Moving to and from Sweden
If you are moving from another EU country, you do not have to pay any charges to us. When you are moving to Sweden from a country outside the EU, you may be granted relief from customs duty and tax on personal property (belongings) if you satisfy the requirements. If you are moving from Sweden to a country outside the EU, you must declare your belongings in an exportation declaration.
These pages contain some difficult concepts. Here you can learn more about the concepts “customs exemption”, “personal property” and “normal residence”.
Moving between Sweden and another EU country
If you are moving to Sweden from another country in the EU, you do not need to pay customs duty, VAT or other taxes for your personal belongings.
There are areas outside the EU’s fiscal territory, such as Åland and the Canary Islands. For these areas, the same rules apply as when you move between Sweden and a country outside the EU.
Moving to Sweden from a country outside the EU
If you are moving to Sweden from a country outside of the EU and want a customs exemption for your personal belongings, one of the basic requirements is that you intend to live in Sweden for at least one year.
If you are moving to Sweden from a country outside the EU because of studies, a basic requirement for duty and VAT exemption is that your studies are full-time.
Moving from Sweden to a non-EU country
When moving from Sweden to a country outside of the EU, you must apply to have your personal belongings exported by completing an export declaration.
Questions and answers
Can I get duty relief for removal items sent in advance?
Yes, it is possible to obtain a duty-free allowance in advance. To be granted a duty-free allowance you need to:
- assure that you intend to move your normal residence within six months (immigrants)
- assure that you intend to return for permanent residence in Sweden within six months (returnees)
- provide a guarantee for customs duties, VAT and other taxes
- submit a customs declaration and the Declaration for Relief from Customs Duty form.
You may also be able to obtain duty relief for removal goods in advance if you have to leave your normal residence outside the EU for professional reasons without moving directly to Sweden or another EU country. In this case, you undertake to move to Sweden within a certain period of time determined according to the circumstances. Swedish Customs will assess whether you need to provide a guarantee. The same applies to you as a returnee.
Do I have to be registered in Sweden to benefit from the duty-free allowance?
No, you can prove that you are moving by other means than just through the population register. If you are an immigrant, you can instead present, for example, proof of residence or proof of right of residence. If you are a returnee, documents such as an employer's certificate, a rental contract or a contract for the purchase of a property can also be used to prove that you are moving back to Sweden.
When do I move under the rules for duty exemption?
You are moving or returning on the day you come to Sweden to settle here. To qualify for duty exemption, you must intend to live in Sweden for at least one year.