International moves require preparation and planning to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations, as they often vary and are subject to change.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to the Czech Republic, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs. Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to the Czech Republic from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Some things you just can't leave home without, especially if you're moving overseas. During an international move, you're going to need a handful of documents to clear customs in your destination country. It's important to have all these necessary documents easily accessible when you arrive in your new country:
- Passport (copy or original)
- Residence visa
- Lease or rental contract with terms stating that the customer will stay in the country for at least two years
- Letter from employer at origin (stating the employee's position within the company and the length of stay, on company letterhead)
- Bank guarantee for at least 50 percent of the total value of the shipment, which will be returned once all required documents have received a stamp of approval from the Customs office at the point of entry
- Power of Attorney granting permission for the Destination Agent in the Czech Republic to grant customs clearance
- Official declaration from the customer attesting to the length of stay
- Original Bill of Lading or Original Air Way Bill
- Complete valued inventory (must be in Czech, signed and dated by customer and detailing all items contained in the shipment, including the serial number, make and model of all electronics and computers)
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Before you begin unpacking and settling in, you'll have to make sure your shipment fits all of the regulations to clear customs. Each country has its own unique set of shipping guidelines that must be followed, so here's what to expect when moving to the Czech Republic:
- All household goods and personal effects may be imported duty free provided the customer has lived outside the Czech Republic for the last year and the items have been owned for at least six months prior to importation
- All goods must be imported within one year of the customer being issued a Czech visa
- Any household goods or personal items imported may not be sold for the length of the customer's stay in the Czech Republic
- For household goods to be imported, the customer's employer must have a license to do business in the Czech Republic
- Before arrival, the customer must be accredited and registered with local authorities in the Czech Republic to import household goods
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are prohibited from being imported into the Czech Republic through customs and may be seized by customs and border authorities upon arrival:
- Narcotics/illegal drugs
- Pornographic materials
- Explosives, ammunitions and weapons of any kind
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Restricted items are items which may be limited to certain quantities or require additional duties, taxes or fees before they can be cleared by customs officials. Here are the items that are restricted and dutiable by the government of the Czech Republic:
- All firearms require prior authorization from the Czech embassy in the customer's origin country before importing; firearms are held by police until the proper Czech firearms license is obtained by the customer and an exam is passed
- Artwork, paintings and antiques may be imported, as long as they are accompanied by two photographs of each item, one set of photos to be placed with the inventory list and the other to be kept for later re-exportation
- All plants being imported into the Czech Republic will require a FITO certificate
- All new items and food products will be restricted and subject to taxes and duties
- Alcohol may only be imported duty free in the following amounts:
- Wine: 2 liters per person
- Liquor: 1 liter per person
- Tobacco may only be imported duty free in the following amounts:
- 200 cigarettes
- 250 grams of loose tobacco
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
There are several regulations regarding the import of a motor vehicle into the Czech Republic. Before you move, take some time to familiarize yourself with these regulations so that you can be prepared when it's time to relocate overseas with your vehicle:
- All vehicles may be imported duty free, however they are subject to re-exportation
- Vehicles imported temporarily may not be sold in the Czech Republic as they must be re-exported upon completion of the temporary work contract
- All vehicles imported must be at least six months old and no older than five years old; all vehicles over five years are prohibited
- The following documents are required when importing a vehicle:
- Original owner's manual
- Original certificate of title and vehicle registration
- Original commercial or purchase invoice providing proof of the date and location of the vehicle's purchase, if the vehicle is new
- Power of Attorney granting permission to the Destination Agent to clear the vehicle through Customs
- Valid driver's license
- Residence Permit
- Passport
- Housing contract
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Pets are always welcome when moving overseas; after all, you wouldn't want to move without them, would you? However, many destinations have their own laws pertaining to bringing animals into the country:
- Quarantine is not required for pets being imported into the Czech Republic
- If a pet looks ill or unhealthy upon arrival at Customs, it will be kept in a government facility for up to 30 days
- A certificate of vaccination is required for your pet, providing proof of a rabies vaccine and other vaccines that were administered more than 30 days but less than 11 months prior to arrival
- All pets must be accompanied by a health certificate, endorsed by a veterinarian and dated no more than five days prior to arrival
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: