Moving to Austria – relocation goods, form ZBefr and your move from a single source

The basic requirements of the Austrian Ministry of Finance – use, residence, deadlines and form ZBefr 2 – are already set out above. Here are three points that in practice decide effort and cost: which goods count as removal goods at all, how a car is treated and what applies if your household goods arrive before your residence in Austria.

Used goods only: what is included and what is not

According to the BMF (Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance), only used goods for personal use are duty-free as removal goods. These include household effects with personal belongings, linen, furniture and appliances, bicycles, motorcycles and cars, household supplies as well as pets and riding animals. Excluded are alcoholic products, tobacco and tobacco products, commercial vehicles and items used for business.

Newly bought furniture still in its original packaging therefore does not fit the scheme. If you are planning larger purchases shortly before the move, it is best to raise this with the customs office before the goods are loaded. On the inventory list, clear details help to keep used items and new goods apart. Household supplies are covered, but alcohol in the storage cellar is not.

A car as removal goods: ZBefr 2a and NoVA

For a motor vehicle, according to the BMF the duty exemption must be applied for at the customs office with form ZBefr 2a before the planned import. Separately from customs, the Normverbrauchsabgabe (NoVA, Austria's fuel consumption tax) is due on registration in Austria – according to the federal Unternehmensserviceportal, this also applies to relocations. The amount depends on the vehicle's fuel consumption and value.

The application should therefore be timed before the moving date, and the NoVA should be in the budget for your fresh start. The vehicle registration document, purchase contract and any leasing papers belong in the same folder as the application. On the Swiss side the vehicle is declared separately for export, as described in the section above.

Household goods before residence: a security deposit instead of waiting

The BMF describes a special case for relocations: removal goods can be declared duty-free before your residence in Austria is established if you undertake to establish your normal residence in the EU within six months. In these cases a security is required, which can be reclaimed after the change of residence.

This affects, for example, households whose lease in Austria starts after they move out in Switzerland. If you do not want to provide a security, you can leave your household goods in our furniture storage in Switzerland until you move in.

Short checklist before departure

• Mark new goods and items in original packaging on the inventory list.
• Submit ZBefr 2a for the car to the customs office in good time before the move.
• Budget for NoVA for registration in Austria.
• For import before residence: clarify the security and deadline with the customs office.
• Declare the export in Switzerland during the opening hours of a customs office for commercial goods (BAZG).

The information from the Austrian customs office is binding; check your case there in advance. We discuss the inventory list and the procedure on moving day during the free on-site survey. Neighbouring countries have their own rules: for a move to Liechtenstein the customs treaty with Switzerland applies, for a move to Hungary the requirements of the NAV.

Frequently asked questions

Who handles customs clearance of household goods when moving to Austria?
We do, on both sides: export at Swiss customs (BAZG) and import into Austria. You give us the details of your household goods and new items, and we prepare the declarations. Only the application for a car you are bringing do you submit yourself to the customs office before import.

How are household goods protected on the long drive to Tyrol or Vienna?
Furniture gets blankets and protective material, glass, mirrors and screens get their own padding, and everything in the vehicle is secured against slipping. It is best to wrap crockery individually in paper and stand plates on edge. The transport is insured, and at the destination our carpenters assemble the furniture.

How does a move to nearby Vorarlberg work when the distance is short?
Short does not mean without customs: Vorarlberg also requires the inventory list and declaration to both customs authorities. We build clearance firmly into the day's schedule so that there is enough time for unloading and furniture assembly after arrival. We protect floors and stairwell at the new address just as we do in Switzerland.

Where does the removal van park outside a new flat in Salzburg or Vienna?
Directly outside the building if possible. Ask your property management early whether a space on the street needs to be reserved for moving day and who applies for it. We discuss access, carrying route and lift at the destination during the survey using your photos, so that the vehicle and team are planned to fit.

When do pet papers for a dog or cat need to be ready for Austria?
Before departure, because according to the BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office) a dog, cat or ferret entering the EU needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport. A first vaccination must be given in good time before crossing the border; ask your vet early. The papers belong in your own car.

What if a wardrobe or sofa will not fit through the stairwell of my new house in Tyrol?
Then our carpenters dismantle the piece while still in Switzerland and reassemble it at the destination. If an item cannot be dismantled, we lift it through the window or over the balcony with the furniture lift. For this, measure the stairs, doors and lift at the new address and send us the dimensions.

Why is end-of-tenancy cleaning worth it if I already live in Austria?
Because our cleaning team cleans the Swiss flat and attends the handover inspection with the property management. It fixes any complaints immediately and free of charge, so there is no return trip for re-cleaning. Whether you come to the handover yourself or send an authorised person, you agree with the property management.