Moving to Spain – household goods duty-free with an inventory list, transported safely

The conditions the Agencia Tributaria (Spanish tax agency) sets for exempting household removal goods are described above. This section adds how the exemption is claimed in practice, what applies to vehicles and where the limits lie for alcohol and tobacco.

No advance application: exemption directly in the import declaration

According to the Agencia Tributaria, no separate application is needed in advance. The exemption is claimed in the import declaration itself: box 37.2 contains the codes C01 for the customs duty exemption, 101 for the exemption from value added tax (IVA) and 303 for the Canary Islands tax IGIC. The goods must be declared within 12 months of establishing residence in the customs territory of the Union.

Spain distinguishes between exemption from customs duty and exemption from tax. For your move, this means the inventory list must work for both checks, so it has to be complete, with values and purchase dates. A carefully kept list makes clearance easier, and queries can be answered faster when every item is assigned to a box.

Cars, caravans and boats

The Agencia Tributaria explicitly lists bicycles and mopeds, cars with trailers, caravans, leisure boats and private light aircraft as private means of transport. For the VAT exemption on cars, trailers and caravans, the authority sets a period of 12 months instead of the usual 6 months – check in advance from when it runs in your case.

To import a vehicle with this exemption, the Agencia Tributaria requires three documents, among others:

• your registration in the residents' register (padrón) of the new municipality, with the date,
• proof of at least 12 consecutive months of residence outside the EU before the move,
• the document identifying you as the owner of the vehicle.

Registration in the padrón therefore comes before customs clearance of the car. If you drive ahead in your own car and have your household goods follow later, plan for this order. On the Swiss side, the vehicle is declared separately for export, as described above.

Alcohol and tobacco do not belong in your removal goods

According to the Agencia Tributaria, alcoholic products and tobacco are excluded from the exemption. The well-known duty-free allowances for travellers – such as 200 cigarettes or 1 litre of spirits – are a separate rule for travellers from non-EU countries and are not part of the removal exemption.

If you want to take individual bottles with you, list them separately and clarify the duties in advance. Larger quantities are better left in Switzerland.

Export from Switzerland and the Canary Islands

The BAZG (Swiss customs) requires the export to be declared during opening hours at a customs office for commercial goods. Import is governed by the rules of the destination country; if you are moving to the Canary Islands, also take note of the IGIC, which applies there instead of IVA.

The information from the Agencia Tributaria is authoritative; it is best to check details with Spanish customs in advance. If your route goes through France, you will also find guidance on the page removals to France; further destinations under international removals.

Frequently asked questions

Who hands over my Swiss flat if I am already living in Spain?
Our cleaning team, if you book the end-of-tenancy cleaning with a handover guarantee. The team attends the handover appointment, goes through the flat with the landlord or property management and fixes any complaints immediately and free of charge. It is best to check in advance whether the property management requires a power of attorney for the key handover.

How do dogs or cats travel when moving to Spain?
With you in your own car, not in the removal truck. According to the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, dogs and cats travelling to EU countries need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport. Also check Spain's national regulations and keep the papers to hand for the entire journey.

How do you protect furniture and crockery on the long drive to Málaga?
With blankets and protective material for every piece of furniture, separate padding for glass, mirrors and screens, and tension straps in the cargo area. It is best to wrap crockery individually in paper and stand plates on their edge. Every box carries its number from the inventory list, so at the destination it is immediately clear what goes where.

Where does the removal truck stop for a flat in the Casco Histórico of Zaragoza?
We clarify that for your exact address before departure, because the historic centre is designated a low-emission zone. Send us photos of the street, entrance and stairwell. From these we plan the stopping point, carrying route and team size; furniture that does not fit through narrow staircases is dismantled by our carpenters or lifted with the furniture lift.

When should I book my move to Spain with you?
As soon as your departure date is fixed, because the inventory list, export declaration and transport need a firm date. Booking early leaves enough time for the site visit, packing and agreeing the arrival day. You receive the quote itself within 24 hours of the free site visit.

What do I need to consider when moving a piano to Spain?
The instrument goes on the inventory list with an estimated value, and we secure it especially well for the long drive. During the site visit, we measure the stairs and doors at the Swiss address and assess the situation in Spain based on your information. We list the effort separately in the quote.

Which items should not go in the removal truck to Spain?
Anything you need immediately on the way or for the authorities: passports, tenancy agreement, vehicle papers, bank documents, medicines, jewellery and keys. These items travel with you. A laptop with important data also belongs in your hand luggage. We transport the rest of your household goods insured and secured to the new address.

What should I look out for when moving from Switzerland to the Balearic Islands?
Early, precise scheduling, because the crossing to the island comes on top of the long road journey. We therefore set the route and arrival day individually. Pack especially carefully and number the boxes to match the inventory list; if your flat in Mallorca or Ibiza is not free yet, we store the furniture in Switzerland for the time being.