Shipping Household Goods and Vehicles to Jordan
It is important to choose the best overseas moving company when you are shipping your household items, personal effects and even your vehicle to Jordan considering the unique customs requirements that shipments have to follow before they are cleared. Expect your air freight shipments to arrive in Jordan via the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman and your sea freight shipment to arrive in Jordan via the Aqaba Port.
Returning Jordanians are allowed to import personal effects and household goods without paying the required duties provided the owner has used the goods prior to the shipment and they will be used by the owner during his or her stay in Jordan. The household goods must show traces of use by the owner and should match the type of household, lifestyle and status that the owner holds. However, the shipment of used household goods and personal effects must arrive in Jordan within six months from the arrival of the owner. The shipment of electrical appliances to Jordan including refrigerators, microwave ovens and washing machines are subject to the payment of duty.
To make sure that you get your shipments cleared fast and efficiently, be prepared to present your original Passport, Residence Permit, Work Permit, Residence Visa and rental contract, copy of house lease contract, copy of a certificate which shows children’s admission to school if available and a Descriptive Inventory of the shipment which shows that all the contents are PBO or “Packed by Owner”.
If you are an expatriate who is set to work in one of the regional offices in Jordan as an acting manager with signature authority, or your name appears in the Ministry of Trade and Commerce registration certificate, then you are exempted from the payment of customs duties for your household goods shipment under the assumption that the items are used household goods. You can still avail of the exemption from customs duties and taxes even if your name id is not included in the Ministry’s registration certificate provided you are an employee of the company and your company sends a request for exemption with the Custom Department along with your shipping documents.
Customs Rules on Vehicles Importation
Before you decide to ship your vehicle to Jordan, be aware that they are highly taxed depending on the immigration status of the owner. The vehicle’s registration, Triptique and License should be presented to Customs. You are not permitted to ship vehicles that are five years old or older, or any passenger car with a diesel engine.
A diplomat is allowed to import a vehicle under a duty-free and tax-free status. However, the diplomat must already arrive in Jordan and has registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Embassy before the arrival of his shipment for household goods to avail of the exemption from customs duties and taxes for household goods and vehicle.
Foreigners can import a vehicle to Jordan temporarily for only three months subject to the payment of taxes. The temporary entry plates for the vehicle can be renewed for another three-month period but the vehicle would have to be shipped out of Jordan after the said period. If you are not exempted from taxes and customs then you can still bring your vehicle to Jordan for over six months subject to the payment of full customs duties.
A returning Jordanian who has exported a vehicle from Jordan earlier and has paid all the required customs duties can re-import the vehicle without paying the duties. However, he must show proof of his citizenship by presenting a valid passport with the national I.D. number and proof that his residence permit abroad has been cancelled. Proof of this can include the registration forms of his children in Jordanian schools or a copy of the residential rental agreement in Jordan.
Unless you are exempted from the payment of custom duties and taxes on your household goods and vehicle as a diplomat or a returning Jordanian status, then prepare to pay up to 47% of the CIF (Costs, Insurance and Freight) value of your household goods and personal effects and 47% of the declared value of your electronic items. The size of the engine and the model year of the vehicle will determine the custom duties that will be imposed.
Once you understand the basic requirements and costs of shipping household goods, personal effects and vehicles to Jordan, then you will be able to make an intelligent decision if it is still practical to import these goods to Jordan or just purchase some of them when you arrive in the country.