Customs Clearance for Movers: Avoid Storage Fees at Destination

Moving to another country is much more than packing up your house, ordering shipping boxes, and getting them transported. When all of your items arrive at the other end, they will be reviewed by the customs authority in the new country before being released. A simple error in your paperwork could result in the customs clearance process for your household goods taking longer than expected, and may lead to unbudgeted expenses related to storing the items at the port.

When families move internationally, they often focus on how much it will cost to get there. However, many times families do not take into consideration that the new country has its own rules and regulations regarding customs. As a result, when their belongings arrive in the new country, they may find themselves paying more than expected.

In many cases, if planned properly, most of the unnecessary delays that occur during a relocation (such as delays in clearing items through customs) can be avoided. Whether you are moving your home from the United States to Europe; moving to the United Kingdom; or relocating your household goods internationally, understanding the different types of customs forms, how ports operate, and the length of time your items can be stored for free will help keep your moving expenses at a reasonable level.

This article from Movers BS describes how international moving customs clearance operates, why storage charges are incurred, and how to minimize unnecessary costs.

What Is Customs Clearance for International Movers?

The process of International Move Customs Clearance involves the examination of shipment declaration forms and accompanying documents by Customs Officials to assess if there are any duties or taxes associated with your shipment and whether or not to allow the delivery of your household goods.

Unlike ordinary domestic relocations, moving internationally has to comply with both border regulations and imports.

When a person is relocating to another country (e.g. from New York to Germany), they will have to comply with the customs regulations of that foreign country prior to being able to receive their household items. Likewise, when a family moves from California to France, they may have to provide evidence that their possessions qualify for an exemption from French customs charges through the process of demonstrating that the move was for the purpose of transferring residency.

The process generally involves:

• Submitting the household goods inventory and shipping documents.
• Confirming the importer’s identity and residence status.
• Checking goods against customs restrictions.
• Assessing eligibility for duty and tax exemptions.
• Completing any inspection and payment requirements.
• Obtaining customs release before final delivery.

Additionally, destination ports and shipping companies may impose separate handling and container charges. Therefore, customs approval does not automatically eliminate all destination shipping expenses. Get details on International Packers & Movers in Toronto.

Why Do Storage Fees Occur During Customs Clearance?

Storage costs usually result from having your personal items left at a port, terminal, warehouse, or container facility after the allowed amount of “free” time has elapsed.

The amount of time that a ship owner will provide for “free” depends upon the carrier, where the ship is going, the contract that exists between the two parties, and how the containers are set up on board.

Several situations commonly cause delays.

1. Missing or Incorrect Customs Documents

The incomplete packing inventory, inconsistent shipping information or missing residence documents will delay the custom authorities’ ability to process your shipment.

As a result, goods may be left on site until the importing company makes corrections.

2. Delays in Customs Inspection

Customs officials may select imported personal belongings for examination. Some of these examinations will require more time than others depending upon what is contained in the imported items. For example, if there are prohibited or unusual items in the shipment, it could take much longer to inspect the contents.

While inspections are commonplace in international trade, poor planning could slow down the inspection process.

3. Unclear Import Eligibility

Many countries provide customs relief for used personal property, if a person changes their primary place of living.

These exemptions require specific documentation. If you do not have the proper documentation, the authority might ask for more documents or charge you duty and/or tax.

4. Late Delivery Arrangements

After the shipment is released by customs, there must be a valid shipping address for the importer, an available means of transportation, and a set time frame for when the shipment will arrive. Delays in booking trucks or accessing the property will result in extra charges for container-related services.

Port Storage vs Demurrage vs Detention: What’s the Difference?

These terms are often used in the same context, however; they are descriptive of two distinct types of services and potential costs.

Importantly, some carriers combine charges or include terminal storage within demurrage. Therefore, customers should check their actual shipping contract rather than assume each fee applies separately. Looking for a Shipping Household Dubai and Toronto. 

How Much Can Customs Delays Cost International Movers?

Destination storage fees depend on the port, shipping company, container size, number of delayed days, and agreed free-time terms.

The following table demonstrates how charges can accumulate. These figures are hypothetical examples for budgeting, not published port tariffs.

A family wants to ship a 20-foot container from the U.S. to Europe. Due to some problems with the paperwork, it took 6 billing days for them to store their goods at a hypothetical price of $100 per day. The total price for the family would be $600.

In addition to the above mentioned costs there could also be additional costs incurred due to terminal operations (handling), inspection of goods, changes made to the truck driver schedules or having containers stored for an extended period of time (detention).

Important: Your actual charges can be based on a daily increasing tariff schedule instead of a single fixed price. You must obtain from the destination their current free-time conditions, final free day, and relevant tariffs before your shipment arrives.

Essential Documents for Household Goods Customs Clearance

Preparing the correct documents before shipping is one of the most effective ways to avoid customs clearance delays.

Although requirements differ between countries, international movers commonly request the following information.

Some countries may also require proof of employment, rental agreements, your entry records or other documentation.

For instance, in the United States, Customs and Border Protection provides a form (Form 3299) that allows individuals to ship their household goods from one location to another, even if the individual isn’t present during the shipping process, as long as the goods are owned by the individual. Additionally, each European country has its own procedure for moving an individual’s primary residence.

How to Avoid Customs Clearance Delays When Moving Overseas

The most effective method of avoiding excessive cost is to prepare for Customs before the product leaves the location from which it was shipped.

Prepare an Accurate Household Goods Inventory

Start by creating a detailed list of belongings.

For each box, do more than write “Household Items.” Identify what is inside each box clearly.

For example:

Carton 1: Used kitchen utensils and dinnerware.

Carton 2: Personal clothing and footwear.

Carton 3: Books and household decorations.

Carton 4: Computer accessories and personal electronics.

In addition, find out if you have any valuable electronics, antiques or other items which require a separate declaration.

Customs agents are better able to assess your shipment and quickly answer questions about it, when you provide accurate descriptions. Get details on Moving from USA to Greece.

Check Import Restrictions Before Packing

Every destination maintains rules governing restricted or prohibited goods. The import of certain types of food, plants, drugs, chemicals, or other animal based products will need to have been pre-approved before being brought into the country; others are prohibited from being imported by individuals.

Thus, if you place an order with restricted products but fail to submit the proper documentation for each product, you run the risk of having your package opened for inspection, experiencing delays when attempting to pick up your package, and/or having one or more of your products removed from your order.

Before you start packing, make sure to check with your international mover to see exactly what items can be shipped to your new home.

Submit Customs Documents Before Arrival

A practical strategy for providing the destination clearance team with your paperwork is to do so as soon as you have it. If permitted by local procedure, the agent may submit documentation prior to arrival of the vessel.

Using this method allows for identification of needed information prior to the urgency of storing the information. The advance preparation of documents does not ensure that your shipment will be released from customs instantly, nor does it mean that there is no chance that it may be inspected.

Confirm the Free Storage Period

Never assume that every port provides the same number of free days. Instead, ask for a written document stating the applicable “free time” and “last free date” for your specific shipment.

Additionally, you will need to find out if both weekend days and national holidays are included in the number of chargeable days.

Arrange Delivery Before Customs Release

If at all possible, arrange for delivery of goods when your boat is in motion. Confirm the readiness of your destination property, understand any access restrictions to that property, and ensure your transportation provider is aware of when you plan to arrive.

As a result, the moving team will be able to plan the collection of your belongings in a much more efficient manner, as soon as the customs department clears the shipment.

USA to Europe Customs Clearance: What Movers Should Know

Customs exemptions may have a major effect on the total cost of relocation when people move their household goods from the U.S.A. to Europe.

EU member states typically make a distinction between the importation of second hand personal belongings as a result of a bona fide relocation of residence and the importation of standard commercial goods.

Customs Relief for Moving from the USA to Germany, France or Other EU Countries

Under the applicable transfer-of-residence provisions, certain qualifying individuals are allowed to bring in their eligible, used household goods duty-free and tax-free.

Common requirements for qualifying as an expat are to have resided outside of the European Union for a minimum of one year (12 months) prior to relocating, and to have both owned and utilized the goods being brought into the country for a minimum of six months prior to moving. In addition to these requirements there may be limitations on when you can ship your belongings and possibly additional restrictions as well.

However, each European Union (EU) state has different documentation and administrative processes. Therefore, people who are moving should refer to the customs guidelines for their individual destination state instead of assuming that the process of importing goods into any EU state will be the same.

Customs Clearance for Moving to the UK

The UK operates a separate Transfer of Residence relief process.

Therefore, any person who is moving from the United States of America to either London, Manchester, or Birmingham will need to find out if they are eligible for the UK Customs Procedures and fill out all of the necessary documentation prior to their items arriving in the UK.

If you do not obtain the necessary relief and/or provide supporting documentation for your imports, it will be more difficult to process those imports. Looking for a Best Apartment Movers in Toronto.

Shipping Household Goods to Switzerland

Switzerland’s customs requirements are different from those of the European Union, which does not use the same customs system.

As a result, when moving from the United States to Zurich, Geneva, or Basel, families will need to check with their clearance agent about what type of household goods declaration they must fill out, as well as the residency verification requirements for each location.

FCL vs LCL Shipping: Which Creates More Storage Risk?

Choosing between Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) can affect how your belongings move through the destination terminal.

Neither method guarantees faster customs clearance.

However, FCL customers should pay particular attention to container return deadlines. Meanwhile, LCL customers should confirm warehouse free-time limits and destination consolidation charges.

A Practical Customs Clearance Timeline for International Movers

The following schedule illustrates a sensible preparation plan. It is not a guaranteed customs or port processing timeline.

Because international shipping schedules can change, remain in contact with your moving coordinator throughout the process.

Moreover, retain digital copies of your documents so you can answer urgent customs enquiries without searching through packed belongings. Get details on Moving from USA to Germany.

What Should You Do If Your Household Shipment Gets Stuck at Customs?

Even organised international moves occasionally experience delays. When Customs holds a shipment, find out exactly why it was held prior to making any moves.

The first step is to contact either the customs agent at your final destination, or your moving coordinator. You should ask if they know what the problem is with your shipment (e.g., whether it has been held due to missing paperwork, un-paid fees, inspections, etc.).

Then ask for the date the vessel arrives, how long you have until your free time expires, and an estimate of the current charges. The next step is to provide updated documentation as soon as possible and keep a written record of all communications.

If you are facing the possibility of being charged for storage, you can inquire about options that would allow you to avoid additional expenses. An example of such an option is making arrangements for your items to be moved to another location (such as a different storage facility) which will allow you to avoid paying for the initial service.

However, such agreements include the costs of handling, customs requirements and potential transportation charges. Thus, prior to making any modifications to the agreement, evaluate the total cost.

Related Services :

» Moving from USA to Portugal

» Best Commercial Movers in Toronto

» Best Residential Moving Services

» Best Local Movers in Toronto

» Moving from USA to Sweden

How Movers BS Helps Customers Plan International Customs Clearance

Moving overseas is much simpler when you pay close attention to your shipping plans and destination country’s custom requirements.

Movers BS assists clients with planning international residential moves with a focus on organized packing, proper documentation for shipment, and coordinating destination processes based on the agreed-upon services.

As families relocate from the United States to Europe (including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland, etc.) they will need to understand the customs regulations of each country.

A successful move takes into account many factors in addition to the cost of ocean freight. Some of these other factors include: what documentation is required, when the shipment will arrive at its final destination, who is responsible for customs clearance, what additional expenses may be incurred at the final destination, and how the shipment will be delivered.

Thus, customers need to ask for an itemized moving quote which lists what will be done (services) and what may not be included (exclusions).

The use of early planning and dependable communication will enable international moving companies to minimize avoidable delays and manage their clients’ relocation costs more effectively.

Related Articles:

» Moving Berlin to London: Packing Rules + Customs Clearance Steps

» Moving to Canada: International Moving & Customs Guide

» Moving from Paris to New York: Customs Clearance Made Simple

» Moving Paris to Montréal: Customs Paperwork + Transit Tips

» Moving New York to London: shipping options + customs steps

Conclusion: Avoid Unexpected Customs Storage Fees

International movers rely heavily on the custom clearance process when moving a client’s household items to another country.

The potential for high storage costs exists when documents are lost, some products cannot be imported due to restrictions, the rules regarding custom duties are not clear, or deliveries are delayed.

However, most administrative issues will be much easier to deal with if you plan ahead, check the destination requirements for each shipment and stay on top of the shipment deadline.

When you move from the United States to Europe, or if you plan to do any type of international move, you need to include customs preparation as a step in your overall moving plan.

Are you considering an international move? Contact Movers BS regarding your options for moving your household goods internationally, the customs documents you need to complete, and how we can help coordinate the delivery of your items once you arrive at your new location.