Moving To Venezuela

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Customs Regulations for Venezuela

Venezuela requires all of the usual documents for clearing customs, as well as several additional documents. Your destination country should receive all of these essential documents a minimum of 20 to 30 days prior to your arrival. To reduce the stress and hassle of having everything organized, consider hiring a customs brokering service to prepare these documents before you move.

Passport – original, proving you have been abroad for at least six months continuously
Resident visa – stamped
Work permit
Certificate of Use (in Spanish) / Certificado de Uso – obtained from Venezuelan Consulate
Inventory (in English or Spanish)
RIF certificate (for taxes)

Venezuela has various regulations when it comes to household goods and personal effects. When you arrive at your destination, you must abide by these rules to clear customs with your shipment:

Household goods must arrive within six months of your arrival
Used household goods can be imported duty-free – owner must be in possession of them for more than six months prior to shipment
Goods should be shipped in secure wooden crates to prevent theft – the Venezuelan government is not responsible for lost or stolen items during shipment
Your destination agent should obtain a copy of your Bill of Lading at least three business days before your shipment’s arrival
Your goods will be transported from the docks to a warehouse for inspection

When shipping items to Venezuela for your move, keep in mind that the country subjects various items to duties, while others require special permissions. In some cases, certain items may even be limited in quantity. These items include but may not be limited to:

New items – subject to duties and taxes
Electrical appliances – subject to duties if more than one of each kind is imported
Alcohol – import license required
Paper products (includes paper towels, bathroom and kitchen supplies)
Firearms – require special license

A majority of countries maintain a list of items they prohibit from being imported through customs. Venezuela does not allow the import of the following items:

New furniture
Drugs and narcotics
Explosives and ammunition
Tobacco products
Pornographic material
Chemical products, fungicides, fertilizers, etc.

If you think you’ll need a vehicle to get around in Venezuela, it might be a good idea to transport your car when you move. However, Venezuela only allows citizens and returning residents to ship used automobiles into the country. These used cars can be imported duty-free.

To import your vehicle into the country, you’ll need:

Passport
Residence visa of owner
Certificate of ownership
Certificate of use – legalized by Venezuelan Consulate, stating owner has owned vehicle for at least 11 months
Original invoice and registration – stamped by Venezuelan Consulate in country of origin

Here are the conditions that must be met to ship your vehicle into Venezuela:

Owner must have stayed abroad for at least one year prior to shipping vehicle
Vehicle must have been owned by shipper for at least 11 months in country of origin
Vehicle must be used personal property of shipper – must be registered in shipper’s name in country of origin
Automobiles are limited to one per customer – must also be valued under $20,000
If vehicle’s value exceeds $20,000, duties will be assessed – approximately 35 percent of the CIF value
New vehicles must be imported same year as manufactured – subject to duties
Owners of new vehicles must be Venezuelan or must hold resident visa
Owner must be at least 18 years of age
Owner must present current driver’s license from country of origin to have vehicle released once in Venezuela

Don’t leave your pet behind when you relocate overseas to Venezuela! Shippers must be aware that all animals are subject to quarantine, and non-domestic pets require a government license and permit from the Venezuelan Department of Agriculture.

If you want to make sure your animal makes it through customs without a hitch, please remember to bring:

Your passport
Health certificate from veterinarian in country of origin
Proof of inoculation from vet in country of origin
Customs form

Whether you are an individual or commercial entity, there will be duty and taxes due when importing goods into the country. In Venezuela, duty rates can vary from zero percent to 40 percent, but the average sits at about 17 percent. Some goods, such as books, can be imported duty-free. When it comes to sales tax, a value-added tax (VAT) is levied on imported at a rate of 12 percent or a reduced rate of eight percent. This VAT is applied to the sum of the CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value and duty.

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International sea & air shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 788-1090

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Venezuela

First, one of our trained moving specialists will provide a personal consultation, thoroughly outlining your moving options based on specific criteria, such as:

Your moving timeline. When do you need to be in Venezuela?
Your real estate plans. Will you be renting or buying?
Your family/household size. Will you be moving alone or with your family? For business or personal reasons?
Cubic feet estimate. How large is your shipment?

What Will Moving to Venezuela Cost?

For an accurate estimate of your shipment size, you should schedule a home survey as early as possible for your move to Venezuela.

Our moving specialists will assess your belongings to give you the best potential estimate to expedite your relocation. The cost of moving to Venezuela will vary considerably based on the cubic footage of your belongings and your proposed destination arrival time.

Don’t forget to ask about our overseas packing and custom crating services, too!

About Venezuela

Officially named the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the country is located on South America’s northern coast. Venezuela features a diverse population of Mestizo, Caucasian, and African descent. The nation comprises twenty-three states and a Capital District, as well as offshore islands and any Guyanese territory west of the Essequibo.

Venezuela’s largest city and capital is Caracas, which contains a heavy amount of the country’s population. In fact, a majority of residents live in the northern parts of Venezuela, specifically the urban areas. These cities make Venezuela one of the most urbanized nations in Latin America. Though the country is urbanized, Venezuela also features beautiful beaches and scenery, as well as some of the largest oil reserves in the world.