Exporting Goods from USA to Sweden
Are you moving back to Sweden after living in the USA for more than one year? Or are you an American expat who needs to move into the country temporarily? No one can really tell what life has in store for us, and the documentation involved in moving our assets around the globe can be confusing. The information below should make things easier, though, for someone who needs to import goods into Sweden from the USA.
On personal effects and household goods
Unless you enjoy diplomatic privileges, you might be asked to pay customs and duties for bringing in household and personal effects into any country. Fortunately, in Sweden, as long as the household items and personal effects are used, and as long as the consignee can prove s/he plans to take up permanent residency in Sweden (one year or more), the transfer can be done duty-free.
There are documents involved, though. Aside from the original bill of lading (for shipments from sea) or original airway bills, the consignee also needs to complete an inventory with the goods’ itemized quantities and values. This inventory must be in English, French, Swedish or German. An import certificate from the Embassy of Sweden in the USA must also be obtained.
If the consignee is a non-diplomat foreign resident, s/he must present work/resident permit proving that s/he will be in Sweden for at least 12 months. The consignee’s passport and visa must also be presented for clearance.
If the consignee is a returning Sweden national, s/he must provide certification from the Embassy that s/he was out of the country for at least12 months. S/he must also provide proof of Change in Residency, and declare, on paper, that s/he now plans to take permanent residence in Sweden again.
All “used” items must have been in the consignee’s possession for at least six months prior to the export. They must be labeled appropriately in the inventory, and packed separately from new items. All new items are dutiable and taxed. Diplomats may enjoy tax- and duty-free transport of their goods and personal effects as long as they can provide the Customs Agent with a Customs Franchise and their Diplomatic Passports. Personal appearance is not required for the items to be cleared.
All items with commercial value will be taxed, dutiable, and would require commercial permits.
On vehicles
All online information on importing vehicles into Sweden from the USA pertains to motor vehicles for personal use. One consignee can only bring in one vehicle duty-free into the country, and this is only if the vehicle was already in his/her ownership one year before the exportation from the USA. The vehicle cannot be sold within one year after the clearance and consignees who do not follow this rule will be penalized accordingly.
The documents needed for importing used cars into the country include:
i. Certificate of registration and de-registration in the USA
ii. The original commercial invoice stating the age of the car, its make and model
iii. Customs form which should be separately prepared from the customs form for household goods
iv. Insurance documents from the USA
v. Interims insurance to be issued by a Swedish insurance company
Any additional vehicle imported into the country will be taxed and dutiable. If the vehicle is newer than 12 months old, it will also be dutiable. The vehicle cannot be released unless all dues are paid. It must also pass Sweden’s environmental and traffic standards.
Boats, industrial machines, motor homes, and motor cycles are not prohibited from being imported into the country. However, they are considered special vehicles, and the required documents for their import may differ from automobiles.
The customs rules and regulations in Sweden may change without warning. To be on the safe side, consignees should consult the Embassy of Sweden in the USA regarding the import of their goods and/or vehicles into Sweden before the items are shipped out. Industrial and/or commercial permits may be necessary depending on the purpose of the imported vehicles.