Moving & Living in Europe

Customs clearance in the EU

Customs clearance in Thailand could be a real challenge if you’re not an expert in this field, that’s why you need a partner like Siam Relocation who knows how the process works and have a good relationship with Thai customs authorities.
On the other hand, European customs are very simple to deal with, and your goods will be exempted from fees because European Union is a customs-free zone.

Custom process

Entering a European Union country will make your goods exempted from customs taxes, even if you are not coming from the country.
Depending on if you come from a European country or not, you’ll have some different documents to provide for customs clearance.
If you’re from another continent, the documents could be :

• The change of residence certificate (provided by your Embassy or Consulate)
• Immigration card
• Residency card
• Visa (if any)
• Work permit (if any)
• Proof of residence in Europe
• Letter of transfer
• Proof of employment from a registered company

Taxes exemption

For your goods imported into EU to be tax-free, some points are required :

• Your personal goods must have no professional purpose at all
• Your personal goods must be acquired at least 6 months before you move
• You must have lived out of the European Union for at least 12 months before your move
• You’re transferring your principal residence to the European Union
• You’re importing your belongings within 12 months after your settlement in E-U

What should I do to be tax exempted for my relocation to France?

To be not dutiable of any taxes when moving to a European Union country, you must provide these documents to customs:

• A detailed packing list, dated and signed in two copies, indicates all the goods and furniture you will transfer to the country.
• All documents proving that you were living out of the EU and that you’re now settling in Europe
• Before you leave, you can ask the embassy or consulate you depend on the certificate of change of residence
• The cerfa form n°10070*33 declaring personal belongings for entrance in a UE country, well completed and signed for all your precious goods and vehicle

If you’re shipping your personal belongings to your second home in an EU country, they will be dutiable. You will not have a tax exemption possibility in this case because it’s not your main home.

Vehicle importation

You can benefit from a tax exemption on your car relocation if you’re fitting the following requirements:

• You are fixing your primary residence to UE
• Your car is listed on the two copies of the detailed moving packing list quoted above
• You resided at least 12 months out of the European Union
• You’re using your vehicle since at least six months before the change of residence
• You’ve paid all the necessary duties and taxes in Thailand
• You’re importing your vehicle in UE within 12 months after your change of residence
• You’re still owning the vehicle for at least 12 months after the import

You will have to provide at the competent customs desk the following documents:

• The detailed packing list in two copies with the vehicle mentioned on it
• All documents testifying of your principal residence in a country out of the EU and of the definitive transfer of residence to France. You can ask a change of residence certificate from the UE country Embassy or Consulate, prior to your relocation.
• The registration certificate in Thailand or all equivalent documents. A translation of this document can be asked. The vehicle must be equipped with valid plate numbers.
• The invoice for the vehicle, a translation of this document can also be asked

You will be dutiable for the registration of your vehicle for private use in the following situations : 

• If a requirement above is missing
• If you bought the vehicle outside the European Union

After the customs clearance, customs will provide you a duplicate of the customs statement, a document testifying of the duties and taxes payable, and an n° 846 A certificate, that you should present to the prefecture or authority for a UE country registration within 4 months.

In all cases, prior to its registration, the vehicle will be controlled (good conditions, conformity to the EU norms, environmental impact…)

What duties and taxes will I pay for my personal effects?

All goods have a professional or trade purpose because of their nature or quantity. Although they are authorized to import, you will have duties to pay on them.

Here is the list of the goods that are not free of duty:

• Goods for a secondary residence (duties + 20% VAT)
• Raw materials + semifinished products
• Tobacco
• Alcohol and cellar provisions

As detailed above, for goods destined for a secondary residence, you will have to transmit to customs:

• A certificate from the regional customs directorate of the secondary residence area and its duplicate
• The detailed packing list with the value prices of the goods in €, this signed and dated
• Documents testifying of the ownership or renting
• Documents testifying of the normal residence
• Insurance of the transferred goods
• Bill of Lading
• The dutiable amount in cash or bank check

Customs process

Drug Contreband

Explosives

Biohazard

Chemicals

Corrosive

Counterfeit

Ivory

Batteries

Flammable

Firearms

Drugs

Counterfeit notes

Poison

Pornography

Knife

Tobacco

Gambling

Hazardous

Method of transportation

By moving from Thailand to an EU country, you don’t have a wide choice of transportation, there are only Sea and Air freight to ship your goods from one continent to another. You’ll also need to use a trucking service to transport your goods from the airport or port to your residence.

Moving by sea freight to UE 

Obviously, the destination port will be chosen depending on the EU country you’re moving to. If the country is not surrounded by the sea, your goods will be unloaded at the nearest country’s port before being delivered by truck to your residence. 

We can propose you a full container load to these destinations. If you have less than a container to ship, your goods may go to Hong Kong or Singapore first, to be grouped in a container with other goods in the destination of Europe.

You also have to notice that as the transit times are about a month, ocean freight will be a good solution if you can wait for your goods to arrive, or if you’re leaving Thailand after them.

For example, from Bangkok port or Pattaya’s (Laem Chabang), you should count 30/35 days of freight and add a few days of transit in docks and warehouses.

Regarding prices, it is difficult to give you a precise price because numerous parameters are required to determine how much you will pay. Regarding your volume, you will have different container possibilities. Above 15 CBM, an FCL (full container) shipment will be more attractive. Below 15 CBM, you might consider LCL (groupage) shipment.

You also have to know that according to your needs, we can provide you with a packaging and/or loading service which also has consequences on the total price.

Moving by air freight to UE 

Air freight allows your goods to be unloaded in the EU country you’re going to live in because the EU has hundreds of airports, so there must be several in the country you chose. 

But you have to know that air freight from Thailand to Europe will be a good option only on particular occasions because of its price.

In fact, air freight for a great shipment will be a lot more expensive than if you select sea freight, because of the short space available in cargo planes and the timeliness of the service.

For air freight you should consider 15 hours for your goods to be transferred from Thailand to the EU if it’s a direct flight, otherwise, you can count 24h to 48h. The complete shipping might take around a week in total if we add the steps above and before the air freight.

Finally, selecting air freight only depends on two parameters, the dimensions of your goods, and the deadline for your goods to be transferred. We usually recommend air freight for goods smaller than 2 CBM if you need to receive them in less than two weeks.

Note that the flight does not include the whole logistics process, some parcels could be stuck in customs for X or Y reasons.

Regarding prices, every air freight is unique, it’s hard to give you a value estimation of your freight instantly. Depending on the weight and dimensions of your goods, their estimated value, the filling rate of the cargo planes, the market prices of the kerosene… All of this can have a great influence on your moving price. We will determine as fast as possible all the different costs if you contact us now.

Let’s see together how air freight is calculated. The most important aspect that you have to understand is the difference between actual weight and volumetric weight. Once you get it, you can understand your air freight quotations.

*If the volumetric weight is higher than the actual weight of your box, the carrier will quote based on this weight. You can use online chargeable weight calculators to make it easier, now that you understand how it works.

Additional moving services

Our place of n°1 moving company in Thailand is due to our expertise, obviously, but especially because we want to provide a wide range of additional services, to be the only interlocutor of our customers, make their move with complete peace of mind and make them save time and money!

Moving Insurance 

Moving to another continent is a huge event that needs organization, but even if you think you are well-prepared for your move, you are not safe from the risks that such logistics may involve. That’s why we recommend you subscribe to SiamCare, our insurance program which was created to cover your goods from damages caused by bad handling by the cargo company, bad weather, fumigation operation, etc…

Because there are no hidden costs with Siam Relocation, you have to know that our insurance program charge 3% of your declared value.

Moving with your pet in EU

To make your best friend move with you to the EU, there are some obligations your pet has to satisfy, which are : 

• Being identified by a microchip implanted under the skin (ISO norm 11784 or annex A of the ISO norm 11785). If the microchip isn’t in conformity with these norms, you need to provide the corresponding scanning system also
• Being up-to-date with their rabies vaccination
• To undergo a serum titration of anti-rabies antibodies carried out in a laboratory approved by the EU at least 30 days after vaccination of the animal. The result of the serum titration should be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU / ml.

If you are an animal lover, you have to notice that you can only import 5 pets to EU at the most. More is considered as being for trade purposes.

Furthermore, some countries in the EU are not allowing the importation of certain dog breeds, you’ll have to inquire at the country’s embassy about which breeds are allowed and how to get a permit if it’s needed.

Regarding the importation of birds, the animal should be accompanied by a sanitary certificate and the proprietor’s statement. Upon arrival, the pet should be put 30 days in a certified quarantine.

For rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and aquarium fish importation, you should provide a veterinary certificate testifying to their good health. Mammals must be treated against parasites.

Packing service

Packing your goods is one of the crucial steps when you are moving because it’s what ensures the safety of the whole logistics process.

To pack your goods, you can use moving boxes made of cardboard, but also plastic boxes which are very useful especially for fragile goods and for storage. We also recommend wrapping paper or bubble wrapping your breakable goods such as glass or porcelain goods. 

For voluminous and heavy items like furniture, you can use wooden boxes to pack them. This gives them better protection during the transfer and ease and secures the handling steps. The wooden box will be inevitably fumigated, to avoid the transfer of alien living beings to France.

 Warehousing service

As mentioned before, you can ask us about our competitive warehousing services in Thailand and in the EU also. If you’re leaving Thailand a considerable time after your relocation, if there is an urge or a particular situation, we can store your goods safely for the needed time.

Our warehouses are constantly watched with CCTV equipment and a 24/7 security staff presence. You can fully rely on us.

Office moves

Moving your company/association/government agency offices is also a domain where we are entirely proficient. We’ve worked numerous times for famous companies or government organizations that are relocating their collaborators out of Thailand.

Our moving packages

To suit all the different needs and budget we build three different packages, that enables you to take care of some steps or to let us do absolutely everything.

Living in the European Union

The EU is a 28-country economic and political union that covers much of the continent (more than 4 million km2). The European Economic Community (EEC), established in 1958, was aimed at promoting economic cooperation among six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

Since then, 22 more countries have joined (we subtract UK that leaved EU). The euro, a unified European currency, was introduced in 1999 and is now utilized by 19 of the 28 nations. EU PBI represents 16% of the World’s PIB.

The EU has the authority to enact its own laws, and treaties between members guarantee cooperative action in areas such as human rights, agriculture, the environment, and foreign and security policy.

Relocation for non-EU citizen

If you are a non-EU citizen and wish to relocate to an EU country to work, study, or join a family, you may be entitled to certain rights under EU immigration regulations. 

The EU and EU nations share jurisdiction in this area, although it is up to each EU country to make a final judgment on migrants' applications. 

EU nations can additionally determine the rules for getting a residence and work permit on their territory in regions where no EU legislation has been enacted.

You must always apply directly to the authorities of the EU nation where you wish to settle for a visa or a residence permit.

There is no EU entity that handles applications, grants visas or provides residence cards on behalf of individual nations.

Rights as an EU citizen

Anyone who is a national of an EU country is automatically awarded Union citizenship. Some rights and advantages are derived from national legislation and hence differ from one country to the next. Others are derived from Union legislation and hence apply to all EU nations. 

These EU rights apply in everyday situations such as shopping, driving, health care, and family and relationship issues.

As a Union citizen, you have the freedom to move and reside in Europe without fear of discrimination based on your nationality. You can also enjoy stronger consumer protection than in your native nation, as well as health care anywhere in the EU if certain requirements are met.

Your rights as a Union citizen are outlined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 18) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Title V).

Business in EU 

Europe offers several business options. It is critical to understand the requirements for beginning a business, including VAT and customs fees, as well as employment and product standards. Small firms can also apply for many EU grants.

The EU is made up of 28 member nations and 500 million customers. The economy is valued €14 trillion ($15.5 trillion), and there are 24 million businesses, and there are 300 million internet buyers.

It is a massive marketplace with several options for enterprises from outside the EU to sell their goods and services.