Guide to Importing Household Goods in Spain

Importing household goods in Spain from a country outside the European Union involves customs procedures. Even if these are your personal belongings, there are mandatory procedures that must be followed. At Wisse Moving, we manage all these steps to facilitate your move, ensuring a straightforward and compliant process. Please note, however, that we only handle customs procedures if we are also responsible for the move itself.

Below, we provide a comprehensive guide on the requirements, restricted items, and necessary documentation for importing household goods in Spain. Remember, this information is a general guide; Spanish customs authorities have the final say on the import process and on whether it qualifies for VAT and duty exemptions.

Required Documentation for Importing Your Move to Spain

To import your move to Spain, you will need to provide the following documentation, depending on your specific situation:

Requirements if you move your main residence to Spain:

• Scanned Passport and Resident NIE or Resident Visa. The NIE has to be registered as well in the AEAT – Ministry of Tax.
• Customs Clearance Authorisation: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.
• Detailed and Valued Inventory: A comprehensive list of furniture and belongings with total and individual values. Our team typically prepares an inventory at the time of collection.
• Duty Exemption Application: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.
• Certificate of De-registration from Current Place of Residence: Issued by your consulate in the country of origin or a local authority, specifying a minimum one-year residency in that country. Utility bills, employer letters, or similar documents are not accepted for de-registration; it must be from an official authority.
• Certificate of Registration in Spain (Empadronamiento): Registration with the town hall in the locality where the individual will reside. The registration date must be after the consular de-registration date. If this certificate is not yet available, a signed commitment can be submitted, agreeing to provide it within a maximum of six months. Meanwhile, a deposit of approximately 25% of the furniture’s value must be made. If the certificate is not submitted within the stipulated period, the deposit will be retained.

Note that for Spanish citizens, we would need a copy of the DNI instead of the NIE or residence visa.

Requirements for a second residence or holiday home:

• Scanned Passport, and DNI or NIE.
• Customs Clearance Authorisation: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.
• Detailed and Valued Inventory: A comprehensive list of furniture and belongings with total and individual values. Our team typically prepares an inventory upon collection of the move.
• Second Residence Duty Exemption Application: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.
• Proof of Current Residence Outside the EU: A document proving that you currently reside outside the European Union.
• Property Purchase Agreement or Lease Contract: A document certifying the ownership or lease of the residence in Spain.

Importing a Vehicle to Spain as Part of a Move

To import your vehicle to Spain as part of a move, the following documentation is required:

Requirements for Importing Vehicles with Duty and VAT Exemption in Spain:

• Scanned DNI and Passport (Spanish nationals) or Resident NIE / Resident Visa (foreign nationals).
• Customs Clearance Authorisation: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.
• Duty Exemption Application: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.
• Consular De-registration Certificate (Spanish nationals): Issued by the Spanish consulate in the country of origin, indicating a minimum one-year residence in that country. This document is essential for Spanish nationals moving back to Spain.
• Certificate of De-registration from Current Place of Residence: Issued by your consulate in the country of origin, or by a local authority, indicating a minimum one-year residence in that country.
• Certificate of Registration in Spain (Empadronamiento): Registration with the town hall in the locality where the individual will reside. The registration date must be after the consular de-registration date.
• Vehicle Registration Certificate.
• Technical Data Sheet of the Vehicle.
• Vehicle Purchase Invoice or Statement of Value.

Requirements for Importing Vehicles Without Exemption (paying Duty and VAT):

• DNI and Passport (for Spanish nationals) or Residency Permit or NIE and Passport (for foreign nationals).
• Vehicle Registration Certificate.
• Technical Data Sheet of the Vehicle.
• Vehicle Purchase Invoice or Statement of Value.
• Customs Clearance Authorisation: A form provided and managed by Wisse Moving.

Even if VAT and duties must be paid due to incomplete documentation, this process is much simpler than completing all full customs procedures. In any case, at Wisse Moving, we offer both options and are here to help you with your international move to Spain.

For more information on vehicle registration, visit the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) website.

Prohibited Items in a Move to Spain

The following items cannot be imported or included in a move:

• Food, beverages, alcohol, and other perishable goods.
• Plants and plant-related items.
• Animals and animal-related items (such as skins and similar products).
• Hazardous items.
• Weapons and ammunition.
• Drugs and chemical substances.
• Works of art.
• Antiques (a special permit is required).
• Protected species and products made from these species.
• E-bikes, electric scooters and similar vehicles