Customs clearance for your household goods
The paperwork is prepared before the container sails. Fixing it with the cargo already at port costs days of demurrage.
The inventory is the key document
Customs does not clear "a move": it clears a list of goods with declared values. That inventory is built during packing, piece by piece, and it is the same document that underpins the insurance and gets checked at destination.
A carelessly built inventory is the most common cause of a hold at port. And while cargo is held, storage charges run, paid by the owner of the goods.
Used household goods are not merchandise
Many countries treat the used household goods of a relocating resident under a different regime from commercial merchandise, sometimes with full or partial exemption. But that has to be proven with documents about the person, not just a list of furniture.
What qualifies varies by country, by visa or residence status, and by how long the goods have been owned. We tell you in advance what applies in your case, so there are no surprises once the cargo has arrived.
At destination we work with local agents
Import clearance is handled by an agent in the destination country, who knows its rules and is licensed to file there. We hire and coordinate them: you do not have to find one or negotiate with them.
That is the practical difference between buying door-to-door and buying freight only.
What it includes
- Valued inventory built during packing
- Export declaration and documentation in Panama
- Review of which regime applies to you and what proof is needed
- Estimate of destination duties before the cargo sails
- Appointment and coordination of the customs agent at destination
- Follow-up until the cargo is released
Frequently asked questions
How much duty will I pay?
It depends on the destination country, the regime that applies and the declared value. It is not a figure anyone can quote in general, but it can be estimated for your case before sailing, and that is what we do.
Can I declare a low value to pay less?
We will not recommend it. The declared value is also the ceiling on what insurance pays: undervalue it and, if the container is damaged, the settlement is calculated on that figure.
What if customs wants a physical inspection?
That is the authority's prerogative and it happens. If it does, we coordinate the opening and repacking. A well-built inventory makes the inspection quick.
Shall we quote this service?
Tell us what you need to move and from where. The quote comes from a home survey, not from a phone estimate.