Moving to China

IMPORT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS

For expat families, the process of moving to a new country, finding a suitable accommodation or good school for their kids is just one of the many things they have to deal with as they prepare to start life in their new environment. Managing the whole process alone can be stressful and time consuming, and so the help of relocation experts is highly recommended. At Move One Relocations we understand the importance of making a seamless transition when settling in your new destination, and are committed to making this possible.

List of documents required for import customs clearance:

• Original passport with residence permit valid for at least 365 days
• Work permit valid for at least 365 days (or student card, journalist permit)
• Shipper company chopped and signed customs forms (provided by Move One)
• Application form with client’s signature or company chop
• Representative Card (for foreign representative office)
• Company’s customs registration book
• Company’s business licence
• Inventory
• Shipping document
• Baggage declaration form (2 copies to be completed)

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RThere is no need for returning citizens to apply for import permit. List of documents required for import customs clearance are as follows:

• Original passport with entry and exit stamps clearly marked to show length abroad
• Shipper company chopped and signed customs forms (provided by Move One)
• PInventory
• Shipping document

It will take about 5-10 working days to customs clear the shipment.
Returning citizens must have proof in the passport that they have been abroad for over one year. Returning Chinese citizens who have been abroad less than two years can import up to 8 m3. Returning citizens who lived abroad for more than ten years can import up to the volume of a 20′ container. In some cities there is a weight allowance limitation and items importation limitation on returning Chinese’s household goods importation. Before sending any shipment for a returning Chinese citizen please check with us for further information.

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Lists of documents required for diplomats:

• Original passport
• Original diplomatic card
• Import permit (provided by Embassy in China)
• Original shipping document with Embassy’s chop
• Inventory list with Embassy’s chop
• Application form with authorised signature from Embassy and Embassy’s chop

Notes

Shipments must be cleared within 60 days of arrival to port or they risk confiscation by Chinese authorities. Duties must be paid on electronic items, furniture, grand piano, lighting equipment, books for the first time entry. There are especially heavy duties and taxes for electrical equipment. Duties for sea shipments are usually 30% less than for air shipments. There is a limit of 30 each CD, VCD’s or DVD’s per shipper and 200 videotapes. There is also a limit of 30 books and 30 kg dry foodstuff and medicine per shipper.

Only one declaration for sea shipment and one for air shipment is permitted per legally registered and employed person. Alcohol and tobacco products are forbidden to import to Beijing, for other cities small quantities are allowed to be imported, but this needs to be checked with local customs authorities in advance. Effective January 2006 The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People China requires that wood packaging material imported into China be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and properly marked.

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The following items cannot be imported to China:

• Alcohol (depending on region)
• Tobacco (depending on region)
• Firearms
• Printed or recorded political, economic, cultural or moral material, if it can be detrimental to China
• Pornography
• Poisonous material
• Satellite receivers
• Unhealthy food, fresh meat or plants
• Photocopier
• Motorcycles (unless the owner is a diplomat)

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Effective January 01, 2008 any automobile imported into China that was manufactured prior to January 1, 2005 must comply with Euro IV standards and requires an environmental and mechanical inspection. Documents required for import permit are the same as for household goods. Apart from these documents the following need to be submitted to customs authorities:

• Original invoice of the vehicle
• Detailed information about the car (engine size, engine number, chasis number, make, model and year of manufacture)

Duties and taxes on the imported vehicle are to be paid. Calculation as follows:

• Duties: 25% of CIF value (value of the car+ocean freight + insurance)
• VAT: 17%
• Excise tax: 15%

Notes
According to current customs regulations, any second hand and used vehicle is not allowed to bring in to China except of diplomatic vehicles. Motorcycles can not be imported unless the owner is a diplomat. No diesel vehicles are allowed to be imported the country.

Diplomats are exempted from paying custom duties and taxes on their vehicles. If a foreigner (non diplomat) wants to import newly purchased vehicle, he/she needs to present all documentation for import customs clearance personally to local customs authorities both at Tianjin port (Xingang) and in Beijing. However, not all the companies’ employees can import vehicles, therefore before sending any vehicle to China please let us know in advance, so we can check with customs authorities whether the client’s company has authorization for this kind of import. Returning Chinese citizens cannot import vehicles. Apart from the general requirements of the country the local authorities have their own requirements set, therefore before sending any vehicle to China it should be checked with the destination city’s Environmental Bureau whether the vehicle meets the local environmental standard.

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Special import permit for the items above is necessary to obtain. Also, any customer wishing to import these items to China must register himself/herself with the authorities prior to customs release. Anyone not doing so may have great difficulty in later re-exporting these items when they leave China.

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Alcohols and tobacco products might be prohibited for import, depending on the destination region. They are forbidden to be imported to Beijing for example, for other cities small quantities are allowed. Before sending any alcohol or tobacco product to China, please contact our office to check the maximum allowed quantities for import with local customs authorities.

Rifles are not allowed to be imported to China. For stuffed animals apart from the CITES certificate and animal health certificate some special permits might be requested as well depending on the destination city. In order to check the current permit requirements please
contact our office before sending any of these items in the shipment.

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EXPORT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Regulations, charges or restrictions may apply to household goods exports as they leave China and when they arrive at their destination country. Specialists at Move One Relocations are experts in local rules and industry regulations and will handle your transaction on both sides. At Move One Relocations we understand the importance of making a seamless transition as your foreign assignment in China is coming to an end, and are committed to making this possible.

List of documents required for export customs clearance::

• Original passport with residence permit
• Original work permit
• Original company registration card
• Application form for export signed by the shipper (provided by Move One)
• Customs form signed by the shipper (provided by Move One)
• Inventory

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For Chinese citizens only a shipping inventory and their original passport with visa are requested for export customs clearance.

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For diplomats the following documents required for export customs clearance:

• Original diplomatic card
• Export permit (provided by the Embassy)

Notes

It is not necessary to export all items that were imported originally. Only one declaration for sea shipment and one for air shipment is permitted per legally registered and employed person. If a relics inspection is needed for Chinese furniture or artefacts, especially over 100 years old this is recommended to be arranged before the pack out (Move One can arrange this). Temporary visitors’ and Chinese citizens’ air shipments must be declared within 48 hours of the final departure time with original passport and air ticket/E-ticket.

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The following items cannot be exported out of China:

• Alcohol (depending on region)
• Tobacco (depending on region)
• Firearms
• Printed or recorded political, economic, cultural or moral material, if it can be detrimental to China
• Pornography
• Poisonous material
• Satellite receivers
• Unhealthy food, fresh meat or plants
• Photocopier
• Motorcycles (unless the owner is a diplomat)

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Documents required for export permit are the same as for household goods. Apart from these documents the following need to be submitted to customs authorities:

• Original invoice of the vehicle
• Detailed information about the car (engine size, engine number, chasis number, make, model and year of manufacture)

Notes
Not all the companies’ employees can export vehicles, therefore before sending any vehicle from China please let us know in advance, so we can check with customs authorities whether the client’s company has authorization for this kind of export.

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A relics inspection is needed to export chinese cultural artifacts, furniture and antiques. It is recommended to be arranged before the pack out, especially if the items being exported are over 100 years old. The inspector comes to the residence prior to the pack out and examinates the relics, then we can apply for export permit. The relics inspection certificate is necessary for export customs clearance.

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Alcohols and tobacco products might be prohibited for export, depending on the origin region. However, those regions from where the export is possible also have strict rules for sending these products in a household goods shipment.
Sending of alcohol and tobacco products in an air shipment is not allowed, it is possible to include these items in the sea shipment only. Allowed quantities are not much and they also depend on the origin region. Before including any of alcohol or tobacco products in a shipment going out of China, please contact our office to check the maximum allowed quantities for export with local customs authorities.

Rifles are not allowed to be exported from China.
For stuffed animals apart from the CITES certificate and animal health certificate some special permits might be requested as well depending on the origin city and on the destination country. In order to check the correct permit requirements please contact our office before including any of these items in the shipment.

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