Importing a Car and Household Goods When You Move to Switzerland
Published 2026-10-19 · Updated 2026-10-19 · 3 min read · 2 sources · Verified Swiss federal benchmarks
Direct answer
Import household goods duty-free on customs form 18.44 if items were used at least 6 months and enter near your move date. Cars require customs clearance, VAT, and Swiss registration separately from your personal effects.
Key facts
- Form 18.44 covers duty-free import of used household goods when conditions are met.
- Goods should have been in use abroad for at least six months before import.
- Personal effects and a private vehicle are treated under different customs procedures.
- After customs, cars must pass Swiss registration and technical requirements in your canton.
- Import timing should align with your relocation, not with later shopping trips abroad.
Household goods: duty-free conditions
When you transfer your main residence to Switzerland, you may import used household effects without customs duty if the shipment qualifies as personal property. Customs form 18.44 is the standard declaration for that relief.
Items should have been used abroad for at least six months. Authorities expect the move to be genuine, which means the goods arrive close to your registration date, not long after you settled.
Prepare an inventory with approximate ages and values. Photos and purchase receipts help if an inspector questions an item that still looks new.
Example declaration
The table below shows how customs typically treats common items. When in doubt, declare honestly. Mislabelled new goods risk duty and VAT later.
Keep a copy of the stamped form with your lease file. You may need it if you sell large items soon after import.
| Item | Eligible on 18.44? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Used sofa (owned 2 years) | Yes | List on inventory with approximate age |
| New laptop bought last month | No | Bought new shortly before move; duty/VAT may apply |
| Personal clothing | Yes | Part of household effects if not commercial quantity |
Importing a car
A private vehicle is not part of the household goods declaration. It clears customs as an import with VAT and other charges unless a separate exemption applies to your situation.
After customs release you register the car in your canton. Technical inspection, emissions rules, and plate issuance happen locally. Budget time before you need the car for commuting.
Insurance must be Swiss and active before you drive on public roads with new plates.
Worked example: split shipment
A family relocates from Milan to Ticino in June. Their mover trucks furniture and kitchen goods worth roughly CHF 15,000 in replacement value, all owned more than six months.
They file form 18.44 at the border with inventories and proof of new Swiss address. Duty is waived on qualifying goods.
Their car crosses a week later on a separate customs declaration. They pay import VAT on the vehicle value at customs, then spend additional amounts on cantonal registration and mandatory insurance before the car is road-legal. The two processes stay separate by design.
Common mistakes
Listing brand-new electronics as used household goods invites reassessment and back charges.
Shipping a car inside the same mental checklist as furniture leads to surprise VAT bills at the border.
Selling imported duty-free items immediately after arrival contradicts personal-use declarations.
Arriving without registration proof delays both customs channels.
FAQ
- Do I need a moving company for form 18.44?
- You can self-declare or use a mover. The form and inventory must be complete either way.
- Can I sell imported duty-free goods immediately?
- Duty-free import assumes personal use in your new household. Early resale can trigger customs follow-up.
- What documents prove six months' use?
- Purchase receipts, lease inventories, or a dated list help. Customs may ask for evidence if items look new.
- Must the car arrive the same day as my furniture?
- No fixed same-day rule, but both should fit a coherent relocation timeline. Cars always need their own customs process.
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