Country Guides

Each country provides specific guidelines regarding the paperwork needed for personal item shipments.

Required Documentation

The most common requirements for shipping personal effects internationally are:

Some countries may require additional information such as:

  • Proof of residence
  • Work permit

Find more information below.

Regulations, procedures and charges are subject to change. For the most updated information, check IAM country guides.

Where are you shipping to?

Australia

Belgium

  • Copy of passport showing photograph and signature
  • Certificate of residence
  • Certificate for free entry (diplomats)
  • Letter of employment
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

Canada

  • Copy of passport (photo page only)
  • Proof of residency abroad for at least 12 months (bank statements, utilities, rent receipts, income tax statement, etc. for first and last month of 12-month period) (returning citizens)
  • Personal effects accounting document (form BSF186 formerly known as form B4)
  • Immigration papers, if applicable
  • Work permit / student visa holders, if applicable
  • Proof of residence in Canada (copy of deed / sales agreement / lease agreement) (seasonal residents)
  • Copy of death certificate (import of inheritance items)
  • Copy of will or letter from the executor of an estate (import of inheritance items)
  • Obligation for privilege from the Canadian Ministry of External Affairs (diplomats)
  • Packing list in English or French
  • Shipping label

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

  • Copy of passport
  • Copy of visa
  • Customs declaration / signed letter by owner of the goods
  • Customs registration form 0350
  • Letter of employment or botschaftsbescheinigung (returning citizens)
  • Anmeldebestaetigung (registration)
  • Diplomatic entry form 0349 (diplomats)
  • Certificate from the diplomatic organization in Germany (diplomats)
  • Packing list in English or German
  • Shipping label

Hong Kong

  • Copy of passport (identification pages only)
  • Owner of the goods’ full contact details in Hong Kong (address, telephone, fax number, email address, etc.)
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

Italy

  • Copy of passport
  • Copy of tax code number / Codice Fiscale from the Agenzia delle Entrate
  • Diplomatic franchise / telepresso addressed to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued by the owner of the goods’ diplomatic organization (Diplomats)
  • Customs Dichiarazione Sostitutiva di Certificazione, completed and signed by owner of the goods
  • Detailed inventory signed by owner of the goods, stamped and signed by Italian Consulate / Embassy at origin and attached to the Dichiarazione Consolare di Rimpatrio (citizens, EU nationals)
  • Permit to stay released by the Questura Police Office (non-Diplomats)
  • Copy of residence certificate / receipt from Italian City Hall stating the owner of the goods has requested residence registration (non-Diplomats)
  • Original consular declaration / Dichiarazione Consolare di Rimpatrio released by the Italian Consulate / Embassy (Italian citizens)
  • Packing list in English or Italian
  • Shipping label

Japan

Mexico

  • Copy of passport
  • Letter to Customs
  • Contact details
  • Declaration of value
  • Permanent resident visa, if applicable (returning citizens)
  • Temporary resident visa, if applicable
  • Copy of RFC / CURP number (returning citizens)
  • Copy of INE/IFE card (both sides)
  • List of electronics (returning citizens / permanent resident visa holders / temporary resident visa holders)
  • Letter of guarantee from employer (temporary resident visa holders)
  • Solidarity and compromise Letter (temporary resident)
  • Import permit (diplomats)
  • Diplomatic franchise from the General Customs Authority (diplomats)
  • Diplomatic carnet (diplomats)
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

Netherlands

  • Copy of passport
  • Bewijs van aanmelding
  • Aangifte – Douane 39 form (diplomats)
  • Copy of the registration at town/city hall where the shipper will live (document must mention the country the shipper is moving from).
  • When client does not have his town/city hall registration yet, client may also submit a proof of deregistration from the country of origin. Please also supply one of the following documents:
  • Copy of a work contract or declaration from the employer confirming the period of working for them abroad and will now be working for them in the Netherlands as from …… (date), OR
  • Copy of a rental agreement or purchase contract of the residence in the Netherlands. This may not be older than 6 months.
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

New Zealand

  • Copy of passport
  • Treatment / cleaning certificates for the shipment goods
  • CITES permit, if applicable
  • Copy of prescriptions for prescribed drugs
  • Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) supplementary declaration form, if applicable
  • Unaccompanied personal baggage declaration
  • Residence visa / residence permit, if applicable
  • Work visa / work permit (minimum of 12 months / skilled migrant / long-term business visa or permit)
  • Visitor’s visa / permit issued for a minimum of 3 years
  • Trade single window - client registration application, if applicable
  • Packing list in English
  • Shipping label

Norway

Poland

  • Copy of passport (ID page and visa stamp)
  • Work permit (if required depends on nationality)
  • Residence permit
  • Confirmation of staying abroad at least 12 months
  • Letter of Employment (from future and previous employer)
  • Copy of Polish ID (returning citizens)
  • Confirmation of Polish address (returning citizens)
  • Written Statement (returning citizens)
  • Copy of diplomatic passport (diplomats)
  • Certificate from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomats)
  • Packing list in Polish and signed by the owner of the goods
  • Shipping label

Portugal

  • Original passport (in color)
  • Copy of visa
  • TAX card copy
  • Baggage certificate
  • Residence certificate
  • Declaration as per European Union regulations
  • Photocopy of air ticket or declaration
  • Photocopy of work contract (if applicable)
  • Proof of application for residence permit
  • Copy of identity card (diplomats)
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

Singapore

  • Copy of passport (photograph and personal information pages)
  • Declaration of facts form
  • Copy of the owner of the goods’ employment pass / green card (both sides)
  • Goods and services tax relief form (GST)
  • Supplementary Customs declaration form
  • Exemption permit (diplomats)
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

South Korea

  • Copy of passport (photo, entry stamp, & long term visa pages)
  • Alien registration card (ARC) (from Korean Immigration Office)
  • Certificate of entry and exit (returning citizens and accompanying family members only)
  • Application for duty exemption issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Korea (diplomats)
  • Customs declaration form
  • Power of attorney
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

Spain

  • Original of passport
  • Original of DNI (for Spaniards) or NIE (residence permit for foreigners)
  • Original certificate of change of residence (“Baja Consular”) issued by the Spanish Consulate at origin
  • Spanish resident card / work permit
  • “Alta de Empadronamiento” issued by the local authorities of the place of residence in Spain
  • Application form for duty-free importation
  • Diplomatic Franchise (Diplomats)
  • Original certificate of change of residence issued by the Spanish Consulate at origin for Spanish Nationals
  • Original certificate of change of residence issued by correspondent Consulate at origin for foreign citizens from a third country
  • Official paperwork proving residency in country of departure for at least the last 12 consecutive months: Employer letter, registration certificates from any public administration in origin, rental bills, etc for foreign citizens moving from their country of origin
  • Packing list in Spanish
  • Shipping label

Sweden

  • Passport
  • Swedish Customs form (Foersaekran)
  • Letter of employment / lease agreement
  • Residence permit (non - citizens)
  • Diplomatic franchise
  • Stamped copy of registration at the Swedish Tax Office
  • Original Swedish customs form
  • Packing list in English or Swedish
  • Shipping label

Switzerland

  • Copy of passport with clear photo
  • Originally signed Customs form 18.44 (application for duty & tax-free clearance of removal goods)
  • Copy of residence permit (except for Swiss citizens and immigrants from the 15 initial EU states and from the EFTA states) If not yet available, copy of the work contract or letter of employment from Swiss employer (all confidential data such as salary, bonus, etc may be deleted)
  • Registration at local Swiss town hall
  • Copy of lease agreement / purchase contract (property title)
  • Proof of stay more than 1 year outside of Switzerland (military booklet, attestation from Swiss Consulate or earlier de-registration) (returning citizens)
  • Original Customs form 14.60 provided by employer, duly signed, and stamped (diplomats)
  • Copy of "Carte de Légitimation" (diplomats)
  • Packing list in English, German, French or Italian
  • Shipping label

United Arab Emirates

  • Copy of passport
  • Copy of residence permit / residency visa on passport
  • Employment visa with entry stamp of UAE if residence visa not ready / Emirates ID copy / Emirates ID application form / Visa applicable form etc.
  • Letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs for exemption from the payment of Customs duties (diplomats)
  • Copy of diplomatic card (diplomats)
  • Letter of authorization / undertaking
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

United Kingdom

  • Legible copy of passport
  • Transfer of Residence (ToR)
  • C426 with cover letter from respective embassy (diplomat)
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

United States

  • Copy of Passport (some ports require passports for all family members listed on the 3299)
  • Form CF-3299 – declaration for free entry of unaccompanied articles (if applicable)
  • Copy of visa (if non-US citizen / permanent resident) / copy of permanent resident card
  • I-94 stamp / card
  • A-1 visa (diplomats)
  • Form DS-1504 (diplomats)
  • CBP form 7501 - Customs entry summary
  • Form CF-6059B – Customs declaration
  • Importers Security Filing (ISF)
  • Supplemental declaration (required by most ports) (Hawaii)
  • Packing list
  • Shipping label

Prohibited Items

  • The carrier does not transport any goods prohibited by law or regulation of any federal, state or local government in the origin or destination countries

  • Check our Packing Tips for a full list of prohibited items and recommendations on how to protect your personal items for safe shipping.
Packing Tips