Moving belongings and pets to a home abroad

Buying a home abroad is often followed by a second project: moving what you own there, including a dog or a cat. It is easy to underestimate. Customs rules, pet entry rules and deadlines differ by country, and mistakes can mean duties, quarantine or a pet refused at the airport. This guide explains the logic and what to check. It is informational, not legal or tax advice, and the pet and customs rules named here change; confirm them with the authority of your destination before you book anything.

Decide what is worth moving

Shipping costs and the effort of customs clearance often exceed the replacement cost of furniture and appliances, especially if the new home is furnished or you are moving to a hot climate where much of your kit is unsuitable. A sensible filter is to move what is personal and hard to replace (documents, books, art, family items, a few favourite things) and buy the bulk locally. Check electrical standards for any appliance you bring. If you only visit seasonally, you may not be moving at all, and the rules for a permanent move do not apply.

Customs: the idea of relief for personal effects

Customs relief for personal effects exists in most countries, and the principle is similar: used belongings of a person who is moving their normal residence can enter without duty, new goods and goods bought for resale cannot.

In the EU the rules for people who transfer their normal residence from a non-EU country are set in an EU regulation on customs duty reliefs (Regulation 1186/2009). National customs pages we checked describe the same main conditions: you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, the goods are used and have been owned and used by you at the former residence for at least six months, they are meant for the same use at the new home, and they are declared within 12 months of establishing residence. Details such as the treatment of alcohol, tobacco, vehicles and goods for business use differ, and national authorities apply the rules. See the EU summary of the customs duty relief system and your destination's customs site.

Outside the EU the system is local. For Thailand, government pages describe duty exemption for used household effects when a person moves their domicile, with conditions on the visa type, on timing (reported as shipping from about one month before arrival until six months after) and on numbers of appliances. We did not research the rules for Turkey, the UAE or Georgia; ask the customs authority or your shipping company which proof is needed.

Practical points that apply almost everywhere:

• Make a detailed packing list, in the language of the destination or in English, with the value of each box.
• Keep proof that you owned the goods: receipts for big items, a copy of your passport and your residence or lease documents.
• Choose a shipping company that clears customs at the destination and quotes door-to-door including local handling. Ask what is excluded.
• Insure the shipment. Ask about the insurance cover for transit and storage.
• Plan the delivery date: it must fit the property handover, and some countries allow storage in a bonded warehouse only for a limited time.
• Do not ship anything restricted or prohibited (medicines, food, plants, weapons, certain electronics). Ask in advance.

A move within the EU or within the Schengen area between member states does not involve customs duties, but you may still need paperwork to register residence or a vehicle. For the tax side of relocation, see tax residency when relocating, and for families, relocating abroad with family.

Pets in the EU

Within the EU, dogs, cats and ferrets travel with an identification and a health record. Our summary, based on a government ministry's explanation of the EU rules and a search summary of the Commission page: the animal is identified with a microchip, vaccinated against rabies by a vet after the microchip is read or implanted and when at least 12 weeks old, the vaccination becomes valid at least 21 days after the primary vaccination, and the animal carries a pet passport (or, from a non-EU country, an animal health certificate) and the owner declares the movement is non-commercial. A few EU countries and territories add requirements such as parasite treatment, so check the destination. Pets entering the EU from a non-EU country are usually checked for these documents at the border, and a rabies antibody test may be required for countries considered high risk. Read the official page travelling with a pet within the EU and the page for entering the EU from a non-EU country, then confirm with an official vet in your current country, because the vet issues the passport or certificate.

Plan weeks or months, not days: the order of steps matters (microchip first, then vaccination, then the waiting period), and a missed step can force you to repeat it.

Pets in Turkey, the UAE, Thailand and Georgia

The information below comes from pet-relocation sites and a few government pages, not always from the destination authority. Treat it as a pointer, not a rule, and check the official site of the destination's agriculture or environment ministry before you book.

• Turkey: sources report that a rabies antibody (titre) test is required, taken in an approved laboratory and at least 30 days after vaccination, and that pets arriving without it can face a 21-day quarantine at the owner's expense. This is the strictest of the four on paper, and it needs about three months of lead time.
• United Arab Emirates: an import permit from the climate change and environment ministry (MOCCAE) is required in advance. Reported conditions include a 15-digit microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before entry, a health certificate, and, for countries not on a low-risk list, a rabies antibody test. The UAE also reportedly limits the number of pets per person per year and bans some dog breeds.
• Thailand: an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development is reported to be needed in advance (applying on arrival risks being refused at boarding). Other reported conditions are a 15-digit ISO microchip, rabies vaccination more than 21 days before entry, a minimum age of four months, and a health certificate valid for a short time (about 10 days).
• Georgia: reported conditions are a microchip, rabies vaccination between 21 days and 11 months before arrival and a veterinary health certificate. Sources say no import permit and no titre test are required for pets travelling for personal reasons. This was not confirmed on an official page.

For all of them, check the airline's own rules for carrying animals, in the cabin or as cargo, and the breed restrictions. Keep originals of every document in your hand luggage.

Cars

A car is a separate project and we only outline it. Importing a vehicle usually involves customs treatment (duty or relief), registration in the new country, technical inspection, insurance and, in some countries, restrictions by age or emission class. The rules for a person moving residence differ from those for a tourist who takes a car for a short visit. In many cases it is simpler to buy locally. Before shipping, ask the destination's vehicle registration authority and customs what applies to your car and your residence status, and what it will cost, because we have not verified country-specific numbers.

FAQ

Do I pay customs duty on my furniture? It depends on the destination and on whether you qualify as a person moving residence. In the EU, used personal effects can be relieved under conditions (reported: 12 months outside the EU, six months of ownership, declared within 12 months). New items are normally dutiable.

Can I bring my dog if I only own a holiday home there? Entry rules for pets do not depend on property ownership; they depend on the animal's documents and the country. Customs relief for household goods, however, normally needs a move of residence.

How long does it take to prepare a pet? Several weeks for the EU. Where a rabies antibody test is required, plan around three months or more, because the test is taken after vaccination and results can take time.

Is a pet passport enough for non-EU countries? No. Non-EU countries usually require a health certificate issued by an official or approved vet and sometimes an import permit.

Who can help with the paperwork? A licensed vet in your current country, a specialist pet-relocation firm and the customs authority of the destination. A local lawyer can advise on residence status if it affects customs relief.

How we help

D.H. Realting is a trilingual platform that finds properties and coordinates independent local lawyers and tax advisers. We can introduce you to local contacts who handle customs and relocation questions. This article is informational and is not legal, tax or investment advice; pet, customs and vehicle rules change, so verify the current rules with the destination authority before you act.