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 Cyprus, 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 Cyprus 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 (original, including photo page, passport must exhibit two years of prior activity before importation to Cyprus)
- Residence Visa/Permit
- Work Permit or C
- Letter from employer at origin (providing proof of employment there and transfer of residence to Cyprus)
- Copies of household bills from origin (including electricity bills, phone bills and water bills)
- Cyprus bank statement (providing proof of funds in Cyprus)
- Termination of Lease or a Proof of Sale (providing evidence of a house in the customer's origin location)
- Lease agreement or another similar document (stating that the customer plans to stay in Cyprus for more than one year)
- Original Bill of Lading or Original Air Way Bill
- Complete valued inventory (in English, signed by customer and detailing all items contained in the shipment)
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 are what to expect when moving to Cyprus:
- All customers must be present in Cyprus for the customs clearance process and will be required to sign the customs declaration in the presence of a customs officer
- All non European shipments are subject to physical inspection upon arrival in Cyprus; European shipments will be inspected at random
- All goods must be imported by the customer within 12 months of relocating to Cyprus
- All customers relocating to Cyprus to subject to a Temporary Refugee Levy (TRL) in addition to regular duties and taxes
- All used household goods and personal effects may be imported duty free under the following conditions:
- The household goods being imported are for personal use only
- The household goods and personal effects have been owned for at least 12 months prior to arrival
- The customer does not plan on re-selling any items
- The customer has resided outside of Cyprus for at least one year prior to importation
- The items being imported fall within the boundaries of a reasonable quantity
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are prohibited from being imported into Cyprus through customs and may be seized by customs and border authorities upon arrival:
- Narcotics/illegal drugs
- Pornographic materials
- Wireless phones, walkie talkies or other radio equipment
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 Cyprus:
- All guns, including hunting shotguns and air rifles, require permission from the police and an Import Permit and must be at least one year old; only one gun is permitted importation for each family entering Cyprus
- All food products require prior consent from the Ministry of Health and an Import License
- Alcohol may be imported, as long as it falls under the established limit of 12 sealed bottles or 20 opened bottles
- All tobacco products are subject to duties and taxes
- Sports equipment
- Perfume
- Carpets
- Plants require an Import Permit and a Phytosanitary Certificate
- All new furniture requires a copy of the original purchase invoice, an import license and must be marked on the inventory as new
- Customers should alert the Destination Agent if their shipment contains any items out of the ordinary that would not be classified as normal household goods such as air soft guns, pianos, alcohol, etc.
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
There are several regulations regarding the import of a motor vehicle into Cyprus. 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:
- Customer must be present for vehicle clearance through customs
- All vehicles must be imported within six months of the customer's transfer of residence to Cyprus
- Customers may import vehicles to Cyprus as long as they can provide proof that they plan on residing in Cyprus permanently
- Vehicles are subject to a VAT tax of up to 15 percent of the vehicle's value as decided by a Customs agent
- The following documents are required when importing a vehicle:
- Original passport
- 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
- Proof of insurance purchased in Cyprus
- Valid driver's license
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Pets are always welcome when moving overseas; after all, you would n't want to move without them, would you? However, many destinations have their own laws pertaining to bringing animals into the country:
All pets being imported are required to do a six-month quarantine period either at a government veterinary clinic or at the customer's new home
- All pets require Certificate of Vaccination stating that the pet has received all vaccinations, including a rabies shot, at least 30 days prior to arrival
- All pets require a Health Certificate to be signed and dated by a veterinarian no more than 10 days before arrival
- All pets require an Import License obtained from the Department of Veterinary Services in Cyprus
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: