International moves are unique in the amount of preparation and planning that is required to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company to handle your shipment, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider customs regulations. These regulations often vary from country to country and are subject to change.
If you are relocating to the Central African Republic, whether it's for employment, for family or just for a change of scenery, 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 Central African Republic from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Moving to the Central African Republic requires you to clear customs when you first arrive in the country. You will be asked to present several documents pertaining to your shipment and your relocation to the country. As with all important documents related to your move, these should be kept safe throughout your relocation.
You will need:
- Passport (either copy or original)
- Residence Visa or Work Visa
- Certificate authorizing change of residence
- Original Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Full inventory, detailed, valued and itemized - must be in French and must be signed and dated by the customer
- Attestation Reservation de cale
- For all sea shipments, a cargo tracking note is also required
- Power of Attorney granting the destination agent the authority to clear customs
- If relocating for work - Mission Order of Employer, clearly stating the length of stay and position in the company (must be on company letterhead)
- Client Declaration stating that the goods being imported are for personal use only - must be signed and dated by customer
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
When you relocate overseas to the Central African Republic, you'll be bringing a shipment of goods that will be checked thoroughly by customs agents. To help your move go smoothly, you should check your shipment beforehand to make sure it follows all shipping and customs regulations. Take some time to become acquainted with the shipping and customs regulations in the Central African Republic:
- All electronics and computers being imported must have make and serial number detailed on the inventory list (presented to destination agent at customs clearance)
- All household goods that have been in the customer's possession for longer than six months may be imported duty free, as long as they are not being imported for resale purposes
- Documents must be received by the destination agent at least one month before the shipment's arrival to prevent delays
- All shipments are checked by customs upon arrival at clearance
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are prohibited from being imported into Central African Republic through customs and may be seized by customs and border authorities upon arrival:
- Alcoholic beverages are prohibited if the shipment exceeds the maximum limit of 20 bottles
- Pornographic or obscene material
- Narcotics or illegal drugs
- Explosives
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Restricted items are items which may be limited to certain quantities or may require additional duties, taxes or fees to be paid before they can be cleared by customs officials. Here are the items that are restricted and dutiable by the government of the Central African Republic:
- Home computers are not considered household goods or personal effects and are also subject to an import tax and duty of up to 80 percent CIF and 18 percent VAT
- Firearms may be imported duty free, as long as they are accompanied by the necessary corresponding documents:
- F4 Form, obtained from Customs Authority upon arrival in the country
- Certificate of Registration
- Certificate of Temporary Admission
- Proof of ownership for the firearm
- Passport
- New furniture and new electronics may be subject to additional taxes and duties and must be accompanied by receipts and proofs of purchases, as well as the original prices of all items
- Tobacco products and alcohol may be subject to taxes and duties if they exceed a certain amount:
- 1000 cigarettes
- 250 cigars
- 2 kilograms of tobacco products
- 5 bottles of alcohol
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Some countries have strict regulations regarding how cars can be transported into the country and which cars are allowed to be imported. Here are the motor vehicle regulations for Central African Republic:
- All new vehicles are subject to duties and taxes
- The documents required to import your vehicle are as follows:
- Original certificate of title and registration
- Proof of ownership
- Original purchase invoice and all documents relating to the vehicle's purchase
- F4 Form, which can be obtained from customs upon arrival in the country
- Export Declaration is required for all new vehicles
- Vehicle details must be included: chassis number, engine number, Vehicle Identification Number, cubic capacity, make, model, brand and year of manufacture
- All repair invoices
- Owner's manual
- Drivers license
- Used vehicles may be imported duty free on the basis of temporary importation only
- All luxury vehicles may be subject to a 77 percent duty based on the CIF value
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
You won't want to leave your beloved pets behind when you move overseas, but before you set out for new lands, check out the regulations regarding shipping your pet overseas to the Central African Republic:
- Must possess a health certificate stating that no cases of rabies have occurred in the area of origin at least 60 days prior to departure
- Certificate of Vaccination is required, providing proof of vaccination for rabies and other diseases no more than six months prior to arrival
- Health certificate is required, must be signed by veterinarian and must be dated no more than five days prior to arrival
To help you prepare for your move and to ease you into your transition, we've provided a few helpful links to get you started on your move and to help you learn more about the complicated international moving process: