Moving to Italy – with a plan for customs, transport and apartment handover

The information above comes from the Italian Consulate General and is aimed at Italian citizens returning for good. If you are moving to Italy without Italian citizenship, the rules are set by the customs agency Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). Here is an overview of the key points.

Which rules apply to you therefore depends on your nationality. For couples holding different passports, it is worth clarifying with the responsible customs office before the move in whose name the household goods will be declared and which documents are required.

Requirements according to the ADM

According to the ADM, the duty exemption applies to personal property declared for import within 12 months of establishing your normal residence in the EU. The ADM form Mod. F-01 B lists further conditions: at least 12 consecutive months of residence outside the EU, ownership of the goods for at least 6 months before giving up the foreign residence, and the same use in Italy.

For 12 months the goods may not be lent, pledged, rented out or transferred without notifying customs. If you want to sell individual pieces of furniture soon after the move, it is better not to import them at all – or to clarify this with the ADM beforehand.

Household goods before residence: import with a deposit

Mod. F-01 B is the «con garanzia» variant: household goods can be imported before residence in Italy has been established, against payment of a deposit. The deposit is forfeited if you do not submit the substitute declaration for the certificate of residence to the ADM within 6 months of import. According to the form, the change of residence to Italy must also take place within 6 months.

For your planning this means there should not be too much time between moving day and registration with the Italian municipality. If the flat is not yet ready, your household goods stay in our furniture storage in Switzerland until then.

Excluded goods and proofs

According to Mod. F-01 B, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, means of transport of a commercial nature and professional equipment are excluded. Household provisions are covered within the limits of normal family needs. As proof of your previous residence, the form lists, among others, these documents:

• Tenancy agreement at your previous address in Switzerland.
• Confirmation from your foreign employer.
• Entry in the AIRE register (registry of Italians resident abroad) or a consular certificate.
• List of the masserizie, i.e. the household goods you are bringing.

You do not usually hand in the tenancy agreement when you return the flat in Switzerland, but the landlord's confirmation of termination may only arrive later. Put copies of all documents in a folder that travels with you and does not disappear into the removal van.

On the Swiss side, the BAZG (Federal Office for Customs and Border Security) requires the export to be declared during opening hours at a customs office handling commercial goods. For a vehicle that was not yet registered in Switzerland, form 13.20A must be submitted on departure.

The information from the ADM is authoritative; check the current form and your individual case with the responsible customs office in advance. For moves to neighbouring countries see Removals to Austria and Removals to France.

Frequently asked questions

Who packs crockery, pictures and books when moving to Italy?
Our team, if you wish. We wrap plates, glasses and picture frames in protective material, put books in small, sturdy boxes and label every box with its destination room in Italy. At your new home we unpack again too, and we bring all the materials with us.

How does furniture get into flats in Italian old towns with narrow staircases?
We clarify the access, stairwell and carrying route during the survey based on your details about the new address. If a wardrobe does not fit through the stairwell, our carpenters dismantle it, or a furniture lift raises it via the balcony or window. We protect the stairwell and floors with blankets and covers throughout.

How do household goods get to the island when moving to Sicily?
In the removal van on the ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina, as the route to Palermo requires. For this we secure the load with particular care and allow enough time for the crossing in the quote. If the flat in Sicily is not yet ready, everything stays in our storage for the time being.

Where are household goods cleared through customs on the way from Zurich to Milan or Como?
Twice: on export at a Swiss customs office handling commercial goods and on import into Italy. Because the Swiss office only clears goods during opening hours, we time the departure so the van gets there in time. We handle the complete customs clearance on both sides for you.

What should I watch out for if my new flat in Rome or Turin is in a ZTL?
Whether the removal van is allowed to enter this restricted traffic zone at all. We check during planning whether your address is inside the ZTL, and our city pages summarise the rules of each city. That way it is clear before departure day which permit is needed and where the van can stop.

When is my Swiss flat inspected if I am already in Italy?
On the date you agree with the property management, even if you have already moved. With our final cleaning with handover guarantee, the cleaning team is present at the handover and fixes any defects immediately at no extra charge. Whether you attend yourself or send a representative is something you arrange with the landlord.

What gives me certainty about the final price of my move to Italy?
A cost ceiling or a fixed price, which we set after the free on-site survey. That way you know the maximum amount for packing, transport and assembly before the van heads south. Additional services such as cleaning the Swiss flat are listed separately in the quote.

Why is it worth decluttering before moving to Italy?
Because every cubic metre less saves load space and therefore money. Furniture and household items that are not going to Italy we take away while still in Switzerland and dispose of properly. That way only what you really need travels abroad, and your household list stays manageable.

What documents do dogs and cats need for a move to Italy?
According to the BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office), a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the pet passport; for EU countries, national rules of the destination country may also apply. Your pet travels with you in the car, not in the removal van, and the documents belong within easy reach in your hand luggage.