance: plan the sequence in advance with the carrier.

Vehicles, weapons, plants, animals: special cases

Not everything is cleared in the same way.

• Vehicles can count as removal goods if they have been used for at least six months. They must then be registered in Switzerland, which is a separate procedure with the cantonal authorities.
• Weapons are subject to restrictions and specific rules.
• Foodstuffs in quantity are not treated as ordinary furniture. A wine cellar or large stocks require prior checking.
• Plants are subject to their own rules.
• Animals are subject to specific entry conditions, to be checked well before the moving date.

For each of these items, do not count on the removal goods allowance: check with the FOCBS or the relevant authority before loading the item onto the lorry.

In French-speaking Switzerland: what changes depending on where you are

Customs clearance depends on federal law and the FOCBS, so it follows the same principles throughout French-speaking Switzerland. What varies is the surrounding context.

• Municipal and cantonal formalities. On arrival, you must report your move to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants) of your new commune, within the period set by the canton. In many communes, this can be done online via eMoving (eUmzugCH). Deadlines and procedures should be checked with the commune or canton.
• The border. Geneva, Jura and other areas bordering France are common entry points, with customs offices that have their own opening hours for goods. If you are coming from the other side of the border, our guide to moving from France to Geneva covers this route in detail. For the whole relocation project, see the guide to relocating to French-speaking Switzerland as an expatriate.
• City or mountains. In Geneva, access to the property, parking the lorry and any permits to occupy the public highway call for forward planning. In a Jura commune such as Porrentruy, the route from the border and access to the property are not the same. In mountain areas, roads and access can lengthen the delivery.

To occupy the public highway with a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip, prior authorisation from the commune or the police may be required. Check with the commune a few days or weeks beforehand.

Doing it yourself or getting help

A private individual can perfectly well handle a simple customs clearance alone: a few boxes in a van, a careful inventory, documents in order and a visit to a customs office that is open. It takes method, a little time and genuine preparation of the inventory.

Once the volume grows, the journey is long, or you need to coordinate transport, customs and delivery to a home, professional movers are often the sensible choice. An international mover knows the procedure and can prepare the inventory, which eases the load on the day of crossing. If that applies to you, requesting a quote is simple: you describe your move, the request is passed on to removal companies in the region, and each draws up a free, no-obligation quote. For a project from abroad, the page on international moving explains what these professionals can take on.

Frequently asked questions