Phil W. Says:
Can you give me advice on shipping my household goods to Spain?
IL Contributor Marsha Scarbrough Writes:
Think carefully before you move your household goods to Spain. International moves—especially trans-Atlantic moves—are expensive, and they can be a hassle. You can buy pretty much anything you’d need in Spain; it’s a First-World country, after all.
If you do decide you want to ship goods over, here’s how it’s done:
You can bring used personal goods into Spain duty-free once you have a residence visa. The goods must arrive within 12 months of the visa’s being issued and within three months of your own arrival.
Goods must be packed well, and the boxes’ contents labeled. You’ll also need a list of goods being shipped (in Spanish), by box. Make sure all goods are used and have been in your possession at least six months; new goods are liable for customs duty, and including them may affect how the entire shipment is treated by customs.
When your shipment arrives, a customs agent will need to inspect it, and you’ll need a customs broker to help process your shipment. It might be a good idea to hire an international moving/shipping company that can offer a door-to-door service. In the end, it saves you time to have specialists do the job for you…and increases your chances of a problem-free move.
Contact several international moving companies and request quotes on the shipping price.
Here are some points to keep in mind when requesting a quote:
- Keep in mind international shipments are generally priced by volume, not by weight. Goods are shipped in containers, and you can generally pay for as little as a quarter-container’s load.
- Ask whether the moving company will obtain the customs application form for bringing the goods into Spain on your behalf.
- Have companies quote for professionally packing and labeling your boxes of goods; preparing the contents’ list for U.S. and Spanish customs; for the services of a customs broker in Spain; and for transporting and unloading your goods from the port to the final destination. (Also ask whether they unpack goods, reassemble furniture, and take away all the boxes.)
- Make sure the quote includes insurance against damage. It’s also a good idea to have separate damage insurance through another provider, as a precaution.
For international shipping companies that transport between North America and Spain, see the Resource Guide on Page 218 of our comprehensive Escape to Spain guidebook.
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