Importation into Malta of Used Household and Personal Belongings Upon Transfer of Residence from a Non EU Country

Personal property belonging to persons transferring their normal place of residence from a non-European country to Malta is admitted free from Import Duties according to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1186/09 providing that:

• The said belongings have been in ownership for a minimum period of six (6) months before date of exportation;
• Are intended for the same purpose at his/her normal place of residence;
• Cannot be lent, hired out, given as security or sold before a year from their entry into free circulation in the E.U;
• Have to be imported in full or part consignments either six (6) months before the person establishes his place of residence in the E.U. or within a year after his/her date of establishment in Malta;
• No relief shall be granted for food, alcoholic, tobacco products and restricted goods (list further on this notice).

The relief may be granted only to persons:

• Whose place of residence has been outside the E.U. for a continuous period of twelve (12) months. Proof of this, from a competent authority abroad is to be submitted;
• Who undertake to establish his/her place of residence in E.U. within a period of six (6) months after the importation of the personal effects.

Belongings include clothing, furniture, portable tools of trade and other things which are normally found around the house, cycles and motorcycles, private motor vehicles and their trailers, camping caravans, pleasure crafts and private planes.

Restricted goods include drugs, firearms, pornographic material, indecent or obscene material featuring children, flick knives and other offensive weapons, counterfeit currency, radio transmitters (walkie talkies, citizen band radios and certain types of bird callers etc) not approved for use in Malta, meat, poultry or other animal products, plants and plant produce including trees and shrubs, vegetables, fruit, bulbs and seeds; animals and birds whether alive or dead, stuffed, parts and articles derived from protected species including fur skins, ivory, reptile leather, stony corals and goods made from them.

 Customs reserves the right to request a deposit only in cases identified as posing a significant risk of future noncompliance that could result in a Customs debt.

Importations of Personal Belongings have to be authorised by the General Procuedures Unit (Customs).

How to clear goods from customs

The following documentation is required:

Application Form

o Copy of passport or ID

o Proof of residence in a third country for the previous 12 months

o Certificate of Registration from the Commissioner for Tax & Customs

o Draft Import Declaration

o Packing list including value

On importation of:

• Motorcar, Motorcycle, Quad Bike :  Copy of commercial invoice / purchasing contract and Log Book are required. Clearance from Transport Malta is also required.
• A vehicle imported with exemption from tax may not be sold or transferred before it has been in ownership for at least one year in Malta. This condition will be reflected in the vehicle’s logbook.

• Boat, Jet Ski: Certificate of registry and CE Conformity certificate are required.
• Live Pets:  A valid pet passport, Import Licence issued by Trade Department, CITES and BCP is required. On arrival pets are to be inspected by the VET at BCP (Border Control Post) together with Customs.
• Food, (other than list mentioned above) must be sealed, vacuumed and labelled in English.  Approval from Food Safety and Security Authority (FSSA) must be obtained;
• Wine, Spirits:  Importer is allowed to import 2 litres of still table wine, 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume OR 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling or other liqueurs;
• Firearms: Import Licence issued by Trade Department and approval by Police Ballistics are required;
• New Items are subject to duty and VAT and must be declared separately in the import declaration. Invoices are required.

All supporting documents are to be uploaded in the Import System.

Importers are well advised to seek the services of one of the licensed clearing and forwarding agents who are more conversant with the clearance of household effects.