International Removals from Spain to Switzerland
Removals from Spain to Switzerland cross a customs border. Swiss customs lets household goods in free of duty after a change of residence, on conditions.
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
What changes when a Spanish move ends in Switzerland?
Switzerland is outside the EU customs territory, so unlike a move to France or Germany, your belongings are cleared at a Swiss customs office. The Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, the BAZG, treats household goods of someone who moves their residence to Switzerland as duty-free, but only if you meet its conditions and present the right form.
Starting from an island, Ceuta or Melilla? The Spain territory overview covers where Spanish tax treatment departs from the mainland. Norway is another destination outside the EU customs union, and it has its own page on removals from Spain to Norway.
When are household goods duty-free in Switzerland?
The BAZG page on moving to Switzerland (opens in a new window) (no date shown) calls moving your residence to Switzerland “die wichtigste Bedingung”, the most important condition. The goods must also have been personally used by you for at least six months, and you must keep using them after import.
The same page says the duty-free treatment covers household goods, collections, pets and a car, with vehicle details on a separate page we did not open. Ask your removal company to confirm what applies to a car before it travels.
How does the form and the border crossing work?
The BAZG’s procedure page (opens in a new window) (no date shown) tells you to give the entry customs office form 18.44, the declaration for moving goods. The form it links is dated 1 January 2022, and the legal basis it cites is dated 1 March 2026.
Clearance has to take place during the opening hours of the customs offices for commercial goods, which the page gives as Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 17:00. An optional pre-check is open to those entering through Mendrisiotto, Vedeggio or Chiasso-Strada: send the file at least two working days before crossing, and then enter through that office.
For people coming from EU or EFTA states, the page says no residence assurance is needed. You can show your residence with an employment or rental contract, or a deregistration confirmation from the country you left.
What does Spain ask when a car goes to a non-EU country?
On the DGT’s deregistration page (opens in a new window) (no date shown), the car comes off the Spanish register before it can be registered abroad. When the destination is outside the EU and the car is over four years old, a valid ITV inspection is required as well.
The clock then runs: 90 days to leave Spain, otherwise Tráfico reinstates the registration. The page puts the fee at €8.67, waived for cars first registered 15 or more years ago, and sends you to the relevant consulate for the rules of a non-EU country.
No official Spanish page on exporting household goods outside the EU turned up. Whether an export declaration applies to your load, and who files it, is a question for the removal company.
Questions about moving from Spain to Switzerland
Can household goods enter Switzerland duty-free?
The BAZG says yes when your residence moves to Switzerland and you have personally used the goods for at least six months.
Which form is used?
Form 18.44, the declaration for moving goods, is presented to the entry customs office.
Does a car need an inspection in Spain?
For a non-EU destination, the Spanish traffic authority requires a valid ITV if the car is more than four years past first registration.
How long can a deregistered car stay in Spain?
The Spanish traffic authority says it must leave within 90 days of deregistration, or it is reinstated.
Planning a move from Spain to Switzerland?
Share your Spanish collection address, the Swiss delivery town, a rough inventory and the timing you have in mind. A car or pet should be mentioned.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
- Email[email protected]
- In partnership withAGM Group (agm.group)